My 18 month old will only take one nap a day that lasts from 1- 1 1/2 hours long. Does anyone have tips on how to lengthen naps? I can't get much done while he's sleeping and don't get much of a break. My day with him is so long without a significant break. Does anyone else have a toddler who does the same? I often wonder if this is "normal".
Thanks,
S.
Mine does this too sometimes even shorter like 45min-1hr. She's also 18months but still doing 2 naps a day for the most part. Afternoon naps I can usually get 1-1.5hrs.
How much does he sleep at night? My daughter only sleeps about 10-10.5 hrs a night.
Okay, this will sound weird, but my 19 month old daughter will only sleep about 1.5 hours if I put her down for 1 nap, but if I push her for 2 naps still, she'll do that twice, giving me 3 hours total nap time. It doesn't change her bedtime, or wake time, and I can't explain it. She doesn't always want to sleep twice, but even if she cries for a few minutes, she always sleeps. She really seems to need the morning nap more, but the afternoon nap makes the evening more pleasant - less whining.
Also, check the temperature or light in your son's room at naptime. Maybe it's warmer than at night or there's too much daylight. He may need more "nighttime" conditions to nap effectively.
Oh Man, I feel for you! My mom says that my sister and I never took naps at all when we were little--either she's delusional, or she's a saint for not going to the looney bin after no down time for that long! Crazy. I do knwo that at my son's daycare, once the kids get to about your son's age, they actually transition the whole class to being on one nap per day, in the afternoon (noon to 2pm), but at least that one is TWO hours. I have read suggestions in books that you jsut put som toys int eh crib so even if they do wake up, they entertain themselves quietly for a while--at naptime, you don;t have to sleep, but you do have to "rest" and be quiet. Worth a shot?
normal.ust put him to bed as early as he'll go with out waking any earlier to squeeze out some maximum evening alone time.
My daughter has never slept more than on an hour long. When she was 18 months, I was lucky to get one 45 minute nap! Some kids just do not need as much sleep. I know, it can be very frustrating. My daughter is now 2.5 years old she sleeps for one hour a day. My son is 4.5 and takes 2.5 hour naps!! It makes no sense!
I think that all kids have different sleep habits/needs. I have 2 boys, both very different sleep needs. I have talked to my pediatrician about naps, and he said that my 16 month old needs at least 2 hours of nap time a day. Since my son only takes one nap (and always has been that way), then he must stay in his crib for 2 hours. I have tried many different approaches to this, and I have chosen to teach him to sleep by letting him cry a little (my pediatrician is for this method). I made sure that with naps I was consistent in time and place (always in his crib with a room with room darkening blinds at 1:15PM), same routine as nightime, and then I lay him down. If he gets up before 2 hours, I let him play in his crib for the remaining time. At first, he would cry for a little. After about 7 days of that, he caught on and now plays. He isn't sleeping, but it is quiet time which he needs. So, it is up to you to do what you feel comfortable with. If you aren't comfortable with him crying some, then just go in and rock him for a little bit (make it boring, no eye contact, lights, etc)....whatever you are comfortable doing.
If you try to no avail, then maybe try putting him down earlier at night. That may help. He may get up earlier in the morning, and then take a nice nap. Another thing to do is to make sure he is getting a lot of exercise play in the morning....always keep him moving. This should wear him out in time for a nap. Are you involved in any classes? Music class seems to wear my little guy out.
Good luck!
Hi Stephaine - I think that's pretty normal. You should be grateful he takes one at all! Mine is very active takes about the same nap as yours. Doesn't sleep very long at night . It's tiring but what can you do - you cannot force him to sleep - when they are awake they are awake.
I know it gets frustrating, My boys never took naps for me but for the babysitter at least 2 hours a day. I even babysat kids last year and the boy who was a couple of months older took 2 2 Hour naps per day. So I think if they get enough sleep at night they may not need as much during the day. All my boys even my youngest at 14 months sleeps 12 hours a night at least.
Hi S.,
I have 18 month old twins. We do EVERYTHING on a schedule just to make life easier. They go to bed at 7:30 and get up at 6:45am everyday. Then they have breakfast, play, have a bottle and nap from 9:30-11:00. Lunch is at 11:00, and then we play until 1:15. They nap again from 1:15-3:00. This has been our schedule for a long time now. Maybe you could try putting your little one down at the same time every morning to try a little rest time? It has been such a routine for us that they don't fight it. Hang in there. Some kids just don't need as much sleep as others. But I would try the "quiet time".
