Schedule help

At 18 months we are most certainly on one two hour nap a day. Sometime two and a half but usually just two. We wake up at 7:15 and eat breakfast by 8 am. I try not to give them too many snacks after breakfast because I'd like for them to eat lunch at 11:30/12. So around 9 am or so they get a fruit and they finish their breakfast milk cup. I've tried pushing lunch up to 11 but they won't eat that early. I tried feeding them at 12:30 then they fall asleep during lunch. It just seems no matter what I do they're just not eating lunch! Either they fall asleep with a face full of lunch or don't eat it. Then they wake up at 2:30/3 and its time to get my oldest from school. I pack a snack for them but they are starving! They want a full meal at 3:30/4 but dinner is at 6.

I must be doing something wrong in here! Help! :umm:

 

I don't think you are doing anything wrong! I went through the same thing. Only, I didn't have anywhere to be, so I just gave them a snack before their nap and lunch after. It was late, but we eat dinner a little late, too, since DH doesn't get home until 7. I'm now going through this with the 1 yo I babysit, but don't have an answer since he normally takes a nap until right before his dad picks him up.

 

QUOTE(Twinsanity+3 @ Apr 16 2008, 10:33 AM) [snapback]724561[/snapback]
At 18 months we are most certainly on one two hour nap a day. Sometime two and a half but usually just two. We wake up at 7:15 and eat breakfast by 8 am. I try not to give them too many snacks after breakfast because I'd like for them to eat lunch at 11:30/12. So around 9 am or so they get a fruit and they finish their breakfast milk cup. I've tried pushing lunch up to 11 but they won't eat that early. I tried feeding them at 12:30 then they fall asleep during lunch. It just seems no matter what I do they're just not eating lunch! Either they fall asleep with a face full of lunch or don't eat it. Then they wake up at 2:30/3 and its time to get my oldest from school. I pack a snack for them but they are starving! They want a full meal at 3:30/4 but dinner is at 6.

I must be doing something wrong in here! Help! :umm:



Poor N & N! That picture is too cute (LOVE their hair, btw)! We struggled with this too for a while. I'm not sure I have any good advice as we didn't have school pick-up issues to toy with our scheduling.

I would start by skipping the morning snack and then sticking with an early (even as early as 11) lunch, followed by a hearty-snack (whatever is portable). How about some cheese sticks (are you guys full vegan, or just lacto-ovo)? If you're not vegan, my kids are really into the Morning Star breakfast sausages for an occasional snack. I can zap it in the microwave in less than a minute, and it is much heartier than a pile of dusty crackers (healthier than Boca products too).

My kids are big into dried fruit (they like the freeze-dried stuff too, but that's PRICEY), that travels well (cut up dried apricots are our current favorite, but we also like yogurt-cranberries, yogurt-raisins, cherries, mango). We've also recently discovered the organic CLIF Kids Z-bars and fruit leathers, they are a great on-the-go snack.

 

Mine nap around 11 am. I give them a half of banana and some crackers and then feed them lunch around 1pm, when they wake up from their nap. It is working for us so far.

BTW, You are not doing anything wrong!!!! This schedule stuff is so hard!

 

I don't think you're doing anything wrong, you just need to figure out something that works better for you.
How about making lunch a little later and getting them to nap earlier? You could push the morning snack back to 9.30/10ish and they could start their nap between 10.30 and 11. Then feed them lunch when they wake up 12.30/1. Afternoon snack when you have collected your older son from school. Once they get a bit older they will probably be able to stay awake long enough to have lunch at 12/12.30 and then nap.

That photo is adorable, btw!

 

They refuse to nap earlier, I forgot to mention that... I like SweetPea's idea of cutting the snack out and doing an 11 am lunch. We're lacto-vegetarians (no eggs though.) I'm going to try this tomorrow. Today they skipped lunch AND the nap!

Thanks for the help, this middle of the day nap is killer!