BabyWhispererForums.com
SLEEP => Sleeping For Toddlers => Topic started by: CT Mommy on April 27, 2006, 00:05:54 am
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Hi everyone!
My dd is a great sleeper. She even tells me when she is tired and wants to go to sleep!! That said, she usually gets around 11-12 hours a night (from about 8:00-7:30/8:00). She used to be a great afternoon napper too--about 2.5-3 hours (1:30-4:00).
But, since she's turned 2, it has been a different story with the napping. She will literally sit in her crib and play by herself from about 1:30-4:00 instead of taking an afternoon nap.. At 4:00, I'll go get her. And, if she manages to go to sleep, it is around 3:45. I then try to wake her at 5:00 and she is terribly upset, cranky and TIRED. She cries through dinner, is upset for bathtime etc. If she skips the nap all together, she seems tired, but is actually less cranky and irratable. If she skips the nap, she'll sleep about 13 hours/night.
Now, there have been a few days (like yesterday), were she actually fell asleep around 2:15. And, I've heard that the afternoon nap shouldn't go away until closer to 3 years old.
What is everyone else doing? Should I just skip that nap and perhaps just give her some "quiet time" instead?
Let me know your thoughts!
Thanks,
Nicole
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She may just be going through a phase. I would continue to put her in for her nap at the normal time but if she doesn't sleep, I'd get her out at 2:30 or 3. That way she won't fall asleep late and be cranky when you wake her but she'll still get the opportunity to sleep if she wants to and will have some quiet time if she doesn't sleep.
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I know some 2 year olds who have dropped the afternoon nap and are fine, so it really depends on the child and the amount of overnight sleep. It sounds like she is ready to drop the nap, but I think the process can take as long as the 2 naps to 1 process! So some days she might not have a nap, and then the next day she will. It sounds like what you are doing is working well, so you could always go with the flow, just like you are.
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I agree. Even if they don't nap most 2 to 3 year olds still need quiet time. A friend of mine used to put her 3 kids in their crib with books from 1 until 3 and if they fell asleep great--if not, they--and she!--had a break! I'm sure that there will be days your lo naps and others that she won't. I agree with Henrysmama that on the days that she doesn't nap by 3 or so just get her up and put her to sleep early that night.
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OK.
I put her down today at the usual 1:30 time and planned to get her at about 2:45/3:00, after I put my son down. I kid you not, she fell sound asleep about 30 seconds before I got to her room!!! If I do not wake her, I am sure she would continue to sleep until 5:300/6:00 pm. I am going to go get her after I make dinner--probably around 5:00 and I believe she will be as grumpy as ever!!
At least I am getting a break today--both kids asleep at the same time, hooray! ;D
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I usually make sure my son is up by 4pm otherwise he won't sleep at night (bedtime 8pm). Whenever I wake him I just have to sit my the cot and let him wake up slowly - if i get him out too quickly he will have a huge tantrum, my fault really, i know I hate getting woken up too quickly too.
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Your post sounds so similar to what my dd1 is doing! For quite a few months she has skipped naps quite regularly. It didn't really bother me too much (apart from the grumpiness when having to wake her after a short nap!), but recently she had taken to taking her nappy off and having poopy and pee messes in the room!!! >:(. So for the last three days I have put her down at 1.30 (used to be 12.30) and so far, so good. I let her sleep til 3.30pm at the latest, then bedtime is 7pm. Not sure how quickly she's going to sleep at bedtime, but it's dark then, so she doesn't really get up to any mischief! She is also rather tired at 1.30 so putting her down can be a bit more difficult than it used to be, but at least she goes to sleep!