27 mo old napping changing

[Deb_in_oz]

My 27 mo old seems to be in some kind of transition right now and i guess it is just her growing up (she's suddenly a little more of a handful somedays although still a really easy going kid, has been "exploring" her body, suddenly cutting back on her fruit and veg for the first time...)  So my problem now is her sudden delaying of her nap.  she has always been a big sleeper - stayed on 2 naps until she was about 16 mo i think and her one nap a day can be anywhere from 1 1/2 - 3 hours and never interferes with bedtime of 7-7:30, sleeps until 6:30-7am.

yesterday and today i put her down for nap at 1-1:15pm (used to be 12:30-1 but have pushed it out to be in line with 7 1/2 mo old who takes 2 naps) and it took until 2:30-2:45pm for her to go to sleep.  yesterday i woke her at 4pm because i did start to worry about bedtime and today my mother's helper will be here at 3:30 so i will wake her again.

what is a reasonable time to put her down for a nap - could this be a phase?  i always got the impression that she woudl nap until she was 3 or 4 since she was such a big sleeper.  she can't give it up yet - i know she needs it.  i also cannot have her going down for a nap at 2:30.  what is everyone else's kids doing at this age?  any tips?

TIA,
deb

[jessica and emilys mummy]

Hi.I had this with my DD #1.She always had 3x2hr naps then went to bed at 6.30pm until she was about 25 months.Then it stopped completely.She would be so tired by about 4pm and try to go to sleep.
The only thing I could do was to try to get her to sleep in the mornings,about 11ish.As she was always (and still is) up at 6am this was a ideal.The first week were a problem,but for the first few days I would take her out in the car to make her sleep.She would never sleep in her bed or cot during the day from birth,so I couldn't do PU/PD,she would sleep on the sofa.
These naps lastest about 2 months,then that was it.she was a little girl who wanted to play.
I know it's hard when you have another lo.Maybe you can try the pu/pd again for a while.
Let me know how it goes.

[Deb_in_oz]

thanks.  do you mean you put your 2 year old down at 11am??

that would never work for alex (or me)  Olivia currently naps from about 9/9:30 for 45 min (occassionally 1 hr 30) and then again at 1/1:30, so if i put alex down in the middle slot i would be housebound from 9am - 3pm every day PLUS alex is not tired yet at 11.

she does go to sleep eventually - it is just that she took until 2:30-2:45 to fall asleep  :roll:  do i go back to 12:30-1pm nap time or go in the other direction to a 1:30/2pm nap for a while? or just keep putting her down and see where this takes me?

[Nikki~Nathan&Danielle]

I also have my two nap at the same time in the afternoon and altered Nathan's to fit in with Danielle.  He was taking until 2pm some days to go down for his nap yet I knew he still needed that sleep.  He would play and muck around in his room until he played himself out, he'd call me and I'd put him in bed and he'd go to sleep - but it meant I was often waking him at 4pm so as to keep the 7pm nap on time and also I was finding us being housebound in the afternoon.  So I just started putting him in his room at 12pm to have a good play and then popped him into bed at 1pm.  Gradually the time I was putting him in his room has been pushed out to 12.30pm now and he's back to going to sleep straight away most days (after about 6mths of ALWAYS playing before nap).  Who knows.  I'd suggest a slightly earlier naptime to allow for winddown time (and you time as well  :wink: ) and keep things consistent and see if it gets her back on track.

HTH

[Deb_in_oz]

thanks for the reply Nikki - I think i am going to keep a closer eye on her tired signs the rest of the week and see if pushing it back to 12:30-12:45 helps.  i think i took for granted her easygoing nature and age and thought - "hey i will just push her nap later to slot in with Olivia" now that Liv is finally settled into 2 naps.

funny thing is - Olivia was tired earlier than usual today and i put HER down at 12:30 instead of 1:15 and just prayed she woudl sleep til 3 (usually does 1 hr 30) otherwise i woudl have to do 3 naps.  she slept 2hr 45 for the first time in her life  :shock:  whereas i woke alex at 4 again - wonder what would have happened if i got alex to bed just after Liv  :roll:  will see how tomorrow goes - i am hoping it is either a phase or overtiredness which i can remedy.


i think they just like to keep me on my toes - so if liv sleeps well alex needs to challenge me  :lol:  as if i am not challenged enough already