When Did You Make the Transition from Two Naps to One?

It's usually around 12 months when they drop their morning nap. But yeah, each child is different so just go with what they seem to take to. If they seem too tired in the morning without their nap, they might not be ready. You can always try it out for a couple of days to see how it goes.

16 month-old just switched to one nap in the afternoon but still ocassionally needs his mornin nap too.

Mia,
This is something the children dictate, it's not up to us as parents to eliminate naps, their little bodies will let us know when they don't need a nap anymore. at 18 months my baby was taking one nap at 10:30 and sometimes a second on in the late afternoon.

Hi Mia,

Every kid is different when it comes to naps. Our son really was the one who chose when we changed the naps. I think he was somewhere between 18 months and 2 years old. We got to a point where he would not go to sleep at night if he had 2 naps or if he napped too late in the afternoon. We had to do the nap early - before 1:00 and up by 2 or 3:00 latest if we wanted him to go to sleep at bedtime. By 3 years old there was no more nap time.

Just observe your sons and see how they are with their naps. You may have to do 2 separate schedules for awhile until you can get them both to one nap a day.

Good luck!

My son transitioned right after he turned one. When he was still taking two naps, the day was split evenly; he would be up about 3 1/2 hours in between sleep periods and would be down for about 1 1/2 hours each nap. Now the day is still split evenly; about 5 hours after he gets up in the morning, down for about 2, then up for about 5 before bedtime. Hope this helps.

Every child is different. Just go with your gut and with what your children are "telling" you. Try different things and see what works, what doesn't. For example, I thought my almost 2 year old was ready to not take naps anymore, so I tried not letting her nap for 2 days in a row - and both times she totally passed out at like 4pm while playing or whatever. So that was my indicator that she definitely still needs a nap, so I usually put her down around 1-2pm now (if I do wait 'till 4pm, it's just too late and then she doesn't go to bed until later than normal bedtime...)
If you think your twins may be on a different schedule, you may wanna try something "in between" as a compromise, or you can just let them nap separately if that works for you. Like I said, just listen to your gut and to your children's bodies and I'm sure you'll make the right decision! :)

I always transitioned my children to one nap by the time their 2 years old. Having lunch at 11:30am is a GREAT start! Morning wake up time is no later than 7:30am, and I've always fed them lunch at 11:30am, with an afternoon nap immediately after (for my 3 year old). The nap will usually last about 2-3 hours. Bedtime for ALL the children is at 8:30pm.
If you find that your babies are still sleepy, try to keep them stimulated, or make bedtime even earlier.
Good Luck!

my son dropped his 2nd nap at 11 months..he's almost 3 now and he still takes one nap a day...sometimes for 2 hours

My son didn't drop his until 18-19 months. We slowly dropped the morning nap. I couldn't start it later because he was a sitters house and I wanted him to nap at the same time as her son.

There are two ways to get rid of it. You make the morning nap later and later, but you do it gradually. So, every few days take off 15 minutes. Then, the later nap is pushed back some to adjust. Or you can put them down for their morning nap at the same time every day and wake them up earlier and earlier every few days. Some days, I just did away with the nap all together because I had things to do. On those days, we would go on walks and to the park to keep him busy. Then, I would put him down at 12:00. It took us up to a month or two to fully get rid of it. The slow transition really helped for us.

I just did what I thought was best for my little guy. If he need the nap it was given, if he didn't we did something fun. Just do what is best for you little ones. They will tell you.

Some kids need more sleep than others, so if they still need it give it. If not, just keep them busy to keep their minds off sleeping.

I hope that helps.

I don't have twins, but have 2 children, ages 29 months and 6 years old. They still nap.

I don't believe that at this age, or through 5 years old, that naps are 'completely' 'gone.' But it changes and evolves. And a child will still nap, if given the opportunity and if you cue into their needs.

