2 naps to 1

Sarah - posted on 09/18/2010

Every baby is different, mom knows best in every situation. I found that my babies, were taking a long time to fall asleep for their morning nap and then struggling to sleep at all in the afternoon so I adjusted the schedule and did lunch at 10:30 or 11:00 and a nap at noon, and it lasted for several hours. It was a rough adjustment, they would sometimes drift off at lunch time, and I was constantly trying to keep them awake for just a little bit longer. Also having the long middle of the day nap seriuosly changed the evening routine. Since the late afternoon nap was elliminated, dinner had to be around 4:30 or 5:00 and then it was more crabiness and trying to keep them awake til 7:00 and then an earlier bedtime. Every transition has its bumpy phase but it becomes easier and less hectic after about a week.

Renae - posted on 09/18/2010

Babies transition from 2 naps to 1 between 12 and 18 months. The majority of babies have started the transition by 16 months. There is a period of a couple of months were some days they need 2 and some days they need 1, you just have to play this by ear. When they first cut down to 1 nap the nap is quite early in the day, usually 11am. This will slowly get later within the next 3-4 months until they are napping at around 12.30 to 1pm for 1.5 to 2.5 hours. At about 2 years the nap sometimes becomes later still at around 1-2pm.

Rebekah - posted on 09/17/2010

My daughter is 15 months old and has just started only taking one nap. If I put her down early enough in the morning she'll take two naps, but I really prefer the one nap so I can get out in the morning. She sleeps 7p-7a and then 12-2. I've kind of decided that she starts getting grumpy after about 5 hours of wake time so I try to get her down 5 hours after she wakes up.

Michelle - posted on 09/17/2010

it depends on your child and their needs. My daughter, who is one, has been cutting out her morning naps, to the point where half the week she doesn't even have one. Slowly it went from an hour to half an hour to fifteen minutes. For her, once she got mobile she was simply too busy to nap there was too much to explore.

Kellie - posted on 09/17/2010

Thank you everyone for your help! Joey is def in the process of figuring out his nap schedule. He went to bed last night at 6:30 after not having his afternoon nap. He woke up at 4:30 for about 20 minutes and then went back to sleep till 6:20, which is normal for him.. I;m going to see how today goes, thanks again!!!

Candy - posted on 09/16/2010

Every child is different. Mine oldest Never took an afternoon nap. My little one always did and now at 5 she would if we let her(if not for school).

Amanda - posted on 09/16/2010

My daughter (who is 14 months) was taking two naps a few months ago...one around 10a and another around 130 or 2...and has since cut it down to one nap around 1 or 130. I usually just let her decide whether she's going to nap or not.

She still goes to bed at the same time (7p) and sleeps until 8 or 830a. And sleeps all night.

So I would just let your little one lead the way.

Jenni - posted on 09/16/2010

I think it varies greatly between kids. The average I believe is 12-18 months. My son went from 2 to 1 at around 13 months. Sounds like your little guy is in the process of doing the same thing.

Chatty - posted on 09/16/2010

Roxanne was down to one nap by 18 months. Around 15 months, and depending on how she slept through the night, some days she would have one and other days she needed two. It seemed to alternate and every third day she would have two naps. Play it by ear. What's most important, in my opinion, is the total number of hours your lil' guy is getting through the night. At his age he should be getting between 13-16 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period so if he's sleeping 10 hours through the night, he's going to need roughly another 3-6 hours during the day.

My best advice would be to just follow his lead. Roxanne just had her second birthday and she still on rare occasion will have two naps. Good luck!

Jamie - posted on 09/16/2010

I think what you are doing is just fine! As long as he is happy, and getting his sleep at night, I wouldnt worry about it! :)

Kellie - posted on 09/16/2010

Thanks Jamie, I really appreciate your response. Joey does like his 2 naps. On the days he won't take his afternoon nap he is usually in his crib playing. My rule is to leave him in his crib for an hour and if he plays the whole time that's fine, if he sleeps that's fine to. At least he gets some time to just chill. Then if he doesn't nap in the afternoon I usually put him to bed an hour early, 6:30, and he will sleep through the night.

Jamie - posted on 09/16/2010

When your baby is ready! Some babies need 2 naps. My friends 18 month old still takes 2 naps and goes to bed right at 8:00 every night. But my daughter, at 6 months I had to switch to 1 nap in the middle of the day. If she has another nap she is up ALL night, so it really depends on what your baby needs and how he is! My daughter is 13 months now, and she has a nap from about 11-1 usually, then we have "quiet time" in the afternoon where we will watch almo for just a half hour or sit and listed to music which she LOVES! But I cant let her sleep, that little quiet time is just right for her, and she is fine the rest of the day, and goes to bed at 7:30. Just do whats right for your baby! :)

Kimberley - posted on 09/16/2010

my 10 month old only has one nap a day, which can be between 11am and 1pm no other naps and by 7 pm shes ready for bed and sleeps from 7pm - 8-9am