Twins finally on 1 nap now awful bedtime crying! Help!

[Jojogreeneyes]

Hi ladies

Katie80 and buttonbobs kindly helped me before so I hope you are around ladies?

I finally got my 15 month old twins to one nap this is only day 2 of the change and they did a 2 hour nap. Great I thought except come bedtime S had a meltdown and cried and screamed for ages. He was almost asleep before he started crying then got awfully upset for some reason. I tried to settle him from the doorway with my voice but he got do bad I went in and just picked him up.   I don't know if I've done the right thing or not I feel I've left him too long as he might be frightened of his cot now??
I read him a story and gave him a drink of water then put him back in his cot. He cried as soon as I took him to it but I just said our sleepy phrase and stayed with him until he finally got to sleep at 8.25pm

They also only just started going for their naps in their cots they went for naps in their bouncy chairs up to now.

Day wise today S was awake at 6am. I have them lunch at 11.20am, then they slept from 12-2pm. I got them in bed just after 7pm. S seemed to almost asleep then started his crying.   His brother was fine . At nap time both boys went off really well S whined a bit but settled with reassurance from outside the door.

S is spirited and Z is textbook IMO.

Any tips for me on how to deal with this if better still prevent it please?

Also what amount of night sleep do they need at this age?

Thanks

Jo

[*Becky*]

bumping x

[katie80]

Hi Jo! . Just seeing this...

Well done on getting them in heir cots for naps! . There could be other reasons S started getting quite upset, but I'd first try putting him down just a little earlier for BT. I think at his age on one nap, you can expect 2hr day sleep and anywhere from 11-12hr night sleep. My DS still did 12hr night sleep with 2hr nap, but I think your boys are a lower sleep needs than him if I remember right. My DD did 1.5hr nap and 12hr night sleep. So, I'd try having him in bed by 6:30-45 and see if that doesn't help him settle a bit better. It can take their bodies a little while to adjust to one nap.

As for settling him, unless he's really so upset that you feel you have to go to him, I'd stay with what you've been doing either inside or outside the door. If it's OT, it should get better with the earlier BT, if it's SA, your presence will help, if it's something else (teeth or developmental), staying consistent will also be the best.

HTH, let us know how it goes.

[Jojogreeneyes]

Thanks for the bump Becky and Katie thanks for your reply. You were so right the boys did adjust to their cots for naps really well it's so much better for them.

Ill try an earlier bedtime although tonight it was later as I went to a family get together and were late back. I agree that the boys especially S seem to need less sleep.  At nap time he does cry a little when I put him in his cot but only for say 5 mins which then throws me at bedtime if he gets so upset. I'm thinking maybe teeth are troubling him as they both have top molars cutting and bottom molars starting too ouch! I gave him paracetamol tonight so maybe that helped him get to sleep as it was 7.30pm when he got to bed.

Thanks for your help ill KUP

[Buttonbobs]

Hi Jo, only just seeing this. I see you already have great advice and I agree an earlier night could make a difference. E was always fairly low sleep needs but when she first moved to one nap she needed nearer to a 12 hour day until she'd been on one nap for quite some time.

Well done in transitioning the boys to their cots for naps!

[Jojogreeneyes]

Thanks Naomi. Hopefully they will adjust over the next few days to one nap I'm very proud of them they napped 1 hr 20 mins on the first day:)

[katie80]

Oh, molars are a bugger, so definitely don't count those out. You're doing great, Jo!

[Jojogreeneyes]

Hi girls well I think teeth are the big issue as I've given S meds at bedtime last 2 nights and fingers crossed he is better. Nap time today was rough though as S cried for 30 mins. I went in as he was quite upset as we have decorators in the house and the boys do not like them one bit!  In the end he slept with me next to him for 1 hour 30 and I was there when he woke up. Also Daddy helped which is not the norm at that time of day so  maybe that threw him off too?  Also I've been waking them after 2. Hours if they are still asleep as I thought it may eat into night sleep is this right??   S still wakes in the night or cries in his sleep say for a minute or two then re-settles.

Also when S wakes from his nap (without me waking him) he always had a cry whereas his brother is sleepy but ok, is this due to bring spirited would you say?

Hope you are all having nice evenings out there? am solo parenting again as he is off on business overseas again ....

[Buttonbobs]

I see many people say when their LOs first go to one nap they wake them if they're still sleeping after 3 hours. Unless you notice a big problem with night sleep I wouldn't worry about waking them after 2 hours - you're aiming for at least a two hour nap when you go to one nap I think.

It's amazing how visitors and disruption to the home can make such a difference to LOs, that and the teeth can't be a good combo!

Hope you have a reasonable night sweetie x

[Jojogreeneyes]

Thanks Naomi you too x

[katie80]

I agree, I'd let them sleep at least 2.5 if needed. Naomi is right, usually 2hr is a minimum when just switching to one nap. But, not all LOs do that... my DD never did, she was always a 1.5hr kinda girl.

My kids have also gone back and forth between waking happy/sleepy/grumpy. I think teeth make a difference then too, as does length of sleep sometimes, but it can definitely be down to personality too.

Also, when teeth were really troublesome with DD, is give her a dose of acetaminophen before nap and ibuprofen at BT for a few days.

(((Hugs))) for doing it all on your own, Jo. You're a superstar!

[Jojogreeneyes]

Thanks girls you are so kind  I will try a longer nap if possible tomorrow and meds before the nap too good idea!

Off to bed for me now at least I get the whole bed to myself Yey ! Night girls x

[katie80]

 

[Buttonbobs]