That being said. If your kids are not doing their morning nap, early...then simply move it up about an hour or so. It's not hard.
And yes, keep flexible enough for the other baby who still seems to need his morning nap or both.

The KEY... it to 'CUE' into your children... and observe them closely. A child this age will STILL get tired and need a nap.

My son, has taken 2 naps a day, since he was a baby. Sometimes he doesn't need his morning nap. Sometimes he does. But, he WILL take his afternoon nap, regardless. I know this, because I know him and his 'cues.' No matter what... even if his naps are now an hour later... I KEEP TO THE SAME pre-nap routines. No fail. My son knows it like auto-pilot, and it is not a struggle to put him to nap. It takes me about 1/2 hour for 'wind-down' time, prior to nap. Then he naps... putting him down in the crib when he is still awake. He falls asleep on his own.

My daughter, will still nap in the afternoon, after school. She does this about 2-3 times a week. If not, we have a 'quiet-time.' My kids know it like the back of their hand. So, it's not a struggle.

The KEY here... being CONSISTENT AND SAME ROUTINE, EVERYDAY. I have done this with my kids since they were babies. So, it's no shock to them, and it's just a part of their day, and they know it. I don't force naps on them... but I know they are tired and they nap. My kids will even tell me sometimes that they want to nap... they know themselves, by now.

It's just important to keep in mind... that a baby/child fluxes... there will be times (due to developmental changes) that they go through 'phases' of "seeming" to 'not' need a nap... but if you keep to a 'routine'... and still put them down at about the same times... you will keep 'them' consistent and build up good nap/sleep 'habits' in the LONG term. If they don't nap, then fine. Take them out and don't have one that day... but the next day, just keep to your routine. The same thing.

So, it requires the parent to be flexible, to know their baby's cues, and know that they are tired... it is not a finality.... that napping will disappear entirely & for the rest of their childhood. Especially at this age and older. In preschool and Kindergarten, kids still nap. They need it.

So, gauge your children. I believe, that at this age, your babies are just changing and going through developmental phases. It's normal. It is not just a cut and dry thing...that you 'have to' get rid of their naps. No, not at all. Just adjust it. KNOW that naps ebb and flow.... but are still needed. It is an important for their development too.

For example, for me, I 'schedule' my kids naps, according to my daughter's school end time and when I have to leave the house to pick her up, then come home, and what not. So, my son naps at about 10-10:30 a.m. For 2 hours. Then, after I pick my daughter up from school, they both nap at about 3:00-3:30. For 2 hours. Then, they go to bed at night at about 8:00-8:30. And they sleep fine. Their afternoon nap does not interfere with their night time bedtime. My son has a pattern, and I know it and when he gets tired. He's like a clock.

For you, you can still put one twin down for his morning nap since he still seems to need one. Or try putting both down, still in the morning. Or, you schedule it for around 11:00 as you said. And see how that goes. Main thing is to keep CONSISTENT. A baby/child will get attuned to it.... and it's better than having an 'over-tired' baby. My kids, because they nap, are rarely fussy, and they are energized by their naps. It keeps them even keeled.

The transition in changing nap times are not 'hard.' If you must make the naps later, just try in 1/2 hour increments. And see which one helps. But I would not forgo naps 'completely.' They will still need to nap and will naturally get tired.... thus, CUE into your babies... and gauge them. Sometimes they will only need 1 nap... on other days, you will find that they will still need 2 naps. It can vary. So, observe them. That is the best. It worked for me all these years and my kids still nap. Willingly. :)

Like Laura S., my nap/bedtime schedule with my kids is the same all the time... the same 'routine.' It REALLY helps in the long run...

Good luck,
Susan

My son made the transition around 12 months. He was always a terrible/short napper, so moving to one nap made life much better for everyone. Even at 20 months now, we've stuck with the same routine of lunch around 11:30, and nap immediately after around 12:30. Like I said, he is a short napper, so only sleeps about an hour, but is happy all day. To make the transition easier, I would take him on a walk around 10am, where he would "snooze" for about 10 min. This held him over until his real nap after lunch! Good luck!

