when dd was a baby, i worked around her...
as she got older, her routine has been all over the place anyways, so we just go with the flow...
these days, she doesn't nap at all anyways, so i am *trying* to get us into some sort of routine for when the bub comes... i do have a feeling that with 2.. its not going to be as easy as it is with just a newborn!
I'm so glad to read all these posts- I definately work around DS's schedule, which can be hard because he still sleeps 3 times a day with only 2 hours in between each nap! But he won't sleep in his pram or on me....only in his cot or sometimes in a quiet room at a friend's place. Its a PITA often, but easier than him being grumpy butt. I thought maybe I was being a bad mum, somehow not teaching him to be flexible or something, but I am glad to see that it largely seems to be the reality of living with a baby!
I have a rule - They fall asleep where i want them to wake up. Usually I keep driving around or put the a/c on and leave the garage door open so they get a/c when they are asleep. We have bought a capsule for this bub to reduce the sleep disturbance seeing as Sarah will start preschool soon enough.
I tend to work around DD unless I am feeling housebound and need to get out, which isn't too often. At this stage I am lucky in that she will sleep in the car for long trips or her pram for short periods of time
I just do what I need to do depending on the day.
Like yesterday we were out so poor Iain was up & down all day from Car, to pram to arms etc. So today I will stay home & let him sleep.
On the days I have stuff to do, I just do it but I always give them days at home to catch up.
I fit in with DS - easy to say, he has no day sleeps now!
If he had more than a 3-hour nap I'd wake him up though. And no sleeping past 3pm because then he's not ready for bedtime. But that was it. He can fall asleep in his pushchair and stay there or in the car and be carried into his bed... what ever is easiest for us.
DS is really flexible for his day naps. He rarely wants to have them in his cot, but does sometimes. Or he falls asleep on me occasionally - in the carrier it was a lot more often.
Although, DS's naps were co-incided with my day in the first place (as a younger baby). 9.30, in the pushchair for my coffee mornings; DS fell asleep. 11.30, walking home, DS fell asleep. Afternoon I'd have to take him out for a nap around 3-4pm too. So it's easy to say I fall in with DS when he has always fallen in with me too.
I also scheduled appointments and meetings for DS (health visitors and doctors) around his naps. It wasn't that hard when he had fairly predictable ones.
When i had my first, i worked my duties in around her....but with DD#3 - she had to fit in with our lifestyle - she was being carted off to dancing lessons, swimming lessons, dr visists, picking up DD#1 from kindy........ etc all at 6 weeks. I found she did drop from 2 days sleeps to 1 day sleep a lot quicker than i wanted (around 8 months old)......but i guess thats from not being in a routine......
I dont plan anything from 1-3pm - as i know the girls will be asleep then, and they need their sleep.
With baby #4 approaching, and with DD#1 starting school, i know this bubs is going to be carted around like crazy, and yes, it will have to fit in with me......i think if i just block out a set of hrs in the day like 1-3pm where they can have rest time.....at least they are getting some routine......
Well, I think yesterday proved to me that I'm doing the right thing letting her have a big morning sleep.
Yesterday, DP and I had to wake her up after two hours to go to an appointment. When we got back, she was MIssy Crankypants and then we put her back to bed where she slept from 1pm - 5pm! So I'd much rather she had a big morning sleep and wake up happy than need another huge afternoon sleep.
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