2 to 1 nap transition. Tell me about it.

amother

OP ↓

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 8:07 pm

D is 14 months and we're moving towards one nap, slowly but surely, but it's been a pretty rough transition so far.

Her current schedule is:
6:30/7- wakeup
Nap #1 (when home): 9:45-10:30
Nap #1 (when at nanny): 1:30-3
Nap #2 (when home): 2:30-4
Bedtime (depending on nap schedule): 7:30/8:30

I've been trying to stretch out her wake window when shes home but haven't been successful so far. She ends up needing that 10:30 nap. And then that eventually throws off her bedtime.

Advice for getting her to stay awake longer in the morning?

amother

Cappuccino ↓

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 8:09 pm

My 14 month old naps from 11-1 30ish

I start putting her to sleep at 10 30. She's very ready by then.

It makes sense for wake window to be 3-4 hours before the nap and 5-6 hours after

Wakes up at 7ish and start bedtime at 6 30

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 8:13 pm

amother Cappuccino wrote:

The problem is, her naps are very inconsistent. One day she'll sleep 1.5 hours and the next, 40 mins. That definitely throws things off.

amother

Heather ↓

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 8:15 pm

I wouldn't transition to one nap yet. What makes you think she's ready? My 17.5 month old is only now going through it.

amother

↑ Cappuccino

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 8:19 pm

amother OP wrote:

The problem is, her naps are very inconsistent. One day she'll sleep 1.5 hours and the next, 40 mins. That definitely throws things off.

I find that when I'm consistent about just 1 nap and the timing, the length of her nap is more consistent too, because she's very tired by the time the nap comes. From the longer wake window in the morning, plus also from the longer wake window the evening before. Not saying she never wakes earlier than I want her to, but generally she ends up napping better this way.

She does get cranky a while before nap time and before bedtime, and I feel really bad about it, but 2 naps just wasn't doable anymore.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 8:27 pm

amother Heather wrote:

I wouldn't transition to one nap yet. What makes you think she's ready? My 17.5 month old is only now going through it.

It's been taking up to two hours to put her to bed and she's clearly not tired enough at 7 PM on days that she takes 2 naps. I don't want her going to bed at 9 pm. That's too late. Seems like te only solution.

amother

Blonde

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 9:21 pm

amother OP wrote:

The problem is, her naps are very inconsistent. One day she'll sleep 1.5 hours and the next, 40 mins. That definitely throws things off.

My baby is since 10 months old only does one nap. And his naps are not very consistent. But most of the time no matter how much he nap I put in bed the same time which is seven.

amother

Red

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 10:04 pm

amother OP wrote:

IMO hee second nap is way way too late

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 10:14 pm

amother Red wrote:

IMO hee second nap is way way too late

I agree, but if she wakes up 11ish, she can't handle going until 7 without another nap. IDK what to do.

amother

↑ Heather ↓

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 11:00 pm

amother OP wrote:

I agree, but if she wakes up 11ish, she can't handle going until 7 without another nap. IDK what to do.

I'd try waking her up after an hour during her second nap. Don't let her sleep past 3:30, and then you can put her to sleep by 7:30. It's normal that bedtime gets pushed a bit later during this time when the kid can't survive yet without the second nap but already has longer wake windows so everything gets pushed later. Bedtime between 7 and 8 is the goal. So if it's closer to 8, so be it. At the same time, keep pushing off the first nap by a few minutes, slowly slowly each day so that she handles it better. Eventually, she'll get to her first nap late enough that the second nap will be dropped and you can move bedtime back earlier.

amother

↑ OP

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 11:03 pm

amother Heather wrote:

Thank you, will try that. This 9 PM bedtime will be the end of me.

amother

↑ Heather

Sun, Dec 22 2024, 11:05 pm

At 14 months old my baby's schedule looked like this approximately:
wake up 6:30/7
first nap 9:30 - 10:30/11
second nap 2:30-no later than 4 , usually woke up on his own around 3:30
bedtime somewhere between 7 and 8, aiming for 4 hour wake window

Now he's older, nearly 18 months old and wake up is same. First nap starts at 10:30 and goes till 12:30 ish. Bedtime routine starts at 6:30 and he's totally out by 7.