Up until a couple days ago we had a great sleep routine. My son would need a nap every 3-4 hours. So after waking up in the morning, he took 2 naps during the day then would sleep 10-11 hours at night. Then Sunday was daylight savings time and then Monday he learned to not only sit up from a laying position but also then stand up in the crib. So now, he is sleepy after about 3-4 hours after waking up in the morning. As usual. But then, he doesn't want to take a nap at all until about 8 hours later. That is obviously bedtime for the night. So what gives? Is this just a phase because of his new exciting ability? Or is he really ready for only 1 nap. He is not cranky or irritable. Before, I used to tuck him in and leave. Should I stay with him and calmly lay him down again? When he stands up be calls out to me and gets upset. Should I just let him work it out? Your experiences and expertise would really help!
By the way, it seems that he is sleeping an extra hour at night. No issues with waking up or anything. Seems he is getting a total of about 13 hours of sleep.
Thank you all for your "Most Excellent" advice!! I am still trying to get him to take that elusive afternoon nap but its been almost a week and he is happy and bouncy! So even if he doesn't sleep and ends up dropping that nap at least we have some quiet afternoon time. I think you guys are right, I think its time for just 1 nap.
Dr Weissbluth writes an excellent book about healthy sleep habits and explains everything normal and abnormal about infant/toddler sleep. Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Sleep-Habits-Happy-Child/dp... - Excellent Book!
With my two little ones, every time there was a new milestone, sleep was affected. It always went back after a little while, so I just kept to the routine and eventually they would go back. It became very clear with both of them when they were ready for one nap - they would sleep in the morning and not in the afternoon or they would not sleep in the morning, even when they were in their crib for a while. But I kept trying the two naps for at least a couple of weeks after these symptoms started, just to make sure.
My kids didn't cry in the cribs at all either, but during these times when they were overtired they would sometimes cry when I put them in. For a week or so each time I put them in bed for morning nap but with a stuffed animal so they had some other distraction. Sometimes they would fall asleep, other times they would just stand up in the crib and play with the animal.
Hope my experience is helpful, though all kids are definitely different. Good luck!
This is totally normal, when a little one learns to stand up! I really don't think he's ready for just one nap. My son's sleeping got temporarily messed up when he learned to: roll over, sit up, stand up, walk, run, etc. He always settled back down within a short time, by us staying consistent with the nap/bedtime routine.
It sounds like your gut instincts are perfect here. (Of course!) Lay him back down one time, and then let him work it out. And just like you said, once he and you have it all figured out....something new will happen to screw it all up again! :) My son started throwing his teddy bear out of the crib and refusing to nap 3 weeks ago. So we got a crib tent, and now he's back to sleeping like an angel. Who know what will happen next??
I lean over the crib and put my arms around my daughter, but do not pick her up. She's learned that means, mommy loves me but won't be picking me up no matter how hard I scream. I hang out with her talking, soothing until she starts to calm down. Then I leave the room. She'll cry for a bit, then put herself to sleep.
As for the one nap, my transitioned to one about that time as well. As others have suggested, try putting him down right after lunch and keep your routine the same. He'll adjust.
Every kid does it differently, but it sounds like maybe he is ready for one nap. for all my mommy friends their kids took several weeks if not up to 2 months to really be on a schedule with one nap. It took my son almost two months of 2 nap day here and a one nap day there to finally stick on one nap. So don't be surprised if he changes again this week. The timing is right, so look for him to take the lead. It sounds like he is a real sleeper, so he will probably tell you when he is tired and will take the lead, My son is like that too. good luck!!
Somewhere around 1 year most kids transition from two or three shorter naps to one long nap, usually around mid-day (or early afternoon). With my boys, I would still put them down for their morning nap (usually in the pack 'n play in the dining room, not in the crib), just to give them a little quiet time, but if they were still awake in 30 minutes or so, I'd get them up. There were about two weeks of crankiness just before the afternoon nap time, but that went away once they adjusted to the new schedule. (Same way with giving up the afternoon nap - a couple of weeks of crankiness around 5 PM, but once they adjusted to the new sleep schedule, they were fine...)
HTH
Yep, 1 is that magic age when the two naps disappear! Your best bet is to put him down for his one nap right after lunch. If you need to make lunchtime earlier than usual for a while, that's fine. Eventually, he'll be happy and awake until about 12:30, and then take a good nap!
Good luck.
Both my kids moved to one nap a day at round one year so it may be that he's ready for this now.
Hi Beata,
Usually anywhere between 12-18 months is when babies give up the 2nd nap. If your son isn't tired or cranky, that's your cue that he is getting enough sleep. Trying to keep laying him down is going to seem like a game to him, when kids learn to stand in the crib, they lay down when they're ready to sleep. If you think he's tired, leave him standing there and just walk away - is he sleeping 20 minutes later? If not, probably doesn't need the nap.
My son is 13m and has been taking only 1 nap in the afternoon for a few months now. He'll sleep about 3hrs from 12:30-3:30pm and then go to bed at night at 8 and sleep until 7:30am.
If he seems happy with one nap and his nighttime sleep is good, then I'd stick with it.
Beata,
1 nap, 1 year. Yup, sounds just like my DS. At least he managed to make the afternoon nap longer sometimes...
I would just let it be if he is not tired, don't put him in. That being said, if he is not tired, and he didn't get much sleep the night before (teething, sick, etc) then I would dim te lights, play quietly and if he gives you the signs, read him a book and see if he calls it quits for an hour or two.
OTW, don't mess with the one nap - you might lose that for a few days!
Good luck!
M.
Can he get himself back down from a standing position? If so, let him figure it out. At some point he will no longer have those bars to keep him in so he will have to know how to put himself to sleep. My son is sometimes standing when I put him down too, but I just close the door and let him do it himself and he does with no problem Good luck.
I think he is ready for one nap. I have twin boys - 18 months old and they both stopped taking 2 naps at around 10-11 months. They now nap from 12:30 to 3:30 and go to bed at around 7:45 and sleep through the night until about 7-7:30 am.
As far as the standing, let him work it out. It sounds like you've been doing a great job.
Good Luck
J.
Yeah it sounds like he's ready to drop that first nap. That's about the time my son went from 2 naps, to 1. As far as tucking him in, I would just keep up with a strict routine when putting him down. With my son, he KNOWS it's sleepy time when he goes in the crib because we've stuck to the same routine since birth! Books/sing songs, rock him in the chair, tickle his back, and then put him in.
Good luck!
Lynsey
Hi, I am a mother of 3 and my two oldest stopped napping completly at the age of 1. It is normal. You just need to get used to not having more time to yourself. Lol. My youngest is six months old and I am praying I will get atleast 1 nap out of him after 1.
