My daughter is 13 months. She goes to bed between 7 - 7:30 every night. I wake her at 6:45 in the mornings. She takes 2 naps a day. About 45 - 1 hour each. When do you go to 1 nap a day? What is the best way to do it?
Every kiddo is different, you'll know when she's ready. I think my son started the 1 nap/day right around his first birthday. Even though he's almost 2.5 years old now, he still sleeps 12-13 hours at night and takes a 2-3 hour nap during the day.
Once she starts complaining about going down or when YOU can tell she's clearly not ready, back nap time up. eventually, the 2nd nap will disappear.
Hi Lindee! In my home-daycare, all of my kids "kick" the 2 nap habit at 12 mos. If their naps are not more than an 1.5 hrs, they probably just need one long nap. I transition my babies by staying VERY busy. I go somewhere for the first 2-3 days where they can't sleep. Like last week to transition my 11 mo. we went to the park (day one) and then the pool (day two). We didn't come home until 12:30pm so he then started sleeping from 12:30-4:00.
All of my children just quit taking one of their naps. You'll know. Some of my children kept taking 2 naps for a long time. I think it just depends on the kiddo.
Hi Lindee,
My daughter started on one nap a day at around the same age (13-14 months). And if she is just taking 45-1hr naps, maybe its time to push the first nap back and get rid of the second. The best way to do it is to have her play really hard that morning so that she is very tired for that first nap. Then, when its time for that second nap, just keep her busy again. She may go to bed a little bit earlier at night but thats OK. Keep this up and she will adjust to taking longer naps (2-3hrs at about 1-2pm). Its nice to have that longer break in the afternoon, especially if you stay home with her.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
Hi Lindee,
I think it depends on your daughter. My son went from 2 to 1 around 16 months. I've read the average is 18 months. My son started sleeping well over three hours in the morning and not in the afternoon, so I just moved it to the afternoon. By slowly moving it back a half hour each day. I think either your daughter will quit sleeping in the morning, and just play in her crib. Or, the morning nap will get very long and she'll try to skip the afternoon nap. In either case, I think she'll give you cues that she's ready. And at first, it can be rough, the transition usually leaves them with too little sleep for a while, but she'll adjust and probably sleep longer for her afternoon nap when it's the only nap she's taking.
Good luck!
C.
Hey Lindee!
I totally agree that it depends on the child. My 18 mo old daughter has always only napped once per day. She does however nap from about 1-4 or 5 in the afternoon though.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
N.
