long nap in the morning?

[Katstar]

My ds is 19mo and had always had higher sleep needs than average. I've always struggled with extending A time especailly in the mornings. We began the transition for 2 to 1 naps about a month ago as it was the classic scenario of 2 naps too much but 1 nap not enough. I'm finding that ds NEEDS a nap in the morning but then wont go down for 2nd nap until between 2-3 and i'm having to wake him at 4pm.

What I have been doing is only letting him have a very short nap (30 mins) in the morning but he is so grumpy and tired that i'm just stringing him out until he's then tired enough to go back down. I have been waking him from his morning nap each day for months (started at 45 min and gradually reduced) He is always really hard to wake,

We had one week last week where he went 2-3 days in a row with just a 2hr nap at 11am/12pm but then he started waking in the night.

This morning I went to wake him after 25 mins and he sat up said mummy no and then went back to sleep again. This got me thinking whether it is possible that some lo's like to have their long nap in the morning. Once ds has had his long nap even if it is at 11am he is so happy and playful so maybe if I let him sleep in the morning he might just fit in a short nap mid afternoon?


Anyone else had this or got any ideas?

[*Becky*]

Hi there,
My friend has a lo who has always liked a short am A time and since about 16/17 months has always napped from 11-1/1.30pm. I think this is fine if this works for you. I would be surprised if he 'needs' 2 naps at 19 months but again you know him best and if he really does then go with what works for you.
You need to look out for signs that he needs to just have one nap so EW's, playful or UT NWings and of course nap resistance.
Becky x

[Katstar]

Thank you and I think you are probably right about him not needing 2 naps its just that I can't get him to last until after lunch and then it's a long time until bedtime! We do have the odd EW and some occasional NW but usually for a reason, I never have nap refusal and he gets positively excited when we get to his room! He will go to bed at 7 fine as long as he's up by 4pm.

I will try just leaving him in the morning and see what happens.

[*Becky*]

good luck - keep us posted x