Daytime Napping

Crystal - posted on 06/20/2010

we had a little trouble switching from two naps to one until I started putting her down a little later. I kept trying to get her down around 11:30 or 12 and that just was hard. We pushed naps to about 1 and that made a big difference. At first I dreaded giving up 2 naps bc I thought itd cut into having some baby free time but 1 nap was actually alot better. I wasn't rushing home or staying home all the time to get to her naps and the one nap she has is longer than the other 2 were. be careful of waiting too long though. If i let marlie stay up to much past her nap then she has a really hard time going down if at all, and then usually only for 30 min or so instead of the 1.5 to 2 hours she usually gets.

Tanya - posted on 06/20/2010

Hi my son who is 18 months old has cut out the morning nap and now just has one after lunch until around 2pm. He usually naps on our bed or in his travel cot. He is getting more and more difficult to get to sleep in the evenings though but on the days where he doesn't have a nap he will be crashed out at 6.30pm and sleep right through to 7am. A travel cot might be worth a try as she can still see you getting on with your housework but can also fall asleep/play in there?

Melanie - posted on 06/19/2010

You should try her on one nap a day my little girl is 19 Months and has about 1-2 hours a day for her nap Normally from about 11am - 1pm Day Care has helped alot as thats the normal time for napping for the kids I think naturally shes going to sleep well at night because shes too exhausted after her long day thats my suggestion anyway

Natalie - posted on 06/12/2010

Wow! I think your little girl is playing you big time!!! Of course children will try and get you to do what they want to...and very often they succeed!! If she is TRULY tired she will sleep..even if it means controlled crying..until she gets the msg that this is where she must sleep! My 19 month old only sleeps once a day and this nap varies anywhere between an hour to 2 hours.

Jennifer - posted on 06/10/2010

when my daughter goes to daycare, she sometimes takes a nap at the facility between 12-2 pm. but when she's at home, she takes two naps, the first around 10, 10:30 am and the other around 2 pm. i usually don't have an issue with her taking naps...she'll lay down in her crib and fall asleep on her own.

Rachel - posted on 04/25/2010

My son just turned 17 months yesterday! Most days wakes up anywhere from 6-7am takes a nap around 10:30 for an hour or so and then takes another nap around 3 for an hour or so.. and then goes to bed between 8:45-9pm at night. But somedays he will take just one nap.. like today.. from like 12-2 and that will be all he takes. But usually he sleeps 2-3 hours a day with naps.

Carol - posted on 04/25/2010

aoimhe also sleeps for one nap. around half 12 until 3. when she is creche she wont sleep though but still sleeps at her normal bedtime of 7

Victoria - posted on 04/25/2010

will have to look it up thanks x

Sherri - posted on 04/20/2010

My 2nd Bible: "Good Night, Sleep Tight" by Kim West. Check it out. It will save your life.

Victoria - posted on 04/19/2010

my little girl sleeps in her cot now we are tryin to get in a big bed but she not haveing none of it atm also she never used to want to sleep in her cot at all we went from july last year till november this year wit her wantein to sleep in her cot that was the worsgt months ever all she did was screm wake up loads as well no fun but nursery nurse said try controlled cryin and it helped loads... my lil girl sleeps anywhere now longer if she is in buggie then in her cot but at nyt we still have her wake up at least once and she is 17 months now :(

Taryn - posted on 04/19/2010

My little one has only one nap a day around about 2pm he goes down sometimes earlier if he has been at one of his activities. He sleeps for a minimum of 2 hours and then goes down normal at bed time around 8pm

Sam - posted on 04/19/2010

my daughter goes to bed bout 7pm and gets up between 7am-8am.i have now stopped her nap because if she naps during the day she doesnt go to bed till late(9-10pm).she is doing well with out her naps.

Stacey - posted on 04/19/2010

My 15 months old has one nap round 3-4pm for about and hour. She always goes down in her bed. She goes down at 7-7.30 every with no problems.

Jackie - posted on 04/18/2010

My son has 2 naps a day. He wakes at 7:30am goes down for a nap at 10:30am sleeps for 1-2hrs. Goes down again at 3:30pm sleeps for an hour(ish). Then goes to bed at 7:30pm. Same routine every day, it really good to have a set schedule, it helps out alot and gives you more time during the day to get things accomplished!!

I think its a matter of not letting there tears get to you, they ARE going to cry when you change your routine but you just have to let them, and eventually they will just know.... its nap time!

Michelle - posted on 04/18/2010

A big thank you for all your replies ladies, I think I'll try and drop the morning nap and put her down in her cot in the afternoon and see how that goes xx

Ksusha - posted on 04/17/2010

My son wakes up around 8-8:30am, has lunch around 12:30pm and goes down for a nap from around 1-3pm (roughly) and he's ready for bed at 9-9:30pm. He seems to be very happy with this schedule and has no problems napping at grandma's, in his stroller, etc...