Both of my kids transitioned to one nap at just about the 12 month mark. It was not my plan... it was theirs. Instead of going down for a nap at 10am and then again about 1pm, we started doing one single nap around noon or 1pm - and they would sleep about 2 hrs. Then that afternoon nap started getting later and later. These days, it starts about 2:30. It is also getting shorter. Sigh.

Every child is different when it comes to naps, so with twins you may have to evaluate each. My son went to one nap when he was about 16 months old. I just noticed that he wasn't tired anymore around 9am (his morning nap time) and could stay up longer. When he started to get tired I would put him down. At first this was around 11am and now it is as late as 1 or 2pm. They know when they are ready, you just have to watch for their signs. It messes with your daily routine for a while, but once they are down to one nap it is actually easier to plan your day around it. Good luck!

My kids dropped down to one nap around age one. It takes a couple of weeks to get used to the new schedule, but it shouldn't be a nighmare. You just slowly move the morning nap later and later, and cut down the time of the afternoon nap, and once the nap is around noonish, drop the afternoon nap and put them down early in the evening. Make sure to feed them lunch before the nap so they don't wake early from being hungry.

How long are the naps that they're taking? All children are different and your twins will definately let you know when they're ready to go down to just one nap a day. My son transitioned right around when he turned 1. He decided there was too much going on in the afternoons and didn't want miss anything. He goes down around 10:30/11 and sleeps till about 1 and then he has his lunch after he wakes up.

I transitioned my twins early (about 10-11 month) because my daughter was such a wretched napper. It was hard on my son for a bit, but he adjusted. I would try to have them down by about 12 after eating lunch. 1 at the absolute latest. If he slept 2-3 hours that was fine. She usually went an hour maybe an hour and a half.

You'll be fine. It actually gives you one longer nap which you will then become very attached to!

When I transitioned my daughter to one nap a day, my ultimate goal was to get her down for a nap AFTER lunch. Which meant that everything gets screwed up. You just push up the morning nap by 15 minutes at a time and bring the second nap closer to the first nap until they get to close together to be 2 naps. Just drop the second nap all together. They may even go to sleep earlier then with 2 naps. I used to put my daughter down for the night at 8:30pm or so, Now with one nap a day she is in bed by 7:30pm Now, my daughter is 21 months and she takes a nap anywhere from 11:00 am (which is obviously not after lunch)to 1:00 pm. I would say that it all depends on when she wakes up in the morning. The later she wakes up, the later she takes her nap. I have succeeded in getting my child on one nap a day, but, there isn't a specific time I do it. I have a friend whose kid wakes up that same time every day, nap time is 1:30 pm and the kid will take a 3 hour nap.......he also sleeps from 8:00pm to 8:00am........crazy huh??? I'm sooo jealous!!
Good luck!

I don't have twins, but have a 3 yr old and a 2 yr old(2/3) and the girl who is 3 yrs old stopped her 2 naps a day about 20 months and my son I just stopped it approx 1 wk ago. They transitioned fine and I just kept the second nap the same which is 1:30-3:30 which they both take.Bedtime is 7:30 pm for the 2 yr old and 8:30 pm for the 3 yr old and we have luch 11;30 am. The schedule is the same all the time. Remember each kid is different, but that was our schedule and the way I do things here and my kids are usually fine-sometimes the 2yr old will almost fall asleep in the car if it is close to naptime, but I just try to keep him awake.GOOD LUCK! L.

Around 7m, I wanted one long nap so it didn't chop up the day so much. My son started napping after lunch for about 3hrs.

Hi Mia,

My son just stopped sleeping during his morning nap--that's when I dropped down to one nap--I just moved the afternoon up a bit--2:00pm became the naptime.

Good luck--it was not a terrible transition for us at all--don't worry!

:-) D.