My baby shows both signs of being ready to go to one nap as well as signs that she still needs two. She is 22 moths old. We can often make it until after lunch with no nap and her not getting cranky. however, Some mornings she just falls apart without one and I end up putting her down. If she gets a morning nap she often takes a long afternoon nap as well. But recently has also resisted falling asleep at all for a second nap. I'm okay that we are in a grey area and that her needing one or two naps at this point is not cut and dry. Just wondering who long this transition last. I've forgotten.
I know a lot of babies loose the morning nap sooner than this (especially when they go to day care), but we are still in the normal range for two naps. Actually morning naps are better for brain development than the afternoon one, so I don't want to push her to one nap before she is ready. I'm just wondering how long transitions can take.
The reason I want to figure it out is scheduling activties and outings. We have a 4.5 year old too so we like to get her out and about. Today for example we were all sunscreend up and ready for a bike ride when low and behold baby falls apart and we put her down instead of going out. I don't like making arrangements to leave the house only to tell my oldest we are staying home.
Hi Jane.
If I remember correctly -- 2 years ago :) -- we transitioned to around a nap to around noonish or onish time, and pushed up bed time earlier as well. Does that make sense?
Best, J.
In child care all babies are down to one nap by the time they turn 12 months old because they transition to the next room and that room only takes one nap.
So it is normal for her to be down to one nap by now. She needs to be entertained for about a week during the mornings. She needs to eat lunch earlier then lay down. It will be hard at first but she'll adapt. Try making stuff with play doh, finger painting with pudding (be sure to toss it, the milk will curdle but it is safe to play in and lick the fingers), do something that requires both sides of her brain. She needs the mental stimulation during this time and then she'll crash as soon as her tummy gets full.
I wonder what time she gets up, if she is getting up extremely early that may be why she is needed more sleep. She's not getting it during the night so she has to make it up during the day.
I would recommend getting a copy of Healthy Sleep Habits. It is my sleep "Bible".
From personal experience, our kids both transitioned to one long afternoon nap at around 16 months.
Good luck! :)
www.educationmom.com
What time does she get up? What time are her naps?
My kids lost the morning nap earlier than yours (especially my 2nd and 3rd children - we were just busier).
When we transitioned to one nap, we moved lunch to an earlier time, then started nap right after. So, instead of rising at 6, napping at 9 or 10, eating at 12:30 or 1:00 and napping again at 2 until 3.
We rose at 7 (or later if baby slept later), were busy in the mornings (going for walks, parks, to the pool, classes, etc.) then came home for lunch by 11 - ate by 11:30, then were down for nap asap. Baby would then usually sleep until 3:00. I found that my kids ended up with the same amount of sleep time, just combined into one longer after lunch nap. Which - was much easier to plan around, and I could get so much more done while they slept.
Our bedtimes did not really change, since they were really sleeping the same.
Good luck!
I don't know how long it'll take to transition. Since she probably has the freedom to nap whenever, I'd just let her do what she needs with naps. It'll probably be a hassle sometimes but I would think within a few months she'll be more consistently down to one nap. PS-I think it's great you've been able to let her sleep according to her needs rather than a daycare's needs.
Just have her nap, when needed or by her cues. So even if that is only 1 nap or 2.
Each day, it may be different. Hence going by your child's cues.
My son: he napped 3 times a day up until about 1 year old. Then napped 2 times a day, until he was about 2 years old. Then at about 3 years old, only napped once.
But all along, his nap "timing" segued into a different time of day. Per his age and needs and development.
So for example, when he was 3 years old, his naps were generally in the afternoon... at about 3:00.
But he still, went to bed at night just fine, by 8:00pm.
No battles.
My son is 5 now, and will still nap occasionally. No battles.
And still sleeps fine at night.
With my daughter as well, I just went by her cues about whether she napped once or more a day and per her age/needs.
So like you said, instead of being cut and dry about it... I just went by my kids cues.
And for them, they never napped on the road or in a stroller. They'd nap only at home.
