Dropping down to one nap

TeacherVicky

I'm just wondering about transitioning to one nap. What are the signs that LO is ready? How is it generally done? Do they kind of just magically merge both naps into a single nap between both pre-existing ones? Or do they shorten one nap so that it becomes a catnap for a while first? 

I meant to post this last night and never got around to it. I would guess that DS is nowhere near dropping down to one nap. However, this morning he refused to go down. He just now fell asleep at 10:35, instead of his normal 9-9:30. Might just be a fluke, I know.  

quietlyexpecting

Perhaps that is part of it?  Pushing that first nap back.  Over the course of the last month DS pushed her nap back from 9ish to 10ish.  She gets up around 6:30-7:00 every morning.  The length of that nap varies from 30 minutes to 2 hours.  Then her second nap is about 2:00 depending on the length of the first.  My pedi told me not to worry about dropping that second nap until closer to 18 months.  I'm assuming it will be gradual.  The pedi told me one nap with eventually lengthen and the other will shorten and then she will fight it all together.

 Not sure if that was helpful but maybe a little insight? GL 

TeacherVicky

quietlyexpecting:

Perhaps that is part of it?  Pushing that first nap back.  Over the course of the last month DS pushed her nap back from 9ish to 10ish.  She gets up around 6:30-7:00 every morning.  The length of that nap varies from 30 minutes to 2 hours.  Then her second nap is about 2:00 depending on the length of the first.  My pedi told me not to worry about dropping that second nap until closer to 18 months.  I'm assuming it will be gradual.  The pedi told me one nap with eventually lengthen and the other will shorten and then she will fight it all together.

 Not sure if that was helpful but maybe a little insight? GL 

Thanks, yes, that does help. Though I think the answers to my question are probably as complexe as babies are!

I do find it strange though that your pedi said 18m. From everything I've ever heard/seen/read, it's usually dropped at around 12-15m.

As for the bolded, I have seen a shift in nap lengths over the past two weeks, and today was the first time he refused to go down. When he dropped his 3rd nap at 7m, he did it suddenly by refusing to go down. Though it was only a catnap to begin with...

dairygirl19

We're headed there now.

She used to do like 2 45 minutes naps a day. One in the morning. One in the afternoon. Usually at like 9 and 1:30.

Now she wants down about 12 and will sleep like an hour and a half. Or she'll have one 20 minute nap and then an hour later.

Every day is a guessing game. I just don't push it. She's always transitioned on her own in time.

I've never had much of a napper though. As long as she sleeps, I don't care!

 

VeilSdeGTO

My pedi did say an indicator is that one of the naps starts to get longer than usual. Sorry if that isn't much help.

We're still at 3 naps. 

bluejetta

I asked this question of a sleep consultant I've worked with.  She said the signs are similar to dropping from 4-3 and 3-2.  Early (am or nap) wakings, protesting the nap, ability to extend wake times.  DD isn't near ready but I was curious. She said many babies act like they are dropping it around 11-12 months but many still need it and will keep it till 15-18 months.

She also suggested not just dropping a nap but graduate moving the am nap later to find the best time and eventually that nap will lengthen from an hour to 2 or zoo and can take a couple weeks. 

 

caraleeb

Starting daycare did it for us, he was having too much fun for the morning nap and then by the afternoon nap he was out at the same time as the other kids because he was exhausted! though on weekends he seems to want that am nap but then avoids an afternoon one!