Rosalyn - posted on 04/17/2010

My boy naps once in the middle of the day. Maybe you should change the nap time and put her in your bed so you can snuggle her. Don't be afraid to still take naps with your bubs now that she's older.

Dana - posted on 04/17/2010

Have you tried napping her once a day? She might sleep longer and in her cot because she be so tired. My 17month old has been napping once a day since he was about 12months. He goes down at 1pm - about 4pm in his crib.

Jaclyn - posted on 04/16/2010

Hi Michelle,
Just letting you know that i have a 16mth old born in November and he now only has one sleep which is around 10 - 11:30 he has dropped his afternoon nap but because of this i put him to bed around 6 o'clock. I think that driving emma in a car during the day she will just expect it all the time. Let her have a cry in her cot for a while and if she doesn't sleep i assure you by the afternoon she'll be really tired and will crash in her cot. Cars used to make my two boys sleep but now they're lucky to sleep 10mins in the car which is fine to me. I also take my 16mth old for a walk in the pram which makes him sleepy not a long one just a short one and so when i get back home i get a bottle give him a cuddle and put him to bed. He will cry for a few seconds but he usually zonks!! Zzzz.

Kristie - posted on 04/16/2010

My son, Kaiden, turned 17 months Wednesday. He wakes between 7ish and 8:30ish. He goes down for his nap anywhere from 10ish to 11ish and he sleeps for about 3 to 4 hours sometimes a little longer. He will also only sleep in his crib. My husband and I both would sometimes like him to sleep with us but he won't. He goes down for bed between 7:00 - 8:30 and normally will sleep the entire night but does occasionally wake up; he'll normally put himself back to sleep or if not, I'll give him some milk and then he's back to dream land.

Samantha - posted on 04/16/2010

Hi there, My little girl goes for her nap anytime between 11am & noon for about 2 hrs.She only has 1 nap during the day. She tells me when she wants to sleep by saying 'doo doo' then i pick her up & rock her(bad I know, but this only takes about 10 mins). I then put her on the couch next to me & she's dead to the world. She then sleep at 7:30pm.

Laura - posted on 04/16/2010

My little boy will only sleep in his pushchair during the day but will do it in the house. He usually goes for a nap around 12pm and lasts for up to an hour an half depending on what time he got up in the morning. Try just persevering with keeping your little one awake all morning and keeping them amused then they should have a better afternoon nap.

Marcia - posted on 04/15/2010

My son is 17 months old today and has been taking only one nap a day for the last few months. At first I was concerned that he was transitioning down to one nap too soon but it's been really good. He finally goes to bed before 9pm! Unfortunately for us, his nap time ranges from 10am to 12 30 depending on the day and he'll sleep anywhere from 45 mins to 2.5hrs.... babies! I guess it's also worth mentioning that we co-sleep and while my son will sleep in his crib during the day, more often than not, he naps in our family bed.

Jen - posted on 04/15/2010

She may be ready for 1 nap. You could try holding her off until 12 to see if she'll go down in her crib then. My 17 month old takes one nap and usually goes down pretty well (not alway though...I have to resort to driving him around some days too). Good luck!

Christina - posted on 04/15/2010

Sounds like she is ready for one nap...or shes one of those kids who stops napping...My daughter sometimes sleeps for 50 minutes and then the next day 2 hours...but like clockwork, she goes to bed at 8 and sleeps till 7:30 the next morning. I would just try the one nap thing and see what happens!

Amanda - posted on 04/14/2010

I have a 16.5 month old and she usually goes down around 11:30 -11:45 and sleeps until around 3:00.She then goes down for the night between 7:00 - 7:30.Now my middle child gave up her naps comletely when she was 2, and it does take a tole on you because thats when you get the "chores" done that are hard to do when their up and it uasually means that they are fussy at suppertime.The one thing that I could suggest is trying to wear her out in the morning,then put her down after lunch and,if she is somewhat content,leave her in her room for a while.She may sort of "play" herself to sleep.Perhaps chatting with her stuffies or something like that,and if all else fails,she has atleast "rested" and given you a chance to get some things done.

Heather - posted on 04/14/2010

My kiddo is a good sleeper, but he has had his rough patches - you need a routine & stick to it, then you can start breaking the routine periodically... especially as they get older. I always say the same things "It's nap time now" at nearly the same time and we go upstairs, change his diaper, read a book, tuck in for nap & I tell him I will come get him when it's time to get up. He went from 2-2hour naps to 1-3 hour nap at 15mos (17now). When he started really learning physical things at about 6-7 mos we also took a vacation & that threw him off - we had a rough 2 weeks getting back to napping - he'd wake up after 15 minutes, not want to nap etc.... but I just held firm. I didn't make him cry it out, but I didn't coddle him either.... I explained it to him (even easier with a bigger kid) and laid him down as soon as he stopped crying but was still awake. I have a target for how long & if he wakes up in an hour I go lay him down, give him back his lovie if it got tossed from the crib & tell him it's still naptime.

