How many naps a day does your baby take and how long? Need advice

Lora - posted on 10/13/2010

my son does the same thing sometimes. it seems like the longer the nap, the better his mood is when he wakes up.

Elizabeth - posted on 10/12/2010

Update, something else I should mention, when my son only has one nap he is usually waking up crying and often inconsolable, like he is still in a dream state, you can't even hold him, it takes a long time for him to calm down. He has been skipping his morning nap the past few days, and still only taking an 1 - 1 1/2 hr. nap in the afternoon and this has happened almost everytime, it is obvious he is still really tired but he won't go back to sleep, then he is tired by dinner. This is why I have been trying to keep the 2 naps, anyone else ever have this problem? He doesn't have these tantrums when he sleeps longer during the day, but it seems like he just can't sleep for one long nap like many of you have posted here.

Lora - posted on 10/10/2010

i, too, do alot of my work from home so i can relate to your dilemma. i put my son in daycare a couple months ago, 2 days a week. they only take one nap there also. he usually falls asleep on our way home after picking him up and i can keep him asleep most of the time, when i carry him in and put him in his crib. he will sleep between 1-3 hours depending on how active he was at daycare that day.

Katherine - posted on 10/10/2010

My son is about to be 17 months old, he takes one nap a day for about 1 1/2 or 2 hours.

Samantha - posted on 10/10/2010

My 17 month old son has been down to one nap for quite awhile. He naps from 11-2 every day.

Susan - posted on 10/10/2010

My daughter is just over 17 months. She generally has one nap now on an afternoon 12.30 til 2.30. Its been easier 4 us to transistion as she has3 yr old twin brothers who go to nursery on an afternoon, so they 'keep her going' a morning and then she naps on an afternoon whist its quiet!! having said that she goes to a daycare nursery on monday and tuesday and she usually has 2 naps there 10.30 ish and 2,30ish 4 an hour each time. The other ladies are right, if u find a good daycare they wil fit into your nap schedule, and they may be able to help with the transisition 2. As long as your litle one is happy and sleepin well at night,i don't think it matters 1 or 2 naps. good luck :o)

Amber - posted on 10/08/2010

My daughter usually takes one solid nap a day...and then some days she'll take a shorter 2nd nap. Day care really helped with the transition to one nap. However, she doesn't usually sleep more than an hour or so (typically) at daycare. Too much going on for her, I suppose. Those days, she is usually in bed no later than 7:00 or 7:30, and then she sleeps until about 7 the next morning. Usually, if she takes more than an hour and a half nap at home, I don't worry about a second nap. ( because I don't put her down for a nap after 430-5pm unless she is super cranky and even then, it i only let her sleep for 30 minutes, because I don't want it to interfere with bed time.)

I hate to say this, because I really don't have much of a schedule with my daughter ( we are go with the flow type of people), but it does help us to have an informal schedule. ( Like....if we are at home, I try to put her down at the same time for a nap every time..)

Good Luck.. This too will pass!

Vicenta - posted on 10/08/2010

well Josh usually takes 1 nap it just depends sometimes he dont even want to close his eyes like if he is going to miss something.

Vanessa - posted on 10/08/2010

My daughter is 17 months, she wakes up at 6am (wish she would sleep in) goes for a nap in the afternoon when she gets cranky and rubs her eyes, she usually sleeps for a couple hours and we put her to bed at 8pm.

Lisa - posted on 10/07/2010

My son showed signs of dropping his afternoon sleep around 15 months, but after a week or 2 of trying to adapt our schedule, i realised he was not ready. if i put him down later for his morning nap he would not sleep as long, and would end up too cranky early evening. So now on days when he does not want to sleep in the afternoon, i put him down at 7pm instead of 8, and feed him dinner a little earlier. he usually wakes at 6:30am, sleeps at 10am-1pm then down at 3pm till 4:30 (if he sleeps), bed time at 8pm. my 4 year old has also been showing signs of dropping his nap, but also gets very cranky and needs to be in bed earlier on those days. I can relate to you needing those nap times for your own time, i have 3 boys, have been home schooling the eldest and the youngest is home all day. middle one comes home at 1. nap times are precious! hope it works out for you soon.

