Waking DD up earlier so she'll nap?

grlmom16

I am off 4 day per week, the other 3 days DD is at her grandparents. On those days, I have to wake her at 615am to take her over there. She naps from 1:30-4p usually every day that she is there. Now when we are at home, I usually just let her sleep in, which is until about 8am. On these days getting her to take a nap is torture, and she usually wins. Her bedtime is around 8:30-9pm most nights. On the days she doesn't nap - earlier. If she was her normal self when she didn't nap I would just let it be, but she is ILL as all get out from about 4p on w/out one. Not pleasant to be around. So I guess my question is, do you guys wake your LO up in the mornings if you are home w/ them? Or let them sleep? I guess I need to decide which is more important, sleeping in or nap time. I'm leaning about 100% towards nap time lol. Thoughts? Thanks!

FancyFrenchie

Don't know how old your DD is, but I've always heard that nighttime sleep is more important than daytime sleep. Maybe she can wake up later in the morning but go to bed ealier at night? That's what I would lean towards. I absolutely hate waking up a sleeping babe!

rjeller32

My daughter used to get up at 5 every day, no matter what. She is now 2 yrs 4 mths and she gets up at 6:30-7ish. I wouldn't wake her up in the morning, but nap time can be cut. She still needs a nap every day, but our pedi suggests that kids this age should nap 2 hours max. We do a nap from 1-2:30 every day. It took a little bit to get used to being woken up, but now she rarely sleeps past 2:30 anyway. But if I ever got lucky and my LO slept in, I would probably only allow until 8, MAYBE 9. GL!

AmericanInOz

I always wake my daughter - to be on a schedule for the days we have to go to work/daycare

ALSO because, like you said, she won't nap if I let her sleep in!!!

I wake her at 7, so she's tired enough for a nap at 1, then I wake her at 2:30 so she's tired enough for bed at 7:30ish

although lately she's fighting that even later bedtime (used to be 7) I think we'll need to drop naps all together soon *sigh*

Angela814

IMO, it's total amount of sleep that's important. The best sleep books I've read say that routine is important, and your child should wake up around the same time every morning. I don't love the idea of waking up a sleeping 2 yo, but you may have to do that. I'd probably try to wake her around 7:15 and see if that helps.

driveshorses

My DD has pretty much dropped naps, but she is on a pretty set schedule. She is up anywhere between 7 and 8, and is in bed between 6:30-7:30 pm depending on how crabby she is. She doesn't fall asleep at 6:30, but she is in bed, and winding herself down. Maybe your DD needs to go to bed earlier? I also wouldn't let her sleep that long for a nap. It's so tempting just so that you can do things without a whirlwind behind you, but she would probably benefit from a shorter nap and earlier bedtime. 

I can tell if DD has taken a nap by how long it takes her to fall asleep at night. There have been nights where she will lay in there and talk until 10pm! The absolute latest she is allowed up is 8:30, and that is on days where she does take a nap....which isn't very often. I never have to be at work any earlier than 9am, so I don't wake DD, she is pretty set in her schedule though. Good luck. It was a tough transition going to no naps, but we've figured it out! 

grlmom16

Thanks ladies! We are on day 2 with no nap, and this morning she was up at 7:30a for school. Been a fun afternoon lol. I think routine is important too - thanks for all your suggestions!