Good luck!

Mirrhya - posted on 04/14/2010

My son is very similar to others on this list. He went down to one nap at about a year. Goes down at around noon for two hours. He used to sleep anywhere (in his pram) but now he either needs his own crib or to fall asleep in the car. He is really easy to put down though. We have a story and a cuddle and then I put him in his crib. He goes to sleep on his own. We did sleep training starting at 6 months and it is totally paying off now.

Maria - posted on 04/13/2010

hi Michelle, my doughter (nov. 2008), had to get used to a new schedule since she is in kindergarden (jan. 2010). she sleeps night 8pm till 7am. she has lunch around 12 pm and at 12:30 pm till 2:30 pm sleeps in Kindergarden or at the weekends at home on her cot. The trick is to do a lot of active things the whole morning, go to the park or play with her. Maybe at the beginning is difficult to get her to sleep but if you insist she will get used to this ritual and schedule. I wish you luck and think that you need time for you too, that´s why is also very important this break avery day the same time and at home.

Josey - posted on 04/13/2010

my son takes a nap from noon- 2pm and then goes to bed at 7:30 and usually he has worn him self out and just falls asleep anywhere

Caroline Sarah - posted on 04/13/2010

Now that he's in daycare (since November) he gets 1 nap per day between 1 and 3pm. Sometimes he only sleeps 45mins, sometimes he'll go over the 2hrs. It depends on his mood and illnesses.

Christine - posted on 04/12/2010

My daughter sleeps roughly 12 hours at night, sometimes a little more. And she goes down for one 2 hour nap a day. We have an odd schedule, but she gets up around noon, goes down for a nap from 5:30-7:30 pm and goes to bed around midnight. One nap pretty much does the trick and she will fall asleep in her crib or the car...she hasn't had much of a chance to sleep anywhere else. I don't really have a problem with her putting herself to sleep at night. She gives mom and dad a hug and kiss then gets in her crib with bunny and a blanket and curls up to sleep. She doesn't ever wake at night either unless she is sick or has a wet diaper. She's been sleeping through the night since about 3 months old.

Joanne - posted on 04/12/2010

My daughter has never slept in her cot during the day, she will only sleep in her pram. I usually just rock it over a bump then park it in a darkish bedroom. She also sleeps well at night in her cot.

Donna - posted on 04/12/2010

my son is the same way. usually i have to just let him fall asleep where he is and then move him to his bed but he only takes one nap

Fredline - posted on 04/12/2010

Our little girl has been taking one nap since she was about six months old - she sleeps from 12:30-3:30/4 and then goes to bed at 7:30pm until about 6:30-7. She is 17 months as well (b-day Nov 2nd). We have a routine where we she eats lunch, read some books, nurse and then put her in her crib. If we ran around at the park, she will go down easily; other times, she cries right when I leave her, but settles down after about five minutes and will just play with her stuffed animals until she falls asleep. We transitioned her into her crib at ten months (we were co-sleeping) and she's slept really well ever since! Good luck...

Kelly - posted on 04/12/2010

I would suggest to cut out the morning nap so she will be so tired for an afternoon nap. Kody still takes 2 naps a day, but the second nap is becoming a struggle. As long as he gets 3 solid hours of naps a day and 12 hours at night- he is a happy boy.

Blake - posted on 04/12/2010

My son is 17 months old. He goes down for a nap anywhere between 9 & 12 depending on when he woke up & naps anywhere between 2-3 hours. Maybe try a naptime routine.? Read her 2 books, give her some milk & a small snack, change her diaper & lay her down.? It might work. A friend of mine does that with her daughter for naptime & it works. I hope you find something!

Vicky - posted on 04/12/2010

Hello my little one usually wakes about 8am and is ready for nap #1 at 11am, she will usually tell me she wants milk and walk to the stairs to go upstairs. She usually sleeps 1-2 hrs and then usually gets a nap around 4-5pm for another hour. Bedtime is usually around 830-9pm. It works ok but if we are out and about she will not sleep for me at all (maybe about a half hour in the car) so she will be pretty tired at night. I never believed in routine until I had a kid.... it helps (btw I work full time, but we still try to keep the routine for the most part, since she didn't sleep thru the night until she was 10months old (woke up every 3 hrs)!! Good luck

Jen - posted on 04/12/2010

Our little guy is starting to transition into 1 nap a day. He's been sleeping while I do my morning walk (about 20 minutes) and then taking one longer nap in the afternoon...between 2-4:30. The days I don't walk he'll go down for about an hour around 10:30, then again around 3-4:30. My guy has always slept in his crib, so I'm not sure how to help with getting Emma from the cot to her crib. Is there a possibility to put her in a pack n play while you're getting house work done, and her nap in there?

