help help help

[cscott]

I really need help. My LO is nearly 11 months and is ready to have only one nap. She has always slept under the average for her age, is very active and a happy baby. However whenever I try and delay her morning nap she wont take the second. If I shorten the am nap she hardly ever sleeps longer later. At the moment she sleeps 30 mins am (not woken) and 1 hr in the pm if I am lucky, sometimes it is only hr all day. i have tried giving her 1 nap but she often sleeps 30 mins 45 mins or only an hr and is v cranky by bed time (early bed = early wake with her). She is frequently woken by a dirty nappy or a burp and then will not resettle. The nights were OK they went  terrilble (possibly teeth/ separation anx?) and are OK again. My husband and I are so fed up and our little madam is so confused by the change. Many thanks.

[Mom to M&M]

When you try to offer one nap only, what time of the day do you offer it? What time does she wake up?

[cscott]

I offer her a nap at about 12. I was told it would take a long time for her to adjust but she just seems so tired.

[Mom to M&M]

That may be too late for her right now. What time does she wake in the morning? She may need that nap at 11 or 11:30 instead. My DD rarely makes it past 11:30/11:45 for her one nap.

[cscott]

Thanks I will try a bit earlier. What time does your wake up/go to bed? How do you manage to get lunch in?

[Mom to M&M]

Marisa typically goes to bed between 7 and 7:30 and wakes between 6-6:45. We don't do a proper lunch - I offer a small lunch or brunch before her nap and a healthy snack/small lunch after.

[emlay]

We did the transition at 11 months also.  DD would usually wake between 6:30 and 7:00 and then go down for her nap at 12:00 or 12:30.  She transitioned really well and naps for about 3 hours each day.  She is in the bed at 7:45 maybe 8:00 most nights.  In the beginning if she got a little tired before her nap I would go for an errand or a stroller ride for a quick nap.  We did not have to do this but maybe 4 or 5 times before she adjusted.  Good luck and hope this helps some.

[cscott]

Thanks for the reply. Florence gets up at such different times but usually between 6 and 7. She really seems to be struggling on 1 nap becuase the it is so short. Today she collapsed at 11.45 but only slept 30 mins I managed to get her back to sleep but she then only had another 30 mins, it's so frustrating. Poor little girl then gets grumpy before bed. But when she had 2 sleeps they were either v short or her bedtime got later and later and then my husband and I have no time together. She used to manage from 6 am to 1.30 pm with only a 30 mins am nap so I figure she was ready to have only one nap. I am so worried that she is getting more and more exhausted.

[Mom to M&M]

Remember she's quite young for one nap. What happens if you limit first nap to 30-40 minutes - will she take a second nap of 1.5 hours?

[emlay]

I agree that she may be young for just one nap.  But I read my LO and knew she was ready for one nap. She also sleeps for 3 hours so that helps.  You may want to wait for a little longer and after she gets a little older it may go a bit smoother.

[cscott]

Thank you everyone for advice. My little one is doing a bit better now. She goes down around midday and if she wakes after 45 I put her back to sleep so she is having 2 hrs or so. She is sleeping in later now that the morning nap has gone. I feel so pleased that I read her and knew she was ready for one sleep even though it has been tough. Let's just hope it lasts.... dangerous words I know!!!

[emlay]

Thats great!!!  You just have to know your own child and take lead from them.  We started sleeping in after going to one nap also. Great