Transitioning from 2 to 1 Nap

My older son had a similar issue. I tried to get him on a one nap schedule and found it stressful and unsuccessful. I stressed his first day or so. He however did fine transitioning on his own. He was so busy playing with his new friends that he didn't miss his first nap. When everyone got ready to nap after lunch and things quieted down he was out! So you may need to do nothing.

Hi K.,
I HIGHLY recommend reading "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. He explains biological sleep rhythms and how/when they develop/evolve and the importance of syncing them with your child's sleep times in order to produce the best quality sleep. The average child at your daughter's age still NEEDS 2 naps daily, one around 9am and one around 1pm with an early bedtime around 6pm. He is VERY adamant about the need for an early bedtime, and as he is a pediatrician extremely experienced in sleep and sleep disorders, I trust his reasons. (he can back them up with TONS of research) If there is no other daycare you can find that still naps 1 yr olds twice a day, I would start to slowly move her morning nap a little later each day until it is mid day and moving her bedtime to 6pm at the latest. I know the main complaint working parents have about the early bedtime is they don't get to spend as much time with their children. Well, I have always felt that a child's NEED should outweigh a parent's WANT. Sure you want to spend alot of time with your child as you miss them, but a child needs to get alot of good quality sleep. Read Dr. Weissbluth's book, it opened my eyes. I have a 3 yr old daughter who was sleeping through the night at about 3 months old and has rarely fussed when put to bed. She sleeps 11-12 hrs each night and is one of the smartest kids I've known at that age. I give alot of the credit to the fact that she gets the right amount of sleep at the right times. If you are interested in more info on Dr. Weissbluth, email me.
Sincerely,
L.

Hi K.,

It's so hard being a first-time mom, and worried that you might be missing the "timing" of something. Even though my boys are 5 and 11, there are STILL times when I wonder if I'm missing a window of opportunity!

I think if your daughter still "needs" 2 naps, then she ought to have both. However, if she's ready for the transition, then it sounds like the Daycare Center will be a great help to you.

I would keep your decision simple.....I would base your decision on what your daughter needs, and not the nap schedule at the Center :o)

N.

try training her now, having her stay awake as close to 12 as possible, maybe the first few days she will make it to 11 am and keep pressing it towards 12. she may also have an easier time transitioning at day care b/c she will be so stimulated with a new place and new kids that she may stay awake until nap time- she will adjust either way , even if it takes a little while and is tired for a few days
good luck

You can start laying her down for her morning nap later and later, a little at a time. Perhaps 10 minutes later every couple days. When she is at day care, she will be so busy playing, it will be a fairly easy adjustment.

Hi K.,
The book The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems was a fabulous resource for me for sleep issues. In fact, once I got them on a regular napping schedule during the day and sleeping through the night at about 3 months, I didn't use the sleep section much. One thing the book recommends for adjusting a nap schedule is having your daughter gradually take her 1st nap later by about 5-15 minutes each day until she's taking a long nap at the time you like. You can always let her take a short nap later in the day if she needs it or just get her to bed a little earlier so that she can get the amount of sleep she needs.
I hope that helps,
C.

From someone who has worked at centers... I find that most centers do naps from around noon to 2 or 3 p.m. starting at age one... or when the child transitions from an infant room to a toddler room. I agree that a lot of children still need the two nap schedule at that age, but most adjust to the daycare schedule within a week or two. I think that has a lot to do with the types of activities going on. As long as there are active children to play with, a child will stay busy and then be tired enough to sleep for several hours at the scheduled naptime. I'm assuming that with a half day schedule, someone will be picking your child up by naptime, and having her nap at home. If she's napping at the daycare, I highly recommend a random visit several different days.. and at slightly different times during naptime, just to look in to see how she's doing... but not to let her see you and disturb the routine. (Teachers are inderstandably 'testy' about visits that disturb the children's naps.) That way, you'll be re-assured ... or if there is anything questionable about their routine, you will be able to address it with the staff.
One thing that parents aren't always aware of... a center is a business and must follow laws regarding employee breaks. Naptimes are designed to help them get in those required breaks because when the children are asleep, one teacher can watch the same amount of children that requires two teachers if they are awake. It may not be the best plan from a child development standpoint, but the fact is that managment has a tough time keeping all the different requirements satisfied. They could hire extra teachers, but that would most likely raise your childcare rates to a level you wouldn't like to pay (and let's face it, childcare is expensive enough as it is!)
A home daycare may be able to work more easily with different naptime routines than a center can. You might want to check into that if keeping the two naptimes is important to you and your child.

