THIS is a pretty rare sight. My child asleep in his pushchair.
As a baby he used to love dozing off when we went for a walk, but now it’s tough work. I’m not sure if this is because he’s so fascinated about what is going on around him, or because he finds it uncomfortable - whatever the reason, he fights sleep.
Ordinarily this doesn’t bother me - I love Dexter and enjoy his company. But occasionally it’s annoying. If we’re out all day he gets cranky and starts crying. The bottom lip wobbles and any possibility of holding a conversation with another adult goes out the window. He’ll want me to pick him up and play to stave off his tiredness. Rocking the pushchair or blocking out the light doesn’t work - his cries will get embarrassingly loud and I have to give in.
If I’m out with friends, this is a real problem. At home, he naps between 11am and 1pm, and has another quick nap around 4pm. I literally dread these times when I’m out with him as he’ll get very frustrated and start to kick off. What should be a nice day out turns into chaos. I’m very conscious of it if we’re around other people and will usually trudge home to pop him down in his cot. This means I’m often abandoning my friends or whatever I’m doing.
I don’t want for Dexter to dictate when I’m able to go out of the house but he does just that. Of course I understand that parenting isn’t easy and I can’t have everything - Dexter is a ridiculously smiley and happy baby and we never have any problems getting him to sleep at home. Perhaps I should just accept the fact that he’s inflexible about how and when he sleeps… Or perhaps I shouldn’t give in to him and just ignore his cries… I just don’t know.
Does anyone else have this problem? What should I do to control it?
My two were just the same. I used to envy other mums who could sit in cafes and chat over coffees whilst their little ones cooed and amused themselves in their buggies. Dexter is now getting to an age where sleeping is too boring compared to all the things he can see and do whilst awake and out and about. TBH I don’t think there is an answer and you will have to get used to timing your outings around his naps or try and meet others somewhere where his antics don’t stand out as much such as toddler groups or in the park for a picnic. Just part of being a mum I am afraid. I’m so glad that mine are past this stage. My youngest no longer has daytime naps and has cracked potty training in the last week. We can have a conversation. I do like this age (3).
I’m with you - it seems other mums have a bit more freedom. But then these are the mummy’s I see out and about - I bet there are thousands behind closed doors rocking back and forth in frustration!