- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Multiples
Got the Girls on One Nap- Update and Thanks!
So after my question a couple weeks ago, I decided it was time to move the girls to one nap. They normally napped at 10 and at 3 (wake time at 8 am, bed time 7:30 pm).
So I'm putting them down at 1 pm. It took us about 2 weeks to reallly get the hang of it- but I think much of that was because we were staying at my Mom's because we lost power from the hurricane for about a week.
They've been sleeping 1-4. We still have a hard time in the morning right around 11 am. They get cranky. So I started putting them both in a crib with some books and a couple toys and their pacifiers. They'll play quietly for about 30 minutes while I load the dishwasher, throw in a load of laundry, etc. It's worked out really well. They get a quiet time break and I get a few minutes of sanity!
And, as usual, you girls were right. I'm really enjoying have a block of time like this in the afternoon. We've been running errands and going to the park, etc. from 10-12, coming home for lunch which we eat at 12:30, and then nap. It's a good routine. It's also put me on a similar schedule to my friends who have older kids, so I've been able to see them more during the week.
Thanks!
Here comes Baby #3!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Got the Girls on One Nap- Update and Thanks!
I am so glad it is working out well for you! Good work!
My boys still get a little cranky/sleepy around 10:30-11:00 and they also like that quiet time or sometimes a fun/different project (play-doh at the table, etc.) ....then lunch....then nap-time!
Congrats on getting them to one 3 hour nap - that's awesome! Any tips for me?? I'm seriously struggling here. It's been almost a week since we've tried to go down to one nap and my girls now will only nap for 45 min to 1 hour a day. And they're cranky and getting into all kinds of trouble. I'm thinking of trying to see if they'll go back to 2 naps because we're all miserable!
You mentioned it took 2 weeks to get the hang of it - did yours sleep for only a short period at first? Or did they automatically sleep for a long period of time? Mine used to take an hour or more nap in the morning and a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. So this sucks and I have no time to get anything done!
No- they weren't sleeping in the afternoon- HORRORS! I wish they had dropped their morning nap because it would have been so much easier!!!
I would have kept them at 2 naps longer if they wanted it (I reallly enjoyed 2 naps a day), but when they stopped going down for the second nap I realized the time was upon us!
I remember with DS1 the transition was hard, but once we made the transition it was easier to get things done in the morning.
With the twins, DS2 is ready for one nap a day but DD is very crabby if she doesn't get her two naps in. So I've got one baby that takes two naps and one baby that is on one nap!
It took us 2 weeks because the girls would go down at 1 and only sleep for an hour, or an hour and a half. One day it as 45 minutes! AGHGH!
My goal was to try and get them on a 3 hour nap from 1-4, or at least napping the majority of the time, with "quiet time" until 4. My friend and my Mom did something similar with their kids- they would have to be in their room from 1-4. The last hour or so could be "quiet play."
So here's what I did. When they were waking up 45 min to 1 hour in, I let the "waker" cry for about 5 min, then eventually they went back to sleep. They then started sleeping for 1.5 hours, and I'd have them talk/do quiet time for another 30-60 minutes (meaning I wouldn't go get them if they weren't crying). Eventually the last couple days they started sleeping for 2.5 to 3 hours. I would let them talk for the last 30 min. Eventually I'm going to stick a couple board books in the crib with them to help with the play time.
It was similar to how I sleep trained when they were waking early in the morning. They were waking at 5 am and they learned that it wasn't "wake up" time yet.
One of my girls would still take 2 naps- I guess I should have mentioned that. But I didn't want them to be on different schedules, so I just pushed my other daughter a bit more to get to one.
Thanks! I'll have to try to let them stay in their cribs a bit longer to see if they'll fall back asleep. My problem is that the one who didn't seem as ready for one nap is a major screamer. So when she wakes, it's not just babbling or a small cry, it's full on hysterical screaming! Thanks again for the advice.