2 - 1 again!

[vancouverbabies]

Okay mamas, don't want to repeat what so many posts have already asked but every baby seems to be in a bit of a different situation, would love some feedback.
First off-twin babies and 13 months exactly. Doesn't really matter though b/c we are doing the same thing with each.
Usual schedule:
Awake 6:30 or 7:00
Nap 10:00ish
Nap 3:00ish
Bed 7:30

Lately: Napping 1.5 hours in am, fighting afternoon nap-meaning, playing/crying/whatever but then almost always falling asleep for at least 45 minutes. One is ok rested, one is very very grumpy after second nap.

Tried for three days: Keeping them up for early 11:00 lunch, then bed at 11:30. Slept about 1.5 hours each nap, then early bedtime at 6:30.

Today-cranky pants! Not happy! Gave in and put them down in the morning, around 9:45, slept one hour each.

Question: Should I be gradually pushing their a.m. nap later and later? How gradually? I think they are working on the 2-1 but not quite there 100% yet. I follow BW and Healthy Sleep Habits to the 't'. What as an ideal time for afternoon nap, is it 1:00?
Also, we tend to go out after lunch and they have shorter naps in the car, this probably isn't helping. Should I try morning trips now?
Thanks so much fellow mamas.

[jordiwes]

Hi there,
13 months could be a little young to go all the way for one nap.
Also, 3 hours A time to 4.5 hours A time is a huge jump. You might want to try for 4 hours A time first of all.
So first nap at 11am, and they can sleep as long as they want. Assume it's 1.5 hours. Then they will probably need at least another 4 hours A time before the next nap. This one will be a catnap. So 4:30-5. Then you can do bed time at 8pm.

OR

You can shorten the morning nap to 45 minutes (then 30 minutes eventually). So maybe 10:30-11:15 for the first nap. Then you can do the next nap at around 2:45 and let them sleep as long as they want. And again bed time at around 7:30 or 8pm.

HTH!

[brenda2]

i would do the short am nap/long pm nap if they have been fighting the second nap.  it guarantees that you get a second nap out of them.  agree that it's a huge jump to go to 1 nap all of a sudden, usually it is a more gradual thing.  my dd1 was on  1 nap pretty much every day at 13 mo but this was after i had either forced two naps or had the odd day of 1 nap for about 3 mo.  it took her a good 3 mo to totally switch over.