Cath - posted on 10/07/2010

My little girl has a short 1 hour nap around lunchtime, and if she has oe any later than 2 she is up until about 10! There are days she is too busy to nap but she just goes to bed a bit earlier and gets more hours in at night :-)

Alexandra - posted on 10/07/2010

Hey Elizabeth. My best solution for you is a part-time nanny instead of the daycare. We have had a great girl for many months now. She is 26 and taking a course at York where she has classes only Tuesday nights and Sundays. We do 16 hours a week and each Sunday I figure out my schedule for the following week so I can move times around based on what work or errands I have. Tristan adores Naomi (but still loves mommy best!) and it really frees me up so I can do what I need to. If you are interested send me a message and I can give you the info on the site where I found her. I remember there were other girls on there who seemed to be in similar situations (young, still living at home and trying to figure out what they wanted to do with their lives while making some money). That way you could get some help while not worrying too much about fitting your son into a schedule he might not be ready for yet. Let me know!

Elizabeth - posted on 10/06/2010

Thanks for all the feedback so far ladies, since I posted this his naps and sleep have still varied day to day, it is very frustrating because it is very hard to schedule or do anything not knowing when he will take a nap. It looks like most of your children are taking one longer nap or in transition from 2 naps like my son, though it is amazing to read how every child varies. Which leads to another question, what do you do when you have to go out during their naptime? My son now refuses to nap when he is out, I've tried the playard, stroller but nothing works anymore except if we are in the car for a long time, it makes it really hard to take him out. I have read that at this age they need about 13 1/2 - 13 3/4 of sleep total. To answer some questions, my son usually goes to bed between 8-9 and sleeps around 11 - 12 hrs, though lately he has been waking early and then falling back to sleep, once in a while he will sleep in to catch up. Some days he has napped as little as 1 1/2 hrs. and others over 3 1/2 hrs. total, the days where he has only slept that one nap he is usually very cranky and tired and has to be put to bed earlier, then he makes up for it the next day. So he definitely needs at least 2 hrs. +. Problem is he isn't ready to take that one long nap or something disrupts him, he has been teething and has always had a lot of digestive and bowel problems, so that often wakes him. So I have been trying to keep his 2 naps as consistent as possible, I figure if he doesn't take a good morning nap he still has the chance to get some more sleep later, this is why I don't want to wake him unless I have to. He usually isn't ready before 10:30-11 am to take a nap since he gets up around 8 - 9, so I can't really put him down earlier as some of you have suggested, it just backfires. Trying to delay it until after lunch hasn't worked well so far, since he isn't really hungry for an early lunch before 12-12:30 as some of your children, even then he is usually so overtired sometimes he barely eats. Then he will wake up too soon because he is hungry, I find if he has a morning nap he eats much better and is happy. So I am still in a dilemma, all of the daycares I have spoken to pretty much have a set nap time after lunch, I had a couple that said they will take him after his morning nap, but then he will be on a completely opposite schedule of the other kids, so it doesn't work well. Please keep the replies coming.

Adrianne - posted on 10/06/2010

My son is 16 months and takes just one nap a day. He wakes between 730 and 830 each day and goes down for nap betweem 12 and 1. The nap lasts for an hour and a half to 2 hours each day. then he is awake until bedtime at 9.

Holly - posted on 10/06/2010

my daughter will be 17 months in a few days and she has only had one nap for quite a while now. She wakes up between 7am and 7.30am, goes down for a nap at about 11.45 till 1.30, then goes to bed between 6.00pm and 7.00pm. I think every child is different though and some need more sleep than others.

