Should Almost 2 Yr. Old Skip Nap to Go to Uncle's Wedding

Don't skip the nap! But I think you know that. Mom's gut instinct is usually right. Think about what's happened in the past if she got off schedule.

Maybe little kids aren't even invited to the wedding?

For me, I would do one of 2 things.
1. If the reception was in a hotel, I would rent a room and a babysitter and have daughter take a nap there.

2. If the wedding and the reception are at the same location, not a hotel, I go early and set up a pack and play in the back corner of the reception hall. Then have daughter take a nap there. You could even pay a family member or babysitter to go stay with your daughter while the wedding was going on.

I have also done the following where the wedding and the reception where both at a church. Arranged to have a church member 'man' the nursery for the entire time of the pre-wedding/reception. That way daughter could stay there and nap/snack as needed and you get to have a good time, yet can check on her as needed.

We did this with a friend's wedding. We put my son in the car, hoping he would sleep on the way to it and of course he didn't. My 2mo daughter seemed to only sleep because we were in the car so much. We left the reception early to avoid any meltdowns. He was a trooper and they were all back to normal the next day, but we also weren't in the wedding, and it wasn't family.

If I was you, and you wanted your daughter at the reception, I would let her nap with a sitter. Really? Who would notice at the ceremony? Those can be boring anyway, then you can all have fun at the reception. Or she can stay with the sitter, and you and your husband can have a night out.

I would see if you could have someone watch her during the ceremony and then pick her up to go to the reception, if that is possible. I agree (partly) with your husband- you can't miss the ceremony, but it's okay if your daughter isn't there! You will be asking a lot of her that night, so don't push your luck!

The other option is to try putting her down in between the two events, but having a two-year-old I have learned that as soon as I make plans, he immediately alters his napping pattern!

If the reception is local and/or at a hotel, get a room and hire a sitter. We have done this for several weddings and I will tell you that it is a lifesaver! Our son attended the "formal" parts of the reception and then we took him upstairs (along with his two little cousins) where the babysitter and TOYS were waiting for them! No cranky kids and we enjoyed my sisters' weddings!

If I were the couple getting married I would be delighted for you NOT to bring her to the ceremony! Children her age are usually nothing but disruptive to a ceremony. Let her take her nap and then go to the reception if they want her there. A sleepy baby + wedding ceremony = nightmare and a possible bad situation for the couple getting married. If you don't have a sitter, you can hang with her during the ceremony nap time and join your husband at the reception.

When my kids skip nap - nobody is happy with the result. In fact, there would be some major, embarassing problems! If it were my wedding, I would not be hurt or offended if you didn't bring your daughter to the wedding. I'd much rather you brought a happy, well rested, well behaved little angel to the reception. I would want you to do what's best for your daughter and I would want everyone, including you and your daughter, to have a good time. If that means baby needs a nap, than baby needs a nap.

She won't remember the ceremony... and she WILL be crabby if she misses her nap. I'd make sure she gets her nap and all will be best.

wow first off id like to congradulate you on being able to get your kid to take a nap! :) I dont think it would be that big of a deal for her to miss one nap you could even try letting her take a little nap during the wedding, I mean my daughter is 3 and she has never taken a nap every day so I can't really relate to my child missing a nap. But I wouldn't keep her home to take a nap and miss the wedding. Good Luck!

The actual wedding usually is not that long. I think you'd have time to slip away and let her nap before the reception. I always say if you try too hard to keep your kids on a rigid schedule, then they will miss out on way too much in life. :)

I would take her to the ceremony and then go home and put her for a nap. Get her up about 1/2 and hour before the reception, slip her dress back on her and away you go. She won't get a full nap, but better than nothing and with all the excitement, she will most likely be fine. My kids loved these kinds of things and were usually really great. Try to get her to sleep in in the morning so that she will last a bit longer through out the day, but don't keep her up later the night before. Just do quiet things, movies, puzzles, books... That will help keep the sleepiness at bay until after the ceremony.

Or what did I do. Aunt S got married when I had a two year old. My mother graciously came to my SIL's town just to take care of the baby so the older kids and my hubby and I could be in the wedding. She kept him at the hotel for nap then brought him in for pictures then whisked him away unitl the reception. She and dad then took him and the girls, mine were the floewr girls, back to the hotel early so they could get to bed and not be in our way. They did stay for dinner and a little of the reception.
My SIL and new BIL did have my parents eat with us but they were solely there to take care of the kids.
When my sister got married my firstborn was 18 months. His nanny took care of him at her house for the entire weekend. She showed up to the wedding and then whisked him away when he needed to be whisked away.

T.,

I would get a sitter, so you and your husband can share the day and have fun to. A two year old does not want to sit still in church and should not be running around at a reception because she could get hurt or be disruptive or both.

Blessings....

We have gone to lots of weddings with our kids, and have tried both with and without naps. NAPS are SOOOO much better so that you can actually enjoy the reception. I'd have a sitter keep her at home for the ceremony, and then pick her up on your way to the reception. Your BIL will TOTALLY understand, especially when you tell him that you really want to be able to bring her for the fun and dancing at the reception, and if she's well rested she'll be much more fun for everyone.

I would definitely take her, regardless of naptime. Kids (most anyway) are pretty flexible and resilient, when you least expect it. Try to see if she will nap around 11am or noon for an hour or so. That might get her through it. And they can always fall asleep in the car to/from your destination. We try to stay on schedule, my son naps from 12:00-1:30pm. But we never give up doing something for his nap, we always try to adjust. and he always does just fine. good luck and have fun.
you could put her to bed earlier the night before... she may get up a bit earlier, so she could be ready to nap earlier!

I would go. My kids are okay if they miss anap for a day, usually they will fall asleep in the car on the way there or home anyways.

Of course, not every child can bend their schedule as easily. If you can, have a sitter watch her during the ceremony and bring her up for the reception.

I say: Ask THEM! If they want her included in pictures, then they may want you to bring her to the ceremony. They are going to be busy otherwise, and I doubt they will miss her. She may be missed at the reception though (dancing with her- oh, how cute!) And you want her to be smiling, so if they don't mind, skip the ceremony and let her nap and then get her up to dance the evening away!

Then give her a nap before before you go..i'd just go, if she get's cranky she's a baby, they'll understand. or let her sleep in the pew or on your lap if she insists she needs a nap.

Hi T. - even though it's a family wedding, I would definitely recommend getting a sitter. She is so young, she's not going to really experience anything. If it's an important time for family members to get to meet her, maybe the sitter could bring her to you for the reception. Perhaps the sitter could even stay for a little while and then take her home for bedtime and you and your hubby have a fun time at the reception.

Well, without a nap at all... that is a LONG time for a toddler, to have to stay awake and 'behave' and into the night for the reception.

My kids, were and are regular daily nappers, since they are babies.
The are not 'portable' nappers though. They do not nap on the road or in a stroller or anywhere EXCEPT for at home. That is the way they are. So we did plan things, around, their naps.
Or, cut the timing short, and left earlier. Or 1 parent (me), would stay home with our child, for naps.

Or.. you put your child to nap BEFORE you have to leave for the wedding.
Or, if she will sleep in a stroller.....

With my kids at that age, they will NOT go to nap or nap, unless "I" am the one putting them down. So for me, there was that factor too. And when my kids were tired, at that age, they ONLY wanted me... and they got clingy/fussy... if tired and no nap.
So there is that factor too.

Your child would need a nap... it will be too long for her without one, to last all day and into the night. And it does affect their behavior... and levels of fussiness.
And when a kid is 'over-tired'... they often have a hard time going down and falling asleep.

all the best,
Susan