Hello! My son is 14 mths. and is at an awkward nap stage. He usually gets 2 naps(10am and 2ish), but lately he doesn't want to take the 2pm, thus making him overtired and fussy in the evening. So, I decided to push the am nap to 12 so it would be in he middle of the day and hopefully carry him through. His one nap is usually 2 hours. The problem is keeping him up until 12 is hard. He starts to get fussy at 10:30am and I am keeping him busy, but I am not sure if I should let him sleep. The pros of the one nap is that he sleeps all night and wakes up at 7. With 2 naps, he gives us a hard time going to sleep (not tired enough) yet he is happier during the day. Any ideas?? Everyone is always so kind to respond and I appreciate the support:)
One nap sounds great if it guarantees an early bedtime!
Just have quiet time- movie, puzzle...etc when his 2nd nap would be or whenever he's cranky. Soon the body adjusts and he won't be cranky anymore.
Its nice when their schedule gets easier!! Mine is still napping twice but he's just 9 months...
HI D.,
Sometimes it's rough when they first give up the second nap and you just need to hang on til he's less tired. You're doing the right thing by one nap, earlier than the 2nd was, that's how it's usually done. You might also try napping him a little earlier and bedtime a little earlier and see if he still sleeps decently - if he starts getting up at 5 a.m., then of course that isn't working.
Good luck!
Hi D.
My daughter is almst 18 months and she stopped her 2nd nap about 4-5 months ago. We were in a great pattern where she would nap at 11:30 wake up at 1 PM...fall off again at about 4 for about 30 mins to 1 hour and then bedtime was at 8:30/ 9PM.
Now it is one nap anywhere from 11:30 (If she wakes up at 6) or can go as late as 1:00 nap (If she slept until 8 AM).
It is frustrating sometimes, but as of this week it seems she is getting more of a definite pattern. (falling off at 12:30 for and hour and a half).
I don't think it is the time of the nap or the length of the nap.....I'd just like it to be more consistent.
She now goes to sleep every night between 7 and 7:30.
As far as keeping your little guy up until 12, I would think you should do it gradually.....10:45 for a morning or two, 11:00 for another 2, 11:15 for another 2 days again....Just keep stretching it by now more than 15 minute intervals, and everything should work out well.
I am sure your little guy will fall into another pattern soon that will work for all of you.
But just when you think things are going as planned, he will change things around on you again.....LOL
Good luck!
P.
I have found the transition from two naps to one nap very difficult with both of my kids. It took about a month for it to really start to work for them. My approach was to put them down for a nap on the early side. i fed my son lunch at 11:00 and then he was in bed by 11:15 or 11:30. For the first week or so, he would wake up early and then I would have to put him down at night a little bit earlier as well. But then he settled into a 3 hour nap in the middle of the day and going to sleep back at normal bed time.
Hope that helps! Good luck
push for 12... make sure you feed him about 11:30 so he goes to sleep with a full tummy... after about 2 weeks he'll get used to this schedule.. goodluck.
Hi D.
At 14 months, none of my 4 were having two naps.
Most of mine were not good sleepers anyway.
My way with your situation would be to try every other day, and see if you can get to one longer nap.
I used to feed mine at 11AM, then nap, which was not really half way but since they had had their lunch they slept longer.
Now some of mine never napped, they slept 10, 2, 4, and 8 hours in 24 from oldest to youngest. Did it change in time? Not really. They are grown now and I am probably old enough to be your mom.
Are you able to talk to your mom? How good of a sleeper are/were you? I wonder if your mom would come up with great stories. I sure can!!!!
God bless you and hope just knowing that all kids are not the same helps
K. SAHM married 38 years --- adult children 37,33,and twins 18.
You just have to let them work through the transition. My son dropped his second nap but kept his first nap at 10:30 which made for a fussy afternoon. It took a couple of weeks for him to settle into the new schedule and I tried to help with making sure there was some down time in place of the second nap. We would have quiet time reading or go for a walk in the stroller.
This is just one of the many transitions that your son will go through and you will be there to guide him all the way.
Dear Mom,
Why not try activities that are more physical in the morning, Such as soda bottle bowling, kick ball, nerf baseball, go for a walk up the street if your child isn't able to do these little activities.
( keep in mind he doesn't have to do them well, and you will have to do most of the teaching work LOL)
Roll the ball to him, Baby yoga http://www.baby-yoga.com/
All these more physical activities will help tucker him out,.
Also i would put him down for his nap at 1130 and not 12.
Read a story to him in his crib so he falls asleep with you there.
M
This is the age where both my kids, and most kids I know go to one nap. The transition is tricky... but doesn't take long. You can do the transistion slowly, ie. put her down at around 10:45 or 11:00 for a few days, then a little later for a few days etc., until her nap is at 12:00 or 12:30. She will eventually ajust to one nap in the middle of the day. This worked for my kids and the kids I take care of. Make sure she gets a healthy mid morning snack, and an early lunch before nap. I noticed that kids will start getting fussy if their blood sugar is low. A healthy snack might help her keep her energy/mood up for little longer.
Good Luck!
Hi D., It is really hard to manipulate a childs nap. If you can keep him up a bit,OK but do not mess yourself up. His nap will change more than once. I know it is not easy to plan anything but you should follow the baby's lead. The day will come when he pushes it up to 12 or 1:00 himself. That may stick for a while. My best, Grandma Mary(mom of 5)
It must be the age. My daughter is almost 14 months and has been doing the same thing. I've been playing it by ear each day but I think we are going to switch to the 1midday nap. Otherwise she refuses to go to bed until 11 pm. When she only has 1 nap she usually goes robbed a little earlier than she used to.
This is one topic that bothers me. I am a huge believer that if they're tired, put them down! I know it's hard when it makes for a longer night when trying to get them to bed...but think about how you feel when you're completely exhausted. You want to lie down and rest, yet we keep them awake for "selfish" purposes. It's not healthy for them. They're growing so much and changing every day, they need all the rest they can get. Me- I'd rather have a happier kid throughout the day. It's much more exhausting to deal with them when they're cranky. Enjoy the 2 naps while you can and take a quick nap while he does if you can! That's what I do! :)
Good luck,
Lynsey
i would give 2nd nap at 3-4:30 and then give dinner . it worked for us for a long time. my daughter is now 20 month and at 1 long nap per day. he is still too young to give up morning nap. don't do it.
best, margaret
