The Dreaded Car Nap
We’ve likely all been there…
You’re on the way home from a Saturday lunch and playdate with friends, the sun is shining bright, you’re listening to fun music, and you’re thinking about how everyone had a great time. When you get home in about 15 minutes, you’ll let your 10 month old play for a bit, and then put him down for his afternoon nap. You glance into the rearview mirror, smiling at your baby in his carseat.
GASP. He’s fast asleep. Totally out.
But it’s almost an hour until his nap time! What do you do now?
We’ve got your back! If you know how to handle them, they don’t have to derail the rest of the day. Here are some ways to adjust when your little one falls asleep in the car when you’re out and about.
1. If your child falls asleep in the car for 30 minutes or longer, let that count as a nap.
It may not be as long as their typical nap, but even a 30-minute snooze will offer a short recharge so that you can continue on with your day. After this, offer another wake window of similar length before the next nap. For example, if your child can typically handle a 3-hour wake window between naps, you will offer a 3-hour wake window after the car nap. You can adjust this forward by 15-20 minutes if your child is obviously tired and ready for his nap a little earlier.
You can then let this nap go a little longer if your child is sleeping well (up to 2 hours), and it will put you closer to being back on track for the day!
What this might look like…
10-month-old Hayes almost immediately falls asleep in the car on the way back from a doctor’s appointment (which started just before he was due for his first nap), so Mom takes the long way home, goes through a drive-thru for a hot coffee and a scone, and does a couple laps around the neighborhood before pulling into the driveway. Hayes has been asleep for 40 minutes and stirs once she turns off the car. She counts this as his first nap and will offer his next nap about 3-3.5 hours later, depending on his temperament.
2. If your child sleeps in the car for less than 30 minutes, add more time before the next nap.
Say the drive isn’t that long, and your child only naps 10-15 minutes before you arrive at your destination and get her out of the carseat, ending the nap. At this point, you will add more time to the current wake window, pushing out the start of the next nap. We want to build up enough sleep pressure so that she will actually fall asleep after her short snooze.
The amount of time to add will vary depending on the child’s age and temperament, so you will need to make your best guess based on your individual child’s cues. Younger babies typically only need an extra 15-30 minutes, where older children might need 45 minutes or more. Tune into your child to see what will work best for them, and if you don’t get it exactly right, that’s okay!
What this might look like…
15-month-old Mabel falls asleep on the way home from her Mommy-and-Me music class right before lunch and her subsequent nap. It’s a quick drive, so she only snoozes for 9 minutes, but it gives her a second wind. She eats lunch, but instead of starting her nap time routine right afterward, Mom lets her run around the living room and play with the dog for 30 minutes while she cleans up lunch. She then starts her nap time routine, reading a couple more books than usual to help her wind down even further. All in all, Mom added about 45 minutes to the current wake window to build up sleep pressure. She lays Mabel down, and she puts herself to sleep in about 10 minutes.
These two options can give you flexibility the rest of the day. It might be that bedtime needs to fall a little earlier or later to accommodate a different nap time, and that’s okay, too. Just know that the unexpected car nap isn’t the end of the world, and your little sleeper can adapt as you simply live life!
Still feel like you can’t leave the house?
If all sleep is a struggle, and you would love to the get to the point where a car nap was the least of your worries, please know that we can help. Check out our services or reach out to schedule a free discovery call. You’re not alone, and we’re here for you!
Please note that I am not a medical professional, and this blog post is not meant to serve as medical advice, a diagnosis, or any form of treatment. If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with your child’s pediatrician.
