anyone want to chat about the 2-1 nap switch?

[Kate A]

Just want to offer a little bit of what's going on around here.

I've found that for us, the length of nap during the day depends on the overall amount of sleep.  If she sleeps 12 hours at night, our tops nap is 1.5 hours.  If she sleeps less than that, we may get a longer nap.  But her range for the day is around 13.5 hours.

Also, I have an LO that once switching to one nap, there was no way we were going to get back to two naps.  But i have such an active little girl that from the beginning her naps have always been awful and never on par with those good nappers.

hope all goes well with all of your transitions, I hope you have better nappers than I.

[PeepersMom]

Kate, you and me both.  I hope everyone has a better napper than me!  And,yes, overall sleep is a big factor here.  He will usually level off at about 13.5. On occasion he'll do 14 or 13. 

I was surprised that we were able to go back to 2 naps when he was sick, but he just really needed it then.  I knew he was getting better when we were doing 2 naps and he was suddenly awake until after 8pm with a normal bedtime of 6:30-7!

[Mom to M&M]

My goodness, I would happily take a 1.5 hour nap if DD would sleep 12 hours or even 11.5 at night! We usually get about 10.5 at night and 2-2.5 during day - 13 total tops, sometimes less.

Meg, glad to hear that you've figured out the A times for PJ!

[nathansmum]

ok... So I guess we are normal then as Nathan gives me roughly 12 hours at night and then more of less 1.5 hours during the day. This nap thing is just not an easy one! When I try to give him 2, he sleeps 30 to 45 min. for each of the 2 naps!!!! But when I try 1, he gets a easily frustrated around the time I would be putting him down for his first nap if I was giving him 2. This is just confusing...

It sure is great to be able to hear what it's like for others though!

thanks!

[nathansmum]

So how do I know for sure we need to be going to one nap??

[Kate A]

Our indication for one nap was a long morning nap and then a big struggle for the second nap and also both naps going to about 45 minutes each.  That is what worked for us, your LO may have totally different signs.  hth

[nathansmum]

So if he starts getting tired around 10:30, I would just kindof overlook the signs, give him a snack, keep him up, give him lunch and then naptime?

[Mom to M&M]

If it were me, if he starts getting tired around 10:30, I'd skip the snack, stall for a bit with a walk in the stroller, video, books, whatever, do lunch at 11 and try for nap at 11:30...

[KellyC]

I think as BW mums we're so used to spotting tired signs and heading for a nap pronto and I certainly found it hard to adjust to the fact that my baby isn't a baby anymore and that he doesn't need to sleep everytime he yawns or gets fussy.  Distraction is very effective as they get a little older and Zander will soon forget that he's tired if he's busy enough.  Of course we still need to avoid over-tiredness so there's still a balance to get right there but if you're getting naps of 45 minutes, 1 hour, even 1 hour 20 or 30 then that will show you that maybe the nap is a little late and you can adjust the time.

Kelly x

[nathansmum]

thank you so much for your replies!

So let's say that today I kept him up gave him lunch and put him down around 12:45. He woke about 30mins later but resettled in no time at all and it is now 1:50 and he is still sleeping but I don't know yet how long his nap will be total... This would mean that he was overtired. But isn't this normal until he adjusts to having only one nap??? or do I need to put him down sooner? And if I do that, it also means he'll wake up earlier from his nap and will have to go to bed sooner and when this happens, he gets up earlier in the morning and so on... So I would be stuck. oh! this is confusing!!

what are your thoughts?

[KellyC]

I think 12.45 is just a little too late to begin with but I personally wouldn't go any earlier than around 12.15/12.30 because then you have the other problem you've mentioned!  Try 15 minutes earlier tomorrow and see if that helps, but if he's re-settling well by himself it's not such an issue.  Glad it's going well!

[Mom to M&M]

What time does he wake in the morning?

[nathansmum]

usually around 8 but lately with all this fooling around trying to find the best nap combo it usually more around 7...

so it's now 3:10 and he's woken again at 2:10, resettled quickly and is still sleeping! So could I say that 1 nap is the way to go?

[Mom to M&M]

Sounds like he's doing really well with the nap? If he's waking at 7, I'd aim for no later than 12:30 asleep though...

[Kate A]

Our nap is at 11:30ish with a wake up at 7 a.m.  She really can't move much later than that.  I'm sure as the months go on we may be able to move to 12:30, but when we do go that late, I get a short nap.