Kelly - posted on 04/12/2010

Hiya Mums,
Billy 16months sleeps 9- 10:30am falls asleep taking others to school, then at 3pm for an hour. But having said that while the kids have been of school he's been sleeping 11-1pm, then not having another nap really, he might dose in the car if we out, but not for long, then by 6pm he is so tired

Cecille - posted on 04/12/2010

Hi Michelle, my little girl has one nap mid morning around 10:45 for hour and a half sometimes 2 hours. She is at daycare in the week. I have noticed that over weekends she will have 2 naps one early morning and one late afternoon, for 45min. Try putting her down in her cot around naptime with a special toy and soothing music, if she is really tired she will fall of to sleep on her own. Good luck!

Amber - posted on 04/11/2010

we have a crazy household so we only get 1 nap a day but its usually in the middle of the afternoon for about 3 hours. Oliver is 17months and we dont schedule anything if he naps for 3 hrs great if he naps for 30 minutes then he's going to be early but thats just our crazy house hold. as for Where? he is always in our bed watching a movie at nap time. Its quite he's distracted and contained enough that he doesnt want to get up and run around. So i would suggest finding someplace soft and comfortable and narrow it down to 1 naptime a day and let HER pick the naptime when she's tired she'll nap longer and you'll have a better chance at getting things done.

Jamila - posted on 04/11/2010

Im so grateful for this group (Circle of Moms) I dont' feel so out of the loop. My daughter just turned 17mths yesterday, she has 1nap pretty much anywhere she can; normally for about 2hrs, from 2pm -4pm, and she is out by 845-9pm, she wakes around 9am. On days she goes to the sitter, she has 2naps, 1130, and 3pm, and she is out by 8pm wakes up at around 730. So Im realizing that my lil muffin, is avg. like everyone else....woooooooosh!

Rachel - posted on 04/11/2010

My daughter is 16 months and takes two naps. One around 1200-130ish and one around 530-630ish. She doesn't go to bed for the night until around 10pm. For most naps I just lay her down and she goes right to sleep but is not opposed to strollers/car seats if we are out and about.

Danielle - posted on 04/11/2010

My son goes to bed at 7.30pm with no troubles and wakes anytime between 7am and 8.30, he now only has 1 day time name, which he fights terribly! but when he naps it will be for a good 1-2 hours. unless we are in the car! then he sleeps pretty much alot of the journey!



But i cant complain hes sleeping all night with no troubles! *hes now 17mths old*

Jacqui - posted on 04/11/2010

My DD has 1 nap a day now from about 12- 2... sometimes a bit earlier... sometimes she sleeps later... she sleeps from 8 pm to 7 am... so anywhere from 5 to 6 hours after she wakes up. We just transtioned within the past month or so..I would say, based on the short naps, your LO may be ready for one nap.. and maybe if she's tired enough, she'll sleep at home for you... good luck!

Bárða Eyðbjørg - posted on 04/08/2010

My wonderful boy sleeps for 4-5 hours a day, now from he's was about 8 months old. Sometimes he even sleeps up to 7 hours depending on activity level and if he's got it rough with day-care, astma etc. He sleeps outside in his big stroller, which is about a meter long, for him to stretch out in. Here in the Faroe Islands and a lot of the Scandinavian countries babies/toddlers sleep outside in the fresh air, and perhaps that also encourages them to sleep for a long time.
He sleeps all night from 7 pm till 6-7 in the morning. His two older siblings also slept as much as he does, and they were also very active when they were awake.

Belinda - posted on 04/08/2010

On daycare days my son has 1 sleep in toddler room, at home he has 2 sleeps 1 at about 9am and the other about 1.30. He goes to bed between 5.30 and 6.30 and is up between 4.30 and 5.30am, his older brother was the same except he would have 30 min naps 3 times a day from 3mths

Katy - posted on 04/07/2010

my son usually gets up around 7:30-8am, then goes down for a nap around 11:30-12, once he starts laying on the floor or putting pillows on the floor to cuddle up to, and sleeps in his crib for about 2-3 hrs and then goes to bed between 8:45-9:15pm. Every so often he will take a nap around 6:30 for about 30-45mins. This keeps him a very happy boy

Katy - posted on 04/07/2010

my son has only had 1 nap now for a few months. he was the other way around, he used to only sleep in his buggy / pram and would never sleep in his cot during the day. Now I have stopped the morn nap he sleeps for 2hours in his cot. If you cut out the morn nap she should be so tired after her lunch that she should sleep straight away in her cot.... good luck x