Suggestions for naptime for 2.5yo?

[dividedsky319]

Our daughter will be ~2.5 when we visit in September and I'm trying to figure out the best course of action as far as naps... at daycare she's fine going down for a nap, but at home or when out she fights going down for a nap and would stay up if given the chance... but when that has happened she obviously gets cranky towards the end of the day.

I'm hoping that in another 5 months she'll be a little better about "giving in", but does anyone have any suggestions on helping her to nap? It's very difficult to get her to sleep in her stroller, even when out at the mall around the start of her naptime she won't give in and fall asleep... so I doubt she could fall asleep in the parks. But at the same time I also don't want to have to sit around the room for 2 hours everyday... maybe we can get her to sleep in her stroller by a pool or something.

Any tips would be appreciated!

 

[nolatron]

On our last trip to WDW I was with my 2.5 yr DD by myself on our first day (wife was at Universal with her sister for birthday). I took the shuttle bus to the park so I had no way of getting back to the hotel for a nap.

When it came for naptime I went over the Poly resort and found a hammock on the other side of sunset point away from the pool area. It's nice and quiet over there. I turned on some music on my iPhone (Disney's Fairytale Weddings), and just rocked in it for about an hour. The DD was tired enough from the morning activities that she conked out in maybe 10 minutes. Luckily I had good cloud cover and a breeze so it was a relaxing nap/break for the both of us.

 

[melmood2000]

Here is a thread from a few weeks ago about nap spots.
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=700994

 

[britdaw]

I have a 3-year-old (she'll turn 4 before we go, though) and my plan is to go back to the hotel every day from 12:30- 3:00 so she can get some rest before we go back to the parks. I know it's really important for them to get rest so they don't get cranky or overtired.

 

[NewfieFan]

We were lucky b/c our daughter would nap in her stroller. Even though, your daughter doesn't nap on the go at home that may change at Disney. Being on the go so early, the heat, etc.... it tends to knock them out! Other than that the only thing I can suggest is going back to the hotel room. Which we did do as well btw. Sometimes an afternoon nap in the hotel room with the AC going was just what everyone needed (mom & dad included).

 

[yankspy]

We were lucky b/c our daughter would nap in her stroller. Even though, your daughter doesn't nap on the go at home that may change at Disney. Being on the go so early, the heat, etc.... it tends to knock them out! Other than that the only thing I can suggest is going back to the hotel room. Which we did do as well btw. Sometimes an afternoon nap in the hotel room with the AC going was just what everyone needed (mom & dad included).

Agreed. My little guy runs around so much that he gets good and tired by mid afternoon and has no problem napping in the stroller. The fresh air knocks him out too. Even at home, he sleeps much better when I have him outside for a few hours.

 

[heartodisney]

For our DD will be 4 at the time of our next adventure, this WILL be a challenge, I will bring a collapsable stroller to carry around my back (my mother-in-law will watch things when she is not riding, she is a frady cat), we will scout out the nursery/changing station for quiet times, or will just take her back to the room for a good nap to be able to do night things together. I have seen "meltdowns" in the parks and pray that will not happen, but I will just not push her to much on doing way too much each day, but it is a balancing act for all!

 

[Disneykidder]

When we took our son at 2 1/2, he fell asleep in the stroller on his own everyday in the parks. I'd hate to waste a few hours a day traveling to the resort and then napping. Honestly, I get bored very quickly and couldn't do that. So it's a good thing my son was able to sleep on his own in his stroller. My current 2 year old is the same way. He will get cranky come 8pm anyway, regardless if he naps or not.
Maybe find a shady spot away from the hub and rock her in the stroller.

 

[Bri1121]

I agree the kids get cranky no matter what. They are tired!! Even kids who dont nap might do so in the stroller. The last time my daughter was 4 and she was not napping anymore. But she took a few naps in the stroller at Disney.

We have done this on prior vacations, not Disney but one of us will take the kid who needs to sleep to the room while the other stays at the pool or beach or whatever. It might work if you do not mind staying in the room. You might want to get a balcony room with a good view!

 

[buseegal]

we ran into the problem with trying to go back to site for nap. grandson fell asleep on transportation, did not get enough sleep but would not go back to sleep.was worse than letting him fall asleep and getting short nap in stroller.