Am I Doing the Right Thing

At around 16 months, Chloe decided she wanted to give up her morning nap. Cole on the other hand, was a great morning napper. But to save my sanity (and a schedule), I switched them both to one nap. Lately, they have been so cranky and fussy in the mornings, I've been putting them in their cribs with some books and they have been falling asleep. I am being carefule to only let them sleep for one hour, so we can still have our afternoon nap. Am I going backwards on the napping things here? It's been nice, but...

They have been going to bed around 7:30/8 and getting up around 6/6:30.

 

I've found that when all of mine switched it had some days of back sliding. I'd just go back to the old routine and then try again. So you may have some backsliding until they adjust.

 

I would go by their cues with napping. If they still need that morning nap, then do it. If you find that they aren't napping for a few days in the morning, then try one nap again. Bea was ready for one nap before Ainsley. Luckily, she's good at keeping herself entertained, so I would still put her down, but also let her take some books and toys, and she would just play quietly while Ainsley napped. When Ainsley stopped taking the morning nap, I made the switch.

 

Mine did the backsliding thing too. One nap and then two and some days they would not be tired, so they just took one, etc. It's just another one of those transition periods that you'll get through. Just follow their cues. If they need 2 naps, go for it. They will eventually straighten it all out. For us, it took about 2 weeks before they got the hang of it.

Goodluck!

 

I guess my concern is we've been doing one nap for over 3 months. I just think that's a long time for 'slipping back'... not that I am complaining, the added break has been nice!!

 

It may be that they just weren't ready to give up the morning nap yet. If you like having them take 2 naps, by all means keep it going as long as possible! Just think of it as them not having given up the nap at all, rather than as backsliding.

 

QUOTE(Cheesecake @ May 15 2007, 02:18 PM) [snapback]256083[/snapback]
I've found that when all of mine switched it had some days of back sliding. I'd just go back to the old routine and then try again. So you may have some backsliding until they adjust.


I have found this also. When I transistioned the older kids down to one nap, for awhile, every few days they would need that 2nd nap or be totally cranky all day.