If your toddler is a belly sleeper

How well do they nap in the car (during nap-time trips)?

We drove upstate last week (7 hours), it was within naptime, AND DD was tired...but she only napped 30 minutes and woke up VERY unhappy.

The drive back the other day was close to 9 hours , and again definitely during naptime, and she slept for only 45 minutes and again woke up tired/unhappy.

She normally naps for close to 3 hours at home!

A friend mentioned to me that her child who is a belly-sleeper barely sleeps in the car, but their other child who sleeps on his back sleeps wonderfully in the car.

Just curious of any correlation.

Message edited 8/17/2009 2:26:39 PM.

Re: If your toddler is a belly sleeper

Both my kids are belly sleepers. Both are HORRIBLE nappers in the car. I know for a fact it's because they can't get to their bellies because when they do finally doze off, I can see them struggling to turn over in their sleep.

Re: If your toddler is a belly sleeper

I don't know why I never thought of this!! DS is a HORRIBLE car sleeper and always sleeps on his belly at home.

Ugh! Makes so much sense.

Re: If your toddler is a belly sleeper

Kaydyn is a belly sleeper all the way and is so-so with sleeping in the car. We haven't taken her on too many extended trips, but when she falls asleep when we are travelling around town she usually only sleeps about 30 mins.

She did fall asleep on the plane ride home from CA last week for 2 hours and that was a nice break considering she didn't sleep at all on the way there.

Re: If your toddler is a belly sleeper

Actually it sleeps fine in the car.

Re: If your toddler is a belly sleeper

Re: If your toddler is a belly sleeper

DS is a back and belly sleeper, but usually belly, and he naps well in the car. however, it has to be moving. if he's been asleep for an hour and the car stops, he wakes up. it takes him forever to get back to sleep.

Re: If your toddler is a belly sleeper

DD has been a belly sleeper since before 5-6 months old. Now at 27 months still is and is a HORRIBLE sleeper in the car, stroller or anywhere that is not her crib or pack n play. She will fight her sleep and might take a cat nap for about 20 minutes but only in the car once in a blue moon.

Good point about the belly sleeping thing. I wonder if this is what the problem always has been.

Re: If your toddler is a belly sleeper

DD is belly sleeper and will only sleep about 45 minutes in the car.

Re: If your toddler is a belly sleeper

Re: If your toddler is a belly sleeper

dd is a belly sleeper at night and a stroller sleeper for naps. Go figure......

Re: If your toddler is a belly sleeper

DS is a belly sleeper and he sleeps pretty good in the car. Whenever he's tired, he'll just conk out wherever he is.

Re: If your toddler is a belly sleeper

Jacob sleeps on his belly and will sleep about 30 to 40 minutes in the car. He usually wakes up unhappy also...I just dont think that its a "real" sleep.

Re: If your toddler is a belly sleeper

DD's not a toddler. However, she does not nap in the car for longer than 20-30 minutes, she is also NOT a belly sleeper, so I'm not sure if there is a correlation or not.

Re: If your toddler is a belly sleeper

DD sleeps on both her back and belly. She does not do particularly well in the car - usually an hour TOPS.