dropping a nap....

Our boys turned 1 year old yesterday. For the last 3-4 days, they have been fighting naps. Gabriel is fighting the morning nap mostly - taking 20-30 minutes to go to sleep (sometimes just playing, other times really crying. Michael is fighting the afternoon nap (again, sometimes playing, sometimes crying, taking 20-30 minutes to settle down). I do not go in and get them unless they take more than 30 minutes to settle down.

I'm torn between thinking they are just out of whack from a week of three Christmas events and a birthday party, and thinking they are ready to go one nap. They are still catnappers - an average day is two 40-minute naps. Their typical sleep schedule is:
6:30-7am - wake
9-9:30 down for nap (I've pushed this back a bit lately because they just don't seem as tired)
1:30-2 down for nap (again, pushed back)
7:15 bedtime

So I'm wondering - from your all's experience - does it sound like they are ready for one nap or just out of whack from the holidays? And if they take one nap, when would it be? I'm thinking if I put them down at say noon, and they sleep only an hour, I don't know that they would make it to bedtime.

 

most toddlers when switching to one nap need an earlier bedtime for a little while as they adjust, for the reason you mentioned. my girls went to bed at 6:00pm for the first couple of weeks after we switched.

i would maybe wait a week or two to see if they settle back to their old routine, if not, then you could certainly give one nap a go.

 

When my guys finally gave up the morning nap (at about 16 months) we pushed lunch earlier (around 11:30) and put them down for naps right afterward. We did have *many* lunches where they fell asleep in their high chairs. We also put them to bed about 30 minutes earlier.

12 months is on the early side to be switching to one nap, though not unheard of. I think Rachel is right; wait at least a week to see if they are genuinely fighting 1 nap, or if they are just messed up from all the holiday disruptions.

 

About a month ago we went through a week where mine fought their morning nap, it would take 30mins till they fell asleep and then they would only sleep for 30mins and then the next week we were back to normal. Like the PP's said wait a week or two and see what happens.

 

I agree with everyone else. I'd like to add that my DS was a horrible napper (pretty much only catnaps) until he was well over a year old. He started napping longer when we switched to one nap at around 16 months.

 

Thanks, ladies. I guess I will just wait it out and see what happens. I'm starting back to grad school on Jan. 12 and I hate to throw a transition period on our nanny right away, but hopefully it's just the kinks from the holiday. They had their 12 month shots today, too, so that may throw them off, too. If it's not one thing it's another, huh? :wacko:

 

Happy first bday to Michael & Gabriel!!! I didn't catch the announcement, so sorry for the delay Congrats mamma!!! See you soon .

 

Happy birthday to your babies!

We are going through the same thing right now. I've still been putting them down for two naps but like yours, they sometimes take 20 minutes to settle down. And they only nap about a total of 1.5 hours a day between the two naps.

I think dropping to one long nap at 16 months is perfect for us! Just in time for Spring. I am so looking forward to it. We can get out a lot more when they only nap once a day.