Consolidating AND shortening nap?

krispy83

I think DS is dropping his morning nap.  I know most of your LOs did this a while ago, but he has just FINALLY started STTN, so he needed the additional rest.  Now that he's STTN, I'm realizing he doesn't need the extra sleep during the day.

That's fine with me, but he's also taking a shorter nap!  He used to take 2 60-90 min naps and his afternoon one was always closer to 90 min.  Now, he's taking one that's 60 min or less!  Which, of course, leads to a very tired, cranky toddler in the evening and a very unhappy mama.

Did anyone deal with this?  Any tips for getting him to nap longer?  I figured that missing the morning nap would lead to a nice long afternoon/midday nap, but that doesn't seem to be the case!  

nunzchucks

When DD started going to one nap, it took about a week to settle into a good sleep. She started at 1.5 hrs and is now a solid 2.5 to 3. I do try to make sure we have an active morning so she really zonks out.

Also, we have a video monitor and sometime after an hour or so, DD will wake up a little and even sit up sometimes, but she will go back to sleep. At first, I was also going up the second that she seemed to wake up, but now I let her lay there for about 5 min before going up to make sure she doesn't go back to sleep.

krispy83

Maybe we're not tuckering him out enough in the mornings.  Normally we play outside a lot, but it's been insanely hot the past few days so we haven't been outside much.  He runs around inside, but certainly not as much as if we're playing in the yard.  I'll have to do a better job of making sure we have a really active morning.  Thanks ladies!!

nunzchucks

KrsCrp83:

Maybe we're not tuckering him out enough in the mornings. nbsp;Normally we play outside a lot, but it's been insanely hot the past few days so we haven't been outside much. nbsp;He runs around inside, but certainly not as much as if we're playing in the yard. nbsp;I'll have to do a better job of making sure we have a really active morning. nbsp;Thanks ladies!!

We have a little splash pad in town or run the sprinkler if it is really hot and run around in that. DD gets exhausted!

krispy83

lisadfox:

KrsCrp83:

Maybe we're not tuckering him out enough in the mornings. nbsp;Normally we play outside a lot, but it's been insanely hot the past few days so we haven't been outside much. nbsp;He runs around inside, but certainly not as much as if we're playing in the yard. nbsp;I'll have to do a better job of making sure we have a really active morning. nbsp;Thanks ladies!!

We have a little splash pad in town or run the sprinkler if it is really hot and run around in that. DD gets exhausted!

I tried running the sprinklers this morning and he freaked out!  It was so weird!  There's a splash pad at one of the nearby parks, maybe we'll try that soon.  Good idea, thanks!  It's just tough when it's 100 degrees outside - I don't want him to be out in the sun much, even with sunscreen.  Trying to think of indoor stuff that will still get him active. 

krispy83

Okay well we ran him around plenty this morning and he slept for about 2 hours this afternoon and woke up in a really good mood, so that's a definite improvement!

Excited, he woke up about 1 hr 10 min into his nap and I went in and gave him his pacifier (he spits it out right after he falls asleep) and a kiss and laid him back down and he knocked right back out, so thanks for that tip!  Yesterday, I was hoping he'd settle himself back down, so by the time I went in and attempted that, he was way too revved up to go back to sleep.