Support for "Dropping that last nap"

[Mom to M&M]

I think I'd say that on days he does nap maybe cut it to 1 hour and then try for 7:30 bedtime?

[Katet]

18-21 months, two naps, only really see that if they have alot less night, average i mean

Stacy I'd say that with most children BUT DS#1 didn't drop to one nap until 21months & that was only by my forcing due to ds#2 being due soon & I didn't want the transition with a new baby... he slept 7.30-6.30 with 2 naps & then 7.30-7 with a 2.5hour nap... needless to say he didn't drop his nap until 4 1/4 & still will maybe 1/week have a nap, esp on days like yesterday when we have a long car trip after a busy holiday.

 now ds#2 is different (although still sometimes had 2 naps around 20mo) & is getting close to dropping his nap as we need him to go to bed earlier (for ds#1 sake) but he is the type of child that falls asleep anywhere & is very hard to wake (even 4 moves in & out of the car, plus being put on the floor during his brother's preschool pick up + vacuuming didn't wake him) so getting him not to nap or too nap is a real chore.

[rinajack]

Wow Kate, that is incredible.

I am finding the same as a couple of other mums - Zara is happier if she doesn't nap.  And she is happier next day too, cause her nights are longer.

Yesterday asleep 6:15pm, and slept til 6:45am - 12.5 hours in UNHEARD of in our house! And that was at least an hour sleep in! She is at daycare today, and I have requested that she doesn't nap unless her behaviour indicates that she really needs to. Will be interesting to see if they stick to that, the normal routine is that kids have quiet time which can include a nap, but I suggested maybe they could simply do some reading with her.

Interestingly, I have been complaining lately that Zara wont' play...not independantly, and not much with me either, she has no concentration, and is very disagreeable.  This morning (and on the no nap days) she has been playing much better, both with us and on her own!

[Mom to M&M]

So DD was in a good mood on no nap yesterday but we definitely find that the hyperness and not listening factor increases after 5pm on no nap days. We put her in crib at 7:45 (she had woken for day at 8:25) but she wasn't asleep until closer to 8:30 or even a bit after. Then she woke at 6:20 (heard DH) but luckily went back to sleep until 7:25. Hoping she'll nap today as I think she needs it - probably will try in her crib at about 1 and if not shoot for a stroller doze while I run some errands this afternoon. I just hate having to wake her as she's such a bear to wake and then cranky for a while. Grr.

[brightside]

Ben had a 40 min nap yesterday. I would have preferred to let him have an hour but bedtime would have been really late so I woke him after 40 mins. It took him a good half hour to come round but he wasn't ratty. He was in great spirits once he'd woken up properly and went to bed at 8.30 and slept until 7.30  .

[rinajack]

Zara napped 1/2 hr at daycare yesterday, was asleep before 7, up at 6:10am...BUT Hugh had a bad night, and then tired old me got cranky too, so our whole family had a NW of over an hour last night, so she will surely need to nap today

[MommaHolmes]

Yuck - know how you feel Rina! Not nice when everyone can't sleep (and far more difficult to settle anyone!). Hope she naps for you cos I bet mommy needs a rest as much as anyone!

I decided not to even attempt a nap today - after 1.5hr nap yesterday Ollie had his worst night in ages (8:45-6:30 with one NW) and had much less overall sleep too. He was fine at lunchtime so let him stay up and he played beautifully until about 3ish when he started to get a bit frayed around the edges! Bedtime was 5:45 and he was asleep by 6 so am hoping he'll have a decent night.

Am gonna play it by ear but if we don't start seeing extended NW or EW then I think it might be bye-bye nap 

[Mom to M&M]

Put DD in her crib about 1 but she was not even attempting to sleep and by 1:45 was yelling to get out. So got her out, gave her a snack and then we went out in the stroller to do some errands. She fell asleep at 2:40 in the stroller and I woke her at 3:30 - she was SO upset and cranky for a while - yuck. Guess will do bedtime between 8:15 and 8:30 tonight or so. So does the fact that she fell asleep in the stroller (while motionless in line at store) today and in car Saturday (again motionless while she was in car with DH and I was buying lunch) mean that she does still need to nap but needs WAY more A time? And if so do I try 6+ hours A time but limit nap to one hour tops if she does fall asleep?

[Katet]

How do you ladies wake children? yesterday ds#2 fell asleep in the car at 4pm from 4.50-6pm I TRIED waking him... almost non stop, only possible because dh was home & he slept until 7pm & then was awake until 11pm... not my ideal but he'd look like he was waking up & wouldn't... I have a child who will fall asleep anywhere if he is ready & then won't wake up URG. It's not like I can put him in his cot as he hasn't been in one for over a year & he will "chill" out on his bed for 15mins or so... we are so caught between a rock & a hard place with him & he gets up for the toilet most nights too... then climbs into bed with me at about 6.30am I SOOOO SOOO need him not to nap but in true "family" style he can fall asleep if he needs to even once fell asleep  standing & only last week fell asleep on my shoulder at a zoo.

[Mom to M&M]

Kate, DD is REALLY hard to wake up in her crib. Easier to wake from stroller or car. But in any case she's so upset and cranky for a LONG time after I wake her so in some ways I'd really prefer to move to no nap and an earlier and longer night. But I don't think she's quite there yet. Is there anything you can give your DS in the car so he won't fall asleep? A special toy? Special treat?

[Mom to M&M]

Stacy - Marisa always used to be that way with car naps but lately she'll sleep an hour easily even stopped. It's crazy. After waking her from the 50 minute stroller nap today she was in rare form all afternoon - just wired and hyper and obviously overtired and not listening or sharing at all - even had to put her to bed without watching Sesame Street tonight - usually she watches 10-15 minutes with DH before potty and books and bed. Think tomorrow will try nap after 6 hours A time - until recently she only needed 5 hours and have since tried up to 5.5 with no avail.

[Katet]

We are typically at about 7-9hours A time in the AM, but sometimes as little as 4.5hours if he does an 8hour overnight after a late nap... the joys of a child who can fall asleep mid conversation!... Karen it only takes 4mins to drive to ds#1 preschool & he can fall asleep with me talking to him & trying to keep him awake, nothing can stop him from falling asleep - just as nothing will wake him in the day... pity it isn't the same at 8pm & 6am, when nothing gets him to sleep or stops him waking up...this too will pass!

[debo620]

lurking..

Noah still needs and loves his nap b/c his nights are on the shorter side ie 10hrs.
we struggle with early wakings when he naps 2hrs, so for the most part--naps have to only be 1hr40min at the most.

a few nights last week we had 11-11.5hr nights followed by 1.5hr naps and nights were terrible leading to longer naps and oh the joy...earlier wakes again.

I think I would quite prefer no naps and a solid 12hr night then constantly having to cut and adjust naps to allow for better night.

[Mom to M&M]

I think in an ideal world I'd love 10.5 hour night and 1-1.5 hour nap. But lately it's hard to get that nap consistently at all. The longer night is nice but it doesn't make up for her mood from not napping (particularly the next day). We'll see what tomorrow brings...

Kate - and I thought my DD was hard to wake up!

[debo620]

hmm, yes well Noah was asleep by 6:30pm---because he woke at 5am after DH let him sleep 2hrs yesterday, so we cut his nap and put him to bed early today---I hate this.

yes 10.5hr nights would be ok. 8-6:30 would be fine, or 8:30-7. we will probably try are hardest to have the time change work for us and not let things get early again.

I'm sorry Stacy that does suck. maybe that anger/ not eating is teething too. we are all done for teeth---thank goodness!