Support Thread for 2-1 Nap Transition cont'd pt 4

[*Kara*]

I still rock him...I don't want to do cio.

There are other more gentle ways to teach independent sleep - no CIO needed.  If you don't want to do this, not to worry.  BW is based on baby learning to sleep independently for naps and BT, but I know that a baby can sleep fine with rocking to sleep as well (not all babies though!).  Mine still STTN if she is rocked to sleep

I wouldn't jump to 12pm for a nap right away - that's a huge change and I'm not surprised in the least that you landed in the land of OT so quickly.

Few things:  730-615 does not count as an EW.  An EW is less than 10 hours of nightsleep and doesn't relate to the time of day specifically (though I agree that 615 is a touch early!)  

I would put him down for a nap after 4.5 or 5 hours of A time and see what happens  Just try to keep the morning low key as best you can to avoid OS.  If he does a good 2 hr + nap, you can do 5 hrs to BT and should be well on your way to one nap... if he wakes after less than 2 hrs, keep things low key and do EBT.

Thanks

Ok maybe I need to go back to basics - how do I know he's ready for going to 1 nap?

He will be waking early in the morning (shorter than typical nights) and will be difficult to put down for one of his two naps each day  

I understand your concern about a nap of 1 hr 30 mins, but can assure you that he will lengthen that one nap as long as he has enough A time before you put him down... I would start by pushing for at least 4.5 hrs A time in the morning.  

[dancer1007]

Thanks Kara!  I don't think it is a crutch the rocking, only because he goes to sleep independently for dh and is putting himself back to sleep when he startles at night etc.  Mainly he just takes advantage of me and I let him ha!  I did put him down tonight without rocking to see if he would do it and it was a success!  I will try a shorter first nap tomorrow and see if that helps and will try putting him down a little earlier for his second nap.  I will keep you all posted!  Thanks so much!

[*Kara*]

Good luck!  I don't worry about rocking my DD either - I did it for a few months when she was new and it's never really been an issue...

[Oceanmagic]

I understand your concern about a nap of 1 hr 30 mins, but can assure you that he will lengthen that one nap as long as he has enough A time before you put him down... I would start by pushing for at least 4.5 hrs A time in the morning.

Thanks Kara, that makes sense. Do I stretch this A time gradually or just go for it? We were having a bit of time where he could do 4 hrs, but then when he did sleep it was only 45 mins, so by the end of the day he was shattered.
My concern about doing EBT in that situation is that he may wake earlier, then bringing the 4 hr A earlier in the day, meaning that either its an even earlier BT, repeating the cycle, or he needs another sleep to get him to BT.

That said, I'm not totally sure that he's ready for 2-1. I've gone back to 2 sleeps from yesterday, just to get some evidence to see exactly when he doesn't want to sleep, and am taking it from there.
I was so tired of fighting him to do something that I didn't really understand (have ordered the Toddler book, so with that and you lovely people I'll be more prepared next time!), and was getting cross with him for not sleeping 'properly'. Maybe he's just not ready. He did 3-2 transition like a dream, he just stopped falling asleep around 4.30-5, and wasn't bothered by that longer A time before bed.

Don't want to feel like I'm giving up on him, and can't bear thinking that I might not be doing what's best for him, but I've got to listen to him too right? I hope so!

[*Kara*]

LO's usually know what they need - but not always! 

Just remember that sometimes when he yawns and acts tired, it could be his body clock.  When a baby has always napped at 9am, their body will get tired at that time, even when they aren't tired enough to take a good nap = clear as mud?  45 min naps are almost always UT, meaning you should have kept him up longer to get a good nap.

RE: do you just jump in and keep him up or do it slowly... I am a ruthless mom when A times increase - I just do it and stick to it come hell or high water   But, my baby is a textbook/angel and does really well with OT.  If you have the same, go for it.  If not, do it in 10 min jumps every 3 days.

RE: EBT fears.  My DD was a 10 hour night sleeper from 4 months until she moved to one nap.  I was terrified of EBT!  There were a few nights I had to put her to bed at 645pm and I totally thought we would be up at 445am and be in a complete mess... well, she has never done that to me since moving to one nap.  She never tacked on lost day sleep until we went to one nap.  Now, it's rare for her to sleep less than 11 hrs.

[Oceanmagic]

Thanks. Like you say - clear as mud!

Yesterday he went down at usual 9.20 and slept 1 hr 15, with 40 mins around 2.
Today he really crashed at 9.20, crying, eye rubbing etc, so I put him down; he slept for 20 mins! Had to go out in car, he had 40 mins at 11.30.
Guessing he'll need another sleep later.

All very confusing. He's still a bit poorly, coughing overnight, so not sure if he's right enough to enforce one later sleep.

Thanks for reassurance re EBT. Got to get braver I suppose. He'll do 12+ hr nights sometimes.

Hm. Still not sure where we are...

[*Kara*]

He's still a bit poorly, coughing overnight, so not sure if he's right enough to enforce one later sleep.

I would hold off until he is feeling better - coughing at night would make me think he isn't sleeping very well overnight and will need 2 naps to catch up during the day.  Poor muffin

[Oceanmagic]

Thanks. I'd agree, he's not quite himself.

I'll be back when he's better!
Merry Christmas.x

[*Kara*]

Merry Christmas to you too

[Spleenie]

We've made the 2:1 transition!!!! 

Our EASY -

8.00 - Wake
1.00 - Nap
2.30 - Wake Up
7.30 - Bedtime

Since going on the 2:1 wake up's in the morning are that little bit later.

Good luck to all those who are still on this napping journey! There is a light at the end of the tunnel x x x

[*Kara*]

Excellent!  Just a warning that your nights may shorten a bit once she completely adapts to one nap   Most LO's drop back to an 11hr night

[Spleenie]

How long does it take for them to settle into a new routine? Katelyn has been on this new routine for 3 weeks now x x x

[*Kara*]

Mine took a good 6-8 weeks to settle into it

[Spleenie]

So if her nights become shorter will she have to go back to a 2 nap day again? x x x

[j.and.e]

hp evry1 had a gd xmas. We have been away 4a wk and will need a few days at home b4 we know where we are on 2-1. Curently its 10pm and LO is awake and screaming...