Do you schedule classes around naps?

DS & I have been doing Mommy & me type classes since he was 3 months old. He's now 10 months and every single class for his age range is scheduled around the same time (10 or 11am).

Nap time is 10am-12pm for the past 2 months and I don't see that changing anytime soon. He missed that nap once & it was not a fun day. He doesn't take an afternoon nap anymore (except cat naps in the car) so this morning nap is crucial. If it was one class, I wouldn't sweat it, but all of them are now at this time- Little Gym, Gymboree, Music Class, Swim, etc.

He loves the classes & I like the socialization and feel like they totally enrich his development. Before he was bumped up to this age range, the times were different.

Do you schedule things around DC's naps? Am I crazy for doing this?

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

I've always had and relied on fairly rigid schedule, but ..

I've learned that with DS I can "mess him up" one day a week with one nap, and they will bounce back and sleep the second nap just fine. Just either try to put them down a little earlier or put them to sleep driving or let them sleep earlier that day.

Now that I'm down to 1 nap, what I've been able to do is to trick him into napping a little earlier. Get him really physically exhausted (i.e. chase him in the park) and then play bedtime routine. It worked on vacation when we wanted to go out and do things in the afternoon (when he usually naps now)

eta: I think you can even do it for 2 days straight, just give them a good several days of solid routine after to keep them on schedule.

I am a believer that schedules (well, more like routines really) make babies feel secure and help them to adjust better to our lives when we need them to.

Message edited 9/15/2011 8:21:22 PM.

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

When my DD was younger any time I did an activity or class during her naptime I regretted it. If she was tired the whole thing would be a disaster. Some kids are more flexible but my DD would be in bad shape if she didn't nap.

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

can you start driving an hour before so he'll nap in the car?

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

I had the same exact issue. Class was at 10:30. . . for two sessions I did it. She did great in the class, just a little more quiet than usual and when she got home she would pass out.

Now, we are going into our third session and she is FINALLY changing her naptime to a later time so I am looking forward to her being more active and alert during hte class.

I personally would do it, I think the classes are so great for them AND I think its important to make them flexible!

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

This is the reason I have not put DD in a class yet. I went to a trial class at 12noon when she was 9 months and I was going to sign her up in a summer class but the class got cancelled due to not enough people. The other classes available were during her nap time so I decided not to do it. Then this fall the classes seem to all be during her nap time and she seems to be changing her naps now. She seems to be in a transition between 1 and 2 naps. So I just signed her up for a free library storytime class. The time works well with her naps now and if I happen to miss a class I'm not out any money. By winter I hope to have her nap times figured out again and want to sign her up for a class.

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

I most definitely schedule classes around my DD's naps. My DD takes 2 naps per day at 1yr of age. I'm expecting this to change within the next couple of months. For now, I'm running into the same trouble as you are with class timing. There is one class that might just work for us - if she doesn't fall asleep in the car on the way home. She doesn't transfer well.

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

yes i did. As DD got older, i could see that missing naps, or stretching the time before naps got easier. and then thats when i could manipulate classes and naps better. IMO, if your LO gets cranky when they miss a nap, whats the point of going to class when they (and you!) cant enjoy it.

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

At that age yes! I totally scheduled things around naps!! We did Music Together & he catnapped for maybe 30 minutes about 9:30am until about 1 years old. Class was at 10:30....so it worked.

Even now at 3 years old I purposely chose morning PreK because he is still napping almost 2 hours a day every afternoon!!

If he skips his nap he is a BEAST by 5pm & there is no way I will put him to bed at 5pm or he'd be awake at 5AM! So we try our very best to avoid skipping a nap!

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

DD is not a flexible persone when it comes to her naptime. If she is not in a crib or being rocked by 10am, everyone is very sorry, lol. There are quite a few classes I wanted to register for, but b/c it conflicts with her nap, I can't.

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

Yes! I had a hard time finding a class because they tend to overlap with her 10 am nap time. DD needs structured naps. If she misses one or sleeps on the go, or goes down when she's over-tired, we're off all day.

I finally found a local class that meets from 1-1:45, which is perfect because her second nap is usually around 2.

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

I never scheduled anything around naps.

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

I only started taking classes with DD when she was on a firm nap schedule around 8 months old. She was pretty good with a 8am-930 nap..then we would go to class for 10 and she'd go back in for a nap around 1130, 12. now that she is a toddler and only takes an afternoon nap it is alot easier but I cant mess with that afternoon nap or she is miserable. so we only do things in the mornings now.

Re: Do you schedule classes around naps?

I did and still do..unless it is it makes their nap a little later..then I would do it