Skyler - posted on 10/05/2010

my daughter wake up at 10 naps at 1 wake up at 230 and bed time at 10

Alexandra - posted on 10/03/2010

My 16 month has also always had 2 naps a day but when he was 15 months he started dropping the first one and I just couldn't get him to go down. I thought we would transition to one midday nap but, like you, this didn't seem to be enough sleep for him and he would be cranky by dinner. What I did to ressurect the morning nap was try to calm him down a lot before hand. He wakes up at about 7am (bedtime is 7:30pm) and has a bit of milk and some breakfast. He then likes to run around a bit and play with his toys (or just grab everything in the house and throw it one the floor! lol) for another half hour or so. This whole time I keep the lights fairly low in the house. Next we go upstairs and I turn on his music, still keeping the lights very low. I find this really calms him down. I will usually check my email or read some news on the computer and once he relaxes a bit with the music he likes to sit on my lap and look at the pictures on the screen. I will eventually put him down at about 9am and he now is going down well and having his usual 1.5 hour nap. I have discovered that I think some days he is not sleeping the whole time but lying quietly and talking or singing to himself. He has a couple stuffed animals with him so he may be talking to them. I find that even if he doesn't sleep the whole time he is still getting some rest and I am getting time to do my own stuff (I also work from home). In the afternoon we either have a class, go to the park or indoor play area, or sometimes go shopping. He is VERY active and energetic so he tends to tire himself out by 2:30ish for a second nap. I find driving him home always puts him out.
Occassionally he cries for 5 minutes or so when I put him down for a nap but he always stops after not too long and rests.
Now I have to say that we are very lucky that Tristan is a very good sleeper and also we have always had very consistent bed or naptime routines and have always put him to bed awake since birth. It may just be good fortune that I was able to get him back on a nap schedule but maybe some of my techniques have a little to do with it. If so I hope they can help you too! We are also thinking about some part time daycare and I know the issue of naps will come up. I guess I'll just try to slowly transition him to one if and when we are about to start day care and hope that the change isn't too difficult! Good luck and let me know how it goes with you. : )

Danielle - posted on 10/03/2010

my son joshua has just turned 16month he goes to ned at 8pm, slepps through til 7.30-8ish. i give him a bath around 9 then he has his breakfast, he has a nap around 12 for an hour only then is awake until he goes to bed at 8 again x just do diferent activites with them to tire them out x works for me x

Michelle - posted on 10/03/2010

My son is just now 16 months and he's been down to 1 nap a day for a while. He wakes up pretty early, though, and it works out for us. He's in daycare and naps from 12:30 to 2:30 in the toddler room. I pick him up at 6pm, we usually have dinner around 7pm and he's asleep between 8 and 8:30, which gives my husband and me some mommy-daddy time. The only problem is that he isn't yet completely sleeping through the night on a regular basis...

Constance - posted on 10/02/2010

Sk-i usually gets up around 630 takes a nap from about 1145-300 at daycare then on our way home she falls asleep about at about 530/600 and sleep about a half an hour until bedtime around 9.



Elizabeth in order to get him to go to sleep you have to start teaching him that it's nap time. Give him a pillow and tell him to lay down that's how we got Sk-i to take her nap. Now she generally gets real cranky and lets us know she is sleepy.

Amanda - posted on 10/01/2010

We are in the process of transitioning from 2 naps to 1 now. Some days she will still take two. On those days our schedule is:

5:30-6:15 wake up
8:45-9:30 nap (I wake her up after an hour)
1-2 nap (I let her sleep for 2 hours and wake her up)
7-8 bedtime

On one nap days:
6:30-7 wake up
12-1 nap (usually 2-3 hours)
bed 7

It seems like the one nap and two nap days alternate because she is more tired the day after a one nap day. I think the key is to keep the sleep schedule consistant and wake him up if it seems like he is sleeping longer. If you wake him up from his morning nap after a set time it should be easier for him to lay down for the afternoon nap. Also, if you are going to give just one nap I would have him lay down a little earlier. It is harder for kids to fall asleep and stay asleep when they are over tired.

