Waffling between 2 and 1 nap - Bad?

CarlyDW21 · September 2011

I've been reading different posts online about what are the signs LOs go from 2 to 1 nap, and DS #2 seems like most days he could go down to one nap. But, on a day like today when he got up at 6 am, there's no way he could make it to 12 for a nap, so he'll have 2.

In this reading I read that its "bad" to switch between one and two b/c the body can't adjust - seems kind dumb, b/c some days everyone needs a little more or little less sleep.

What are your thoughts? Should I just stick to a one nap plan no matter what?

Appro1 · September 2011

I had asked my pedi about this with DS. Most days he still takes 2 naps, (he just turned 17 months) and some days he takes 1. The pedi told me to just go with it. His body knows what it needs and enjoy the fact that he takes 2 naps most of the time. GL with it!

BelhurstBride · September 2011

DD went back and forth between 1 or 2 naps for MONTHS before she was ready to really switch to just one. I just went by her cues. If she was beat and wanted a nap I put her down for a nap.

He'll figure it out when he's ready.

historychick79 · September 2011

After wondering about the same issue going to 2 naps, I've decided if C needs sleep, he gets sleep. There are days where he has had only 2 short naps (less than 45min) and he's miserable by 3:30/4pm, so he gets a third nap that end by 5:30; so far he's had no issues with getting to bed at his usual 7pm time. If it really messed up our schedule or I saw issues developing with sleeping at night I might become consistent about the 1 nap schedule, but otherwise I would be inclined to roll with it.

NiniJ55 · September 2011

If he needs a second nap - let him have it. I agree that it sounds dumb that it's "bad" to switch between one and two naps. The body can adjust just fine, IMO.

DS has not needed a second nap in a while (maybe 12 -13 months or something)-- he takes one 2 hour nap a day now. There are times when her only takes 1 hour - or no nap at all. On the days with no nap I simply put him down for bed earlier than usual. Giving him his bath and starting the routine earlier keeping in mind that he did not nap and will be tired earlier. I think he is transitioning bet. 1-0 naps a day.

naflmj · September 2011

We still do 2 naps one days when he is super cranky, wakes up early, etc. and have never had an issue except the 2nd nap gets pushed a little later in the day.

elliotandnicole · September 2011

I'm not a super strict person when it comes to routine. My DS still takes 2 naps sometimes (not often, but sometimes if he's really tired and got up earlier than normal). I don't think it's bad at all. How old is your LO? I didn't switch my son to one nap, he switched himself over time. Some days, he'd take 2, some days, 1. It's a transition.

Summer20 · September 2011

I think you're fine for now, he's still young. If it were me, I'd probably try to get him on a pretty consistent schedule either way. So for example, one nap days he might nap 12-3, two nap days maybe 9:30 and 1:00, just so that at least one nap is falling about the same time every day.

I would probably aim to get him down to one nap by about 18 months.

Angela814 · September 2011

That's just part of the transitioning process. It happens again when DC drops the nap completely. They may nap some days and not others.

CarlyDW21 · September 2011

Ha, I still have a 4 year old that naps, so I'm not much of an expert when it comes to dropping naps all together.

I like all your advice ladies, I'll roll with DS #2's needs rather than watching the clock, or "going by the book" if you will. Cheers!

g8trkim · September 2011

Appro1:
I had asked my pedi about this with DS. Most days he still takes 2 naps, (he just turned 17 months) and some days he takes 1. The pedi told me to just go with it. His body knows what it needs and enjoy the fact that he takes 2 naps most of the time. GL with it!

This is us exactly (he turned 17 months today). We've been between 1 and 2 naps for 3 months. He's an awesome sleeper so we're just going with the flow.

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