2 Naps to One

Hi L.,

You're right - it is a long transition process. Some days it seems like it's working and then others it just doesn't. I think that's totally normal. I'd probably keep it down to one nap, but maybe at first let her nap a little earlier than usual and keep the bedtime a little earlier as well. It will eventually even out - but there may be some rough days in there. I bet most of us have been there and can relate totally. You may have already seen this recommendation, but the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth was a lifesaver for me - I constantly refer to it when I have sleep related questions.

Good luck!
C.

I have a 2 1/2 yr old and we have been through this as well. Believe me I feel for you. What I did was I let him sort of taper himself down. If he started acting up or was just plain tired he took 2naps. I didn't keep them from him. He usually got up about 730-8am so by 1230-1pm he was pooped. After about a week or 2 of making his own schedule, he created a routine of his own. I am a nurse and one thing they teach you in school is that children are creatures of habit and very ritualistic. All I did was guide his routines. Like I said if he was acting out but not admitting he was tired, he took a nap. but by every day by 3pm I made sure he had taken a nap. They ranged from 1-3 hrs. Now, 8 mos later.... nap between 1230-2 for at least an hour. In bed by 930. If he sleeps longer, I let him. He does occasionally nap later but it alters the bedtime routine, so we try to allow time for his naps in the day. Also, since she is still growing her naps (length) may vary depending on what her body needs at that particular time. Hope this helped!

L.,
What is the reason for wanting the little one to only take one nap? Are you preparing her for a day care? If not then I would suggest going back to the two naps, then maybe making them closer and closer in time and then eventually down to one.
If you are trying to adjust her to a day care, then you should stick to the one nap at the same time she will be going down at the day care and she will adjust (even though it may be hard).

My daughter is 15 months old next week and has been doing one nap a day for a month maybe 2. The thing that has helped us transition is I'm pretty busy. I take her and my 3 almost 4 year old son places and wear them out and then bring her home and put her to bed. In fact, we ended up transitioning earlier than I would have planned on transitioning because my son had so many things we were doing during her morning nap time that it just kind of happened. Anyway, we do things like going to a park, a childrens museum, to a friends house for a play date. She loves participating in whatever we do and she won't take a nap unless she's in her carseat or crib, so she just goes and goes and goes and then I'll feed her lunch and change her diaper before we go home (if it's a long enough drive that she'll fall asleep) and she'll crash in the car and I'll put her in her bed. I find that wearing her out really good helps her take a good long nap in the afternoon and then she's ready to go till bedtime. The problem is if I wear out my son too, he takes a longer nap and then he DOESN'T go to bed at bedtime....

Good luck with the transition!

It sounds like the cold turkey thing was pretty challenging:) And 12:30 may be too late for the first nap of the day. We are doing this very thing right now with my daughter, and she is ready for nap by 12 at the latest. She sleeps for 2.5-3 hours, and then she is in bed around 7:30. It is a tough cycle to figure out, but try changing things a little at a time. What about a 30 min nap in the morning, then wake her up? Kind of a cat nap to keep her going until the afternoon nap? The best thing we do is go somewhere in the morning that keeps her attention. She loves to head to the mall play place, or a friends house, even shopping. Just out! And then, I feed her before we head home, around 11 or so, and either she falls asleep on the way home, or we just lay her down. She is pretty tired from the playing too, so we get a great nap:) But, do be prepared that she may need to make up some sleep at night, so going to bed earlier right now is normal. Good luck!! ~A.~

When my daughter went down to one nap she was going to bed at 7pm and waking up at around 6am or so. We started this when she a little over 1 year. I think as long as she is getting the sleep she needs during the day it really doesn't matter. However, I would just have her do one nap a day, then put her to bed a little earlier at night. I know when we transitioned my daughter we did it in 30 minute incriments. We started keeping her up a little longer in the morning until she finally started taking one nap right after lunch - around 11:15-1pm or so. Now she is almost 21 months and it has changed again! She now takes a nap closer to noon for only 1 hour or so. Then she goes to bed at 8pm. I read that every child is different. Some need more sleep than others - your child may just need more sleep. Good luck!

I think you made a good choice, you have to do what is best for her mood.... if you want to be in a good mood that is! lol :)

My little guy took two naps for along time and at three is still a very good napper, sleeping about three hours in the afternoon. I love it, he feels better and I am less stressed!

I have found that my kids gave up a nap on their own when they were ready. If there is no reason than you thought it was a good idea than I would say put it back the way it was and let her do it when her body is ready to have more awake time. If you are doing if for a specific reason like for daycare readiness. Than you will have to get her on their schedule. But if you had a good thing, which it sounds like you did, why would you up and change it? She will wean down to one nap and then none when she is ready and her body will adjust, when her body is ready to have more stimulation in the day. A toddler, or baby, the need for sleep is also goverened by sensory overload. When their system just can't take anymore, they commonly shut down into sleep. I would say she just isn't ready to be up that long and take it all in. Let her sleep in her old pattern. You will one day miss the two-nap days.
Good luck,
L.

My daughter did the same thing when she went from two naps to one. How I did it was I made a routine and stuck to it. She would eat lunch around eleven then afterward get to play a little and go to take a nap at 11:45 she sleeps for two hours and then is ready to go again. Her bed time never changed it stayed at 7:45 and she sleeps until about 7 every morning. Of course there are times she just doesnt want to and i have to make her take the nap but the best thing was sticking to the routine.

I can only say Im glad you asked this question because I am going through this right now too. It seems like only one nap is miserable, he is soooo tired by bedtime yet he often refuses to take his 2nd nap. Im just trying to go on a day to day basis for now.

Hello L.,
Definately keep her down to one nap. At 18 months, she should only be sleeping one time a day. It should only take a few weeks and she will fit rigth in with the schedule. Also, you probably shouldn't expect her to sleep more than 1 1/2-2 hours a day, even at 18 months. The average for a 15 month old is 2 hours, so she is right on schedule. Good luck with whatever you decide! HTH

L.,

I'm thinking she may be getting ready for a 'growth spurt'. Or maybe she's 'testing the waters' for the 'terrible twos'.. Hang in there ..

.....this too shall pass...

When my daughter was about 18-19 months we were going to try to transition to one afternoon nap and it didnt work out. Her doctor (and many friends) told me not to push it and she will let me know when it is time. Sure enough...about 19 months she refused to take her am nap. Now we are on a definite schedule and it was her decision. Not only does she sleep about 2 1/2 hours but she doesnt fight me when it is time to lay down. Good Luck

My son went through the same thing a few months ago. I just basically let it be crazy for a while and took his cues...when he was tired.. I put him down. Sometimes he had 1 nap...sometimes 2 naps. He would even sometimes sleep through lunchtime. However, we still went to bed at the same time every night. After a month or so, it worked itself out. Now, he takes one 2-3 hour nap and goes to bed at 8.