2-1 transition -- when to stretch

[lucmom]

Hi,
When transitioning LOs to one nap and they're kind of inbetween (refusing second nap, but not taking a long enough single nap, etc.), when do you stretch for the one nap and when do you go by signs and put them down and try for two?  We can successfully stretch him to 12:00-12:30, but his naps are rarely 2 hours (usually more like 1 hour, 20 minutes) so I'm wondering if he's overtired.  If we try for two naps, he sometimes won't take the second and then we're doing early bedtime (which doesn't always work for us and sometimes leads to night or early wakings).  Any advice?

[RyansMum]

Hi, how is your lo after sleeping just 1hour 20mins?  If lo appears ok with this then I wouldn't worry.  My lo never goes over 1.5hrs for a nap and has this anywhere between 11.30 and 12.  His bedtime is 7.30 and he is never overtired.  Perhaps wind your lo down in the afternoon with quiet activity like books, TV, quieter toys, like blocks, perhaps a walk if you think they are getting overtired.  Hope that helps.

[lucmom]

Thanks RyansMum,
We thought our LO was doing just fine...he's always been on the shorter side of total sleep for his age.  But, then he started having early wakings, which may or may not be related to illness, so we're not sure if it's that or if he's been getting steadily more overtired since the switch.  Any suggestions on that?

[Mydreamcametrue]

lucmom:  I am having the same exact problem. 

My lo is almost 13 months old.  He has always LOVED his morning nap (2 to  21/2 hours).  But lately he WILL not take his afternoon nap.

He seems fine with just the long AM nap, but that has made him ready for bed at 7:00 and has been waking at 6:00/6:30 (He was waking at 7:30).

- For what ever reason even is he does take an afternoon nap, he always wakes up FUSSY.  So for example today, it did not matter that he did not take the afternoon nap because he is always fussy around 4:00/4:30.

Anyhow any sugestions?  I have joined a workout class with him that requires us to be there from 9:00-10:30 and then a 20 minute drive back home. 

Weds. he was fine during the class, ate lunch when we got home and I put him down at 12:15.  he went right to sleep, but he woke up 30 minutes later SCREAMING!!!  He cried for 30  minutes and nothing I did could settle him.  Finally i just layed with him and he slept until 3:00, BUT he was SO SO SO SO fussy for the rest of the day.

What should I do?  Just cancel the class???  Thanks!
-Wendy

[Mom to M&M]

The early wakings could be a sign of overtiredness - have you tried limiting first nap to 30 minutes and shooting for a 1.5-2 hour second nap?

Wendy, your LO sounds a lot like mine - she's always preferred a long morning nap but then lately refuses her afternoon nap. Same advice as above - have you tried limiting his morning nap to one hour and then get a decent second nap? Or will he at least take a catnap in the car on your way home from the class and then get a long second nap?

[Mydreamcametrue]

Hey Karen: 

What are you doing for your lo now?  They are only 3 days apart. 

Most days he wakes up at 11:00 from his morning nap and still want take the afternoon nap. 

I thought he would catnap on the way home from the class, but the other day, he was so fussy on the way home (super tired) and almost fell asleep by the time we got home. 

I guess I could always just ride around until he fell asleep and then just keep driving.  I have done this so many times.  One time I even pulled in our driveway, put the van in park and went to sleep myself.  LOL 

Before i joined this class, i was letting him take his long morning nap (he always wakes up so happy from it).  We would leave and go run our errands, have lunch while we were out, etc. Head back home around 2:30 and he always always falls asleep in the car for about 30 minutes.  I tried this today.  He slept until 12:15, then i went out around 2:45 and NOPE he did not sleep...

What do you do?  How does your schedule look?

Thanks,
Wendy

[lucmom]

Hi Karen,
I have some questions too!  So, it's ok to limit the morning nap to as short as 30 minutes?  Then how do we go back to transitioning to the one nap?  When we first transitioned, he did great for a few weeks, then got sick, and I'm thinking that the sickness affected his sleep, and then he got overtired, and here we are.  So, I'm not sure of the best way to get back on track now....thoughts?

thanks

[Mom to M&M]

Luc Mom - yes, it's fine to limit the morning nap to as little as 30 minutes. In fact, I'm a fan of not moving to one nap until your LO starts refusing one or both naps (even with a limited one) and/or fights bedtime. If the short morning nap works for you, when your LO is ready I think he'll start refusing that one/pushing it later and then you can just go to one long afternoon nap.

Wendy - my DD definitely still needs two naps. Our days vary though - if DD got a good night of sleep I let her sleep up to one hour in the morning and then do a second nap about 3.5 (sometimes more) hours later - of about 1-1.5 hours. But on days we plan to be in the car in the late afternoon, which happens a decent amount on the weekends, I let DD take a long morning nap and then just a snooze in the car to tide her over. That way actually works best for her and us but it only works when we are using the car anyway (which isn't that much since we live in the city) - she wont' nap in her stroller unless sick.

[Mydreamcametrue]

Hey Karen:

I think I will try that.  For example this morning Zach slept until 8:00 and layed back down at 10:15.  Gosh, I really hate waking him, but I know if I don't then he WILL NOT take his afternoon nap and there is no way we can get out today.  We have strong rain and winds here in Virginia today.  it is comig the hurricane.  So a day inside ALLDAY, YIKES.. We always atleast get out once a day... Wish me luck.

[Mom to M&M]

I know what you mean, Wendy. We also get outside at least once every day. We live in Manhattan and walk EVERYWHERE so it's tough when the weather doesn't cooperate.

I also wake Marisa if she's not up by 7 for the day (as long as she's had a decent night of sleep and isn't sick or anything). That way there is time to fit two naps in. I can't wait until she's ready for one long nap so I don't have to keep waking her - but she's not there yet! In your case, maybe wake Zach if not up by 7:30 and try first nap from 10:30-11:15 and second nap from 2:30/2:45-4 and bedtime at 7:30?

[Mydreamcametrue]

Hey Karen:

Yeah normally Zach wakes up about 7:30 (i think he was sleeping so good this morning because of the rain and being dark outside).  Lately though he has been waking up at 6:15 YUCK.. Maybe he is getting back on track now.

You live in New York, you are SO LUCKY.  I love it there.  My husband and I went for New Years Eve for 2004 celebration.  That is when he proposed to me on a carriage ride in central park :-).  It was the time of my life.  We ate dinner at the Rainbow Room while we were there.  Times Square was Awesome.  Our hotel was in Times Square so we actually were able to get into a resturant and hang out until the ball dropped.  We were not in the middle and stuck in between all those people.  FUN FUN.

I really want to go back.