I have a 14 month old daughter who had a very stable napping schedule until recently. she was talkng a morning nap of about 1.5 hr and a afternoon nap of about 1.5 hours with slight variations. Prior to about 5 weeks ago she was going to bed at night b/t 6:30 and 7:30 (at the LATEST).when she started daycare 3 days a week she didn't get home with my husband until 5:30 or six then she eats dinner, bath and by the time she's ready for bed it's 7-7:30. Her naps have recently shifted, probably as a result of this slightly later bedtime. Not only that, but lately, she is in bed by 7 or7:30 but is awake in her crib (chatting to herself, kicking her crib playfully) for another 1-1.5 hours! so she sometimes she doesn't sleep until 8:30!! On MWF (daycare days) she needs to be up by 6. Occasionally we have to wake her, but on her days "off" she usually sleeps only until 6 or 6:30 anyway. Her naps have shifted so that she takes a good morning nap still 1-2 hours, but in the afternoon she plays in her crib for an hour after I put her down (usually by 2:30) then sometimes sleeps until 5 when i wake her up to preserve an "early bedtime". I know some children drop to one nap around this age (about 50% from what I've read), but ususally it's the morning nap that they drop. I would be willing to try dropping the afternoon nap since that's the one she's having problems with, but at daycare "all children must rest from 2-4" so that isn't an option there. Should I try to push her through without the morning nap (which will not be fun, she's pooped by 9 or 10) so that she goes down easier and earlier for her afternoon nap and hopefully goes down sooner for beditme? should I start with doing that every other day (ie Tues and Thurs when I'm with her) and let her take her AM nap still at daycare? Is it too early for her to drop to one nap? Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks in advance!
Hi M.,
I am also 31 and mom to almost 5 year old twin boys. Have you tried putting her down for a nap later in the morning - maybe around noon - and letting her take one longer nap in the middle of the day? My boys were taking only one nap per day at that point and that was easier for day care as well. Just my quick thought. Hope it works out. Let me know if you have more questions or need anything else.
Happy sleeping!
C.
Drop the morning nap, be consistent with what she does at daycare, it will save you having a crabby toddler. They thrive on routine! It may be hard for her at first to make it through the morning, just give her a couple days to adjust. Just try to be consistent every day,I think that is the most important thing! Good Luck!
My son is now almost 2. I believe he dropped a nap right around 14 or 16 months. I was having the same troubles as your are, so I gradually pushed back his morning nap and gradually shortened his evening nap. Unfortunately, it was easier for me because I am a SAHM. Eventually, with the evening nap shortening, he was falling asleep earlier in the evening, allowing him to stay awake later in the day to have just one mid-day nap. Of course, his mid-day nap to this day can last up to 3 or 4 hours, but making sure he has plenty of awake time in the evening, bedtime is smooth and simple. I think the complete transistion took consistency and about a week to accomplish. GOOD LUCK!
Hi M., As I recall I just let my kids tell me when they were done with having 2 naps. I believe it was around 1 year of age when mine went to one nap a day. It sounds like she is ready. Good luck!
I watch children in my home, and I must say that is a late nap time, especially for the little ones. Yes usually around this time I have found I can transition the children over to one nap it can take a week or so for them to adjust. But you/she needs consistancy throughout the week. Is she in a center or home daycare? If she is in a home daycare I would really ask if there is anything they can do to move up nap time, (possibly just have her nap in a seperate room earlier than the others). I know a few providers and worked in a few centers and have never heard of a np time so late. I have one child that I watch, one day he might go to sleep at 8pm and the next they will keep him up till 10:30 at night. I get a cranky boy in the morning and he can't even make it to morning snack time He will fall asleep on the couch or where ever he is. I will usually let him sleep for a half hour or so. That way he got a little rest and can make it until after lunch then to nap, ours starts as soon as they are done with lunch about 12:30. Good luck
When my daughter was that age she was only taking one nap a day and seemed to be doing just fine with it. the only thing I do recommened is changing the schedule and keeping it the same each day. It seems to me that it is to h*** o* them to go back and forth from day to day. She will get use to it a lot easier if it is one change and then steady again. Sorry I couldnt help more with your question, but I hope it helped a little at least. Good luck!
Wow, she wakes up at 6 but the school nap schedule isn't until 2? That is tough (and awfully late for toddlers!). Are they offering to let her take 2 naps at daycare in the toddler room? At 14 months she's probably not too young to go to one nap if she's exhibiting signs that she's ready (like sleeping shorter periods during regular naps), but 8 hours is quite a stretch (and 4pm is an awfully late wake-up time when normal toddler bedtime is 7). Most of the time when people suggested dropping 1 nap to me, the suggestion was to put her down for a nap somewhere in the middle (i.e. instead of 1.5 hr. morning nap at 10am and 1.5 hr. afternoon nap at 2 try a 2.5 hr. nap at 12 noon). I guess I don't really have a suggestion for you, but in my experience (like the other women have said) consistency is key. You might try talking to other parents at the school and guaging (sp) how they feel about the late nap schedule. If there is enough concern of the part of the parents, it could warrant a change in the center's policy. Sorry I couldn't be more help.
Dear Napping Question:
Your daughter is definatly ready to drop the am nap. I know you stated you would be willing to drop the pm nap, but it probably is best (up to you tho) if you drop the am. Only bc after dc comes kindergarten. At that age my lil one stopped am naps and did the pm but went to bed at 8 830. she is three now and has only quiet time for and hour or hour and half. its totally up to you, she might just be sleeping too much... best of luck. keep up the great work mom!
First I would try to keep her on the same schedule everyday. I would get rid of her morning naps all together and have her nap earlier instead of later in the afternoon. If she is still stlleping until like 5:00 at night that's probably why she's not going to sleep until around 8 or 8:30, she practically just woke up. Also, because she is getting older she could be needing less sleep. I would try to lay her down for a nap a little bit after lunch and see how she does. Hopefully, she'll take a longer afternoon nap. It's importnant she keeps her afternoon nap time since that's what is required at daycare. You could also try having her take a shorter morning nap at first and see how she does, that way she'll be tired for her afternoon nap. Since she'll be tired when you try to not have her take her morning nap you could interact with her more at that time so she doesn't think about it or you could rest with her, REST not NAP(read books or watch a short movie). Eventually, she'll get to where she won't even be tired in the morning at all.
well this age most kids are down to 1 nap at this age. My daughter is now 22mos so it was not that long ago for us! But the school naps her at 2 thats kinda late for a baby her age. At my day care they lay down in the 1's room at like 11:30- 12ish. But I personally think the afternoon nap is needed except at school they are so late which will interfere with bed times. I'd say try to do the same thing everyday. So she goes to childcare 3 days and is home the rest?
