2 to 1 nap questions

[nona]

Hi,

I need some advice  . We are definitely in the midst of the 2 to 1 nap switch. My LO turned one year this past Sunday. The last two weeks have been a struggle.

For the last two weeks, my LO will not go down for an AM nap unless it is closer to 11ish. Then I have to wake him and he's cranky. If he sleeps until 12, he usually will not take a PM nap. If he does take one and I wake him early,  he won't go down for a 2nd nap until close to 4pm. If I exhaust him before the nap (ie crawl up & down the stairs several times, etc) then he may be tired earlier.    So, we are pretty much either refusing AM nap or getting a very short AM nap and refusing the PM nap.  If he refuses the PM nap, he can usually stay up until bedtime at 6:30 or 7pm. Normal bedtime is prob closer to 7:30pm. He usually wakes around 7am-ish.

For example, this morning Cade got up a little after 6am (unusual) but would not go down for a nap until 10:45. I woke him at 11:45ish. It is now 4pm and I just put him down about 5 min ago but he is up there whining and chatting to himself.  Of course, I''ll have to wake him in about 45 min.

I think we've been working on this switch for a while but it is just recently that the AM nap has become an issue. Previously, he would just refuse the PM nap if slept too late in the AM.

That is another issue. If he does take 2 naps, the naps are both short b/c I have to wake him up and then he is very cranky and upset.

I'm concerned that if I switch to one nap he will become overtired in a few days.

Do we just flip flop btwn 2 and 1 naps depending on tiredness until 1 nap a day is sufficient?

[Aly Mac]

Hi Heather 

Given Cade is going down for his first nap so late have you tried just leaving him sleep and see how long he goes for?  This is really based on just gut instinct here!!! and just a thought.  Then as time goes you can try and push the nap out later in the day.  YOu may need a couple of earlier bedtimes if he gets tired early.

Here are some links to give you some info though. 

this one is in the FAQ's
2-1 switch FAQ

and this is the support thread for the 2-1 nap switch.

2-1 support thread
I know many say that you should try and preserve the two naps as long as possible, but if he can sleep for a couple of hours at 10.45, you should be able to push the nap out later like the first link suggests.  Most have problems when they can't get their lo's to push that first nap out.  (no way L could go til 10 let alone 11).

Let me know how you go love

[andibig]

Heather
We went cold turkey when Sasha transitioned to one nap.Her nighttime sleep was solid (good 11 hours) so we wouldn't have done it otherwise.
we started putting her down for a nap at about 10.30 and let her sleep as long as she wanted and gradually moved the nap till it was around midday.
we also made sure she had some mega early bedtimes so she didn't get OT.
HTH
Andrea

[nona]

thanks for the replies. it just seems 12 mo is too early to drop a nap.  he did drop his 3rd nap around 6 mo though.

aleesa -  usually for the am nap it is only about 1.5 hours - occasionally longer.  it could possibly be longer if i push it out i guess.  i'll just have to experiment, huh? he's been going down for his AM nap @ 10:30 for weeks it seems. i may have to try out 11:30.  today he went down around 11am and it was better but he still fussed. normally, it is pretty easy and i can just lay him down. just when you think you have a schedule! 

andrea - we have a solid nighttime sleeper as well. i think i can def push it until 11:30 prob. that will be tough on me!!! oh, i love those 2 naps. how old was sasha?

of course, i've planned our lives around his two nap schedule for the next month! oh well!!!

[Aly Mac]

Hi Heather - yeh, 1.5hrs may not be enough without a real early bedtime. And he may seem too young for the switch, but he will have his own agenda!! Hey, I'll also pop this over to the toddler sleep forum for you, as they may have some more advice.  (saying this as my dd is playing in her cot instead of sleeping.  everytime I go in, she quickly lies down - so funny, but wish she would sleep!)

I've also attached another post from someone in a similar situation, that has some words of wisdom from Layla (Isabelle and jasmine's mum).

https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=107600.msg1094306#new

[meltown]

my son is almost 14 mo and he did the switch and was doing 1/2 2 and 1/2 1 nap days at 12 mo.  it seemed early to me too but he was ready and is now only doing 1 nap all the time.

[Shdef]

Scotty switched at around 13 mo and was only finished and comfortable with it at 16 mo.

If he is cranky with the short naps... what we did was alternate at the beginning. One day with two naps and one day with one.

Look:

Day 1:
- awake 5.30 (is that when he sometimes wake up?)
- nap: 10-11.30 am
- nap: 3-4 pm
- bedtime 8 pm

Day 2 (coz he had a late bedtime would wake a bit later)
- awake 6.30 pm
- nap 11-2
- bedtime 6 pm

and then... because it's an early bedtime, earlier waking and two naps again. That worked for a while, then we just "pushed him" until 11.30 for his nap. Waking got later and later after that and we are now at 7.30 waking and one nap.

[andibig]

heather
sasha was 13 months when she transitioned.the transition to 1 nap can start from 11 months with some LOs so 12 months isn't unusual.

If you do go cold turkey just remember to do mega early bedtimes and watch for their tired cues.She'll do days when she wants 2 sometimes,then just 1.

I hated the 1 nap at first but love it now as its so much more flexible with going out etc and we can plan things around that one nap.
HTH

[skatty]

We are currently going through the switch. We were doing a nap around 11 with an afternoon catnap but the last few days we have been having a nap after 4.45 - 5 hrs A time and then bed around 5.30-6pm (instead of 7) so far so good  Leorah naps 1½ hours at the most but has been making up for it overnight usually sleeping at least 12½ hours sometimes closer to 14 

I think you just have to be brave sometimes, ciome and join us on the 2-1 support thread 

[nona]

thanks for all the advice! it is nice to know we are not alone! i agree about alternating naps - 2 on one day, one on the other. as a matter of fact, the MD who wrote Healthy Sleep habits, healthy child also suggested that ( & following cues).

i marked my spot on the 2 to 1 forum just haven't had much time to chat!

thanks again!

[Aly Mac]

Big hugs to you Heather.  After L yesterday refusing her second nap, I'm sure I'll be joining you there sooner rather than later!  One consolation on her going to bed early was she stayed in bed an extra half hour!!  Thing is L went 7hrs.......(first/last nap finished at 10.30  )

[nona]

10:30! OH MY!

Well, Cade's only nap was about 1.5 hours. Oh well! It has been about 4.5 hrs since his nap and he is pretty happy so that is OK i guess.