Vicky - posted on 10/01/2010

hi there, a very frustrating time when babies are transitioning to 1 sleep a day, i read a book about this transition & just followed it through. they do get very sleepy halfway through the morning period but this is a good time to either run them ragged if thats what they prefer or read some books & have a 'quiet' time. when they skip naps & sleep only for small amounts of time they are ready to have 1 afternoon nap (but i do know people that use the morning nap only & kids stay awake all day) it really depends on the child & how long they can tolerate staying awake but remember they cant be too tired or cranky cos they still have to have their meals without too much fussing around. it is a good idea to gradually bring the 2 naps into 1 by putting him down to sleep close to lunch time- in the beginning we started lunch @ 11-11:15am & she was in bed by 12pm for a long sleep (2-3hrs) alot of kids will only sleep for the 1.5hrs & it may be enough or it may not be- it is definitely not enough for my child so we use settling techniques to keep her in her cot & to stay asleep (similar to what you may do at night with a disrupted sleep from the child) it does take quite awhile to get this into them that they sleep 1 time a day for a longer period & they can then drip in & out of this routine depending on whats going on but once they do get the hang of it you can bring the lunchtime a bit later & the nap time a bit later. 1pm nap is great for my daughter & she gets up about 3-3:30pm, has a snack & then dinner, bath \ etc & then back to bed at 7pm.
with this 1 sleep it does give you a good solid block for getting things done but im not surprised you are overwhelmed as it sounds like you are doing so much at home!!!! take some time out to relax for yourself & you may feel better to manage your time & try not to overcrowd your day as it will feel like an endless life of work!!! best of luck!!!

Schmoopy - posted on 10/01/2010

What time is bedtime / wake time in your house?

1.5 hrs might be plenty for one nap if he's sleeping enough at night (at least 10-12 hours). Here's our schedule:

Wake: 6:00am
Nap: 11:00am
Wake from Nap: 12:30 or 1:00pm
Bedtime: 6:00pm

Rebecca - posted on 09/30/2010

Elizabeth
I am in the same boat. My daughter typically goes to bed around 7-7:30 and wakes at 6:30-7:30 - varies, but typically about 7 AM. She then goes down for her AM nap about 10:30-11. She usually sleeps for 1 1/2-2 hrs. She's so ready for a 2nd nap about 3-30-4 but fights it. Then she's exhausted by supper time, which is b/w 5-5:30 and quite crabby. I would like to make her AM nap later and push it up to 1 (after lunch), but she can't make it just yet. I'm sorry I can't offer up any ideas b/c I'm in the same situation. But I certainly welcome any other ideas others have. I think I just have to go with what she does and wait for her to transition to 1 nap.

Kristinia - posted on 09/28/2010

My daughter only has one nap a day and she sleeps about 2-3 hours. She will wake up about 8-9 and have a nap about 1-2 and go to bed at 9.

LeToya - posted on 09/28/2010

my son took 2 naps until he turned about 14 months then he cut his own naps down to one a day. he takes one long nap around midday. if he starts getting sleepy about 4 or 5 i just go ahead and bathe him and get him ready for bed,

Keira - posted on 09/28/2010

My daughter still takes 2 naps a day. My doctors said not to worry about it, and she will probably start transitioning herself around 18 months, maybe even later since she doesn't sleep as much at night as most babies her age. She goes to be around 8 and usually gets up around 6, though she has been slowly waking closer to 7AM since I have been home with her the last few months. She takes her first morning nap around 7 or 7:30 until 9 or 10 so it is really more o an extension of her night, like she only wakes up because she is hungry. Then her afternoon nap is pretty solid, usually 1-3:30 or 2-4:30, or in there somewhere. She sleeps a lot.

If he seems to be weaning himself off his afternoon nap, try to put him down earlier in the mornings and passively wake him after an hour or so. I do that with Cadence when we have somewhere to go and I don't want to jolt her awake - while she is napping, I'll jsut open her door a little bit before I need to get her ready and I start messing with stuff in her room, or out in the hallway. The noise is enough of a difference that she'll get up when she isn't in too deep a sleep, but she still gets a good nap and doesn't get jarred awake like she would if I just picked her up. Therefore, she is better rested. It's worth a try, good luck!

Kandice - posted on 09/27/2010

Pudding painting is super simple! You just strip him down to a diaper, put the pudding on the high chair tray & let him go at it! Chocolate, vanilla, banana - whatever!

