M.W. asks from Fresno, CA on January 03, 2007
2 To 1 Nap a Day Now
I would just like a bit of other moms experience for changing from 2 naps to 1 nap a day. I have a 13 month old son and he is really not taking an afternoon nap and his morning nap is moving later then usuall. This just seems really early for him to do this. My Dr. says he needs 12 hours of sleep a day and he is getting about 12 to 13. I was just wondering when other children moved naps around.
1 mom found this helpful
So What Happened?™
Thank you everyone for all the personal experience. It has made me feel so much better about letting Nathan stop the afternoon nap. It is a frusterating process because it seems there is either too many hours in the day or just a few too many right now. We are doing a late morning nap until about 1 and then a afternoon readding quiet time and an earlier bed time.
Thank you again. This was the first post for me and I really got some great advice.
Featured Answers
K.E. answers from Fresno on January 04, 2007
I also have a 13 month old son doing the same thing. He use to take two short naps, one around 10:30am and the second around 3:00pm. He's recently starting merging the two together. He now (usually) takes one long nap a day starting at 1:00pm. Everyone I've talked to said this is normal for his age, plus it makes my life easier since I only have to work around one nap a day instead of two. Hope this helps!
More Answers
B.D. answers from Portland on January 11, 2007
Doctors tend to give you textbook answers for common questions and that is most often helpful as a guideline. Remember that your child is not like anyone else they all develope at different rates in different areas. Textbook answers are what is found to be common but there are always exceptions. This may be the one thing that doesn't follow the book while all the rest of his behaviors do. No worries mama, he is doing what is normal for him ,for now. If you see problems that start because of this then ask the doc, but for now I think you should just take that nap right along side him cause you are going to need it being a mommy! B.
H.J. answers from Los Angeles on January 03, 2007
My olderst son gave up his nap all together at 13 months!!!!!
My daughter moved from two naps to one at 11 months, she is 2 1/2 and still loves her nap. I think every child is different. But most of the moms I know move to one napjust after 1 year.
J.D. answers from Spokane on January 03, 2007
He is starting a little early, but it is common, and your doc will tell you it is not HOW they sleep or how MANY naps they get, but the AMOUNT they get. Try cutting the morning nap and enfouring the afternoon nap. He should do better that way.
K.O. answers from Portland on January 03, 2007
Well, not only do I have 6 children of my own, but I also do daycare in my home. All of the 3-4 year olds I tend to take naps. Some of the 4 year olds don't, but I make them lay down and rest anyway. I wouldn't worry about switching to one nap a day until about 18 months, UNLESS, you and your baby are not sleeping at night. Only adjust if it is necessary at such an early age. I agree with Jaci D. You should adjust his first nap to be shorter and then you need to WEAR HIM OUT!!!! Go for walks, to the mall, shopping, playing, etc. He will sleep better in the afternoon. Just make sure to not make either of the naps too long so he can go to bed early and wake up early. This will keep your schedule regular...for a while. :)
Good luck!
K.E. answers from Fresno on January 04, 2007
I also have a 13 month old son doing the same thing. He use to take two short naps, one around 10:30am and the second around 3:00pm. He's recently starting merging the two together. He now (usually) takes one long nap a day starting at 1:00pm. Everyone I've talked to said this is normal for his age, plus it makes my life easier since I only have to work around one nap a day instead of two. Hope this helps!
G.K. answers from Fresno on January 03, 2007
M.A. answers from San Diego on January 03, 2007
My daughter gave up her afternoon nap around 14 months, then a few months later gave up naps altogether....I think it was around 18 months that she no longer napped. But she was getting a full 12-13 hours sleep at night so she was fine most days. every kid is different. some kids love naps, some don't need them. as long as he is getting enough sleep at night and seems fine during the afternoon, I don't see a need to worry. I think it's harder for us to lose the nap times than it is for them.....I use nap times to get chores done!
S.V. answers from Stockton on January 03, 2007
Honestly I have 6 kids of my own and I found that the nap time should be start somewhere around 12 and last no longer than 3 hrs or so. My kindergardner gets out at 1150 and when we get home its about 1153. I lay my 3 yr old down by 1210 and my 6yr old down at the same time, Then my third grader gets home about 230 and she lays down to "rest" which means she falls asleep..
My three yr old has been on that schedule for almost two yrs and it works great! Give it a try, but I think more than one nap a day is just a waste cause they wake up from the first one with mass amount of energy and then still has most of that energy come time for second nap.
So just stick with one nap and wear that baby out just in time for that nap and all should go well.
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