At about a year old my daughter started to not need a second nap. She was at a daycare with lots of kids and played more. At around noon she would sleep for 2-3 hours. Then at 5:30 when I picked her up she would fall asleep in the car for about 20 minutes. Her bedtime was around 8 or 9pm.

I think your daughter will adjust on her own. My daughter is almost 9 months old and she naps at 10 and ~2pm at home on the weekends (and sometimes an early evening nap too!). At daycare, she takes one midday nap at around 11am (which will get pushed to 12 when she goes to the toddler room). I think there is so much going on that they don't realize they are as tired as they are and it just works out. I would let the daycare transition happen on it's own and don't change what works for you at home! Good luck!
I don't really understand why someone would state that a child/baby needs to go to bed at 6pm. If they are sleeping 11 hours, then they would be waking up at 5am. Why is that any better than sleeping from 8pm-7am?? That being said, if I don't get home until 5:45pm, when am I supposed to feed and bathe my daughter if I put her to bed right away?? (Let alone spend time with her!)

I found this great website, familysleep.com I think. It helped with SOOO many things. The way that we went from 2 naps to 1 was to push that first one out as far as we could, hopefully about 11:00. Make that the only nap and if you can, week by week move it out by 15 minute intervals. At first it will be a long strench from nap to bed, but my son adjusted quickly and took a longer nap. He is 2 1/2 and still naps for about 3 hours a day.

I'm not sure if your daughter is walking yet, but, if so, I think you are in a good posiiton to start transitioning her to one mid-day nap. My daughter just turned one and she is transitioning to one nap. She is walking now and we will often go to the playground in the morning with my older son. This environment is so stimulating that she has no desire to sleep. I would suggest going outside for the morning and slowing increasing your time there (maybe in 15 minute increments). I have found that a midday nap is usually around 2 hours instead of 2 1-hour naps.

Best of luck to you!
N.

My daughter is 14 months and is on the same nap schedule as your little one. The center allows her to take her nap when it best suits her and any care center should. It is not until closer to age two when the 12o clockish nap should really be a factor. Truthfully, if she is playing with other kids, she might just play longer and nap closer to their schedule on her own. I notice that my daughter does tend to nap at daycare a bit different then home but goes right back to 10 and 3 when she is not there. I think you should just see how it plays out before trying to change a schedule that she is happy with...daycare will be a big change as it is. Goodluck! L.

K.,Children adjust very well, It should not be a problem. I am a mother of six and a pre-k teacher.

Hi K.,

Your daughter is too young to go to one nap. She should have a morning and afternoon nap until she's at least 15 months. Some kids need 2 naps until they are 22 months. Most kids don't go to one nap until they are 18 months. If you transition her to one nap to soon it might disrupt her nighttime sleep (meaning she will sleep less at night because she might get overstimulated from too little sleep during the day).

So, my suggestion is to wait until she is about 18 months old. BUT, if that is not an option, could you try napping her at 8:30 and 12:00? I watch two kids (11 mo. and 12 mo.) who nap comfortably at these times. I have them go to sleep at noon because I have a toddler who naps once a day at this time. It may seem early but little guys get used to routines fairly quickly and they can't tell time :)

Best Wishes!

E.