As to moving him from room to room, do you have a portable feeding chair (foldable)? If not, invest the $15-20 at Wal-mart or Target. No need to be fancy, just functional.

*Another thing to try, when he goes to bed at night (or when someone else has him for a few minutes) lay out all the things you'll need for the next day. Your clothes & his, your work, his toys. Set up each room that you are going to be in so that it is ready when you get to it.

As far as daycare goes, if it is a GOOD one, he will be allowed to take a nap whenever he needs to up to age 3. They probably have a structured nap time as well, but those under three are supposed to be given flexibility as to feeding & napping. (I have a background in Early Childhood)

Feel free to ask anything else or message me :)

Elizabeth - posted on 09/27/2010

Thanks for the advice so far, nice to hear some babies are still sleeping for 2 naps a day, I've read that this is usual until at least 18 mo., though some people seem to think it is unusual? My dilemma is that my guy is so unpredictable with times it makes it so hard to schedule or do anything, today he wouldn't take a 2nd nap unitl 4:30, somedays it might be 2:30. He still seems to need 2 naps to get enough rest, plus it is better for me to have 2 breaks. If I try to hold him off until after lunch he still only sleeps his usual 1 1/2 max., which isn't enough for him or me, I don't know how to make him sleep longer. So should I try to stick with the 2 naps a day? As I mentioned I am looking into daycare and I know they will probably only give him the one nap, which may even be worse for him, I don't want him to come home exhausted - anyone have their children in daycare? Haven't tried the pudding paint Kandice, how do you do it? Unfortunately I live in a house with 4 levels so it is really hard to move him room to room, this is why it is so hard to get things done in the house, bad design for kids. I am already very sleep deprived so to get up before him to get ready would exhaust me more, I need to figure out a way to get ready and do things with him. He is into everything right now so I spend more time picking up after him than getting anything done. Would love to hear some more replies.

Kandice - posted on 09/26/2010

*also, get up before him in the am & get ready.

Kandice - posted on 09/26/2010

Same here. 2 naps, one am (around 10:30) & one pm (around 3). She usually sleeps around 1 & a half hours. Her bedtime falls between 8::30 & 9:30 pm.



Get things done around the house by putting him in a high chair with a snack that he can't choke on. I LOVE to do pudding painting with mine when I need a few minutes. The high chair is portable, so I can bring her into the room I am in. Obviously if we are going onto carpet I'll use vanilla ;) SHE LOVES IT!



Get creative. If you have errands to run, take him/her with you, but be prepared for cranky. Bring along a toy he/she doesn't play with often & maybe some snacks/juice.

Rebekah - posted on 09/25/2010

My daughter starts getting fussy and overly-tired when she's been awake for longer than 5 hours. So most nights she sleeps from 7pm-7am and naps once from 12-2. It seems like if she goes down any earlier than 12 I have to give her a short nap in the afternoon and then put her to bed later... OR adjust her bedtime and put her to bed super early. So our goal is to sleep her prior to the 5 hour awake point (whatever that might be).

Good Luck!

Tiffany - posted on 09/25/2010

I started transitioning my son a couple months ago and it took him awhile and finally adjusted. He goes down at night at 9p.m and wakes up at like 7a.m. He use to take 2 short naps during the day and like you, it wasnt working for me. So I just entertained him ran errands or something (anything to keep them occupied i know you said you work from home) until lunch time. His is 11. I made his lunch time earlier so he wouldnt be as fussy. Does he eat a snack in between breakfast and lunch? (that may help also) After lunch they are usually pretty happy. I lay him down at noon and sleeps til 2:30 and if fine for the rest of the day. Every baby is different. So this may not work for you and your schedule. It like all changes will take time and paitence. Let me know.

Brooklyn - posted on 09/24/2010

my son take one and he sleep for a good 5 hours he wakes up around 8 in the morning and go down for a nap around 12 or 1 after lunch and then wakr up at 5 and then dont go to bed untill 9 after dinner