How does the 2-3-4 schedule work?

I was curious to see who uses this schedule and how old were your babies when you started it. I don't feel like we are really on a set schedule yet. They eat, play, and sleep but sometimes my DS only naps for half an hour while my DD naps for 2 hours, although lately they seem to be reversing roles.

 

I just started this schedule with my little ones last week -- and they are 9 months. They were on a 3 nap a day schedule until just recently. They started to fight that last nap, that's why I went to 2-3-4.

 

we started when we dropped to two naps as well (around 8.5 months) except we do more of a 2-2.5-3 because my girls take longer naps.

 

Forgive my ignorance; what's 2-3-4?

 

QUOTE(Nate and Jack @ May 7 2009, 09:59 AM) [snapback]1304378[/snapback]
Forgive my ignorance; what's 2-3-4?


Same here. Never heard of it.

 

Wake, nap 2 hours later, wake, nap 3 hours later, wake, nap 4 hours later.

 

QUOTE
Wake, nap 2 hours later, wake, nap 3 hours later, wake, nap 4 hours later.


So are they still doing 3 naps or is the 4 hours before bed?

 

4 hours then bed. Mine are more wake up for 2 hours, then nap, then up for 3 hours, then nap, then up for 41/2 hours and then bed. That's most days!

 

Hmm . . . I do the "they're clinging to my legs instead of playing so it must be naptime" system. :lol: I think it's more like 3-2-4 for them.

 

About 7 months.

It worked like a dream for us once we got into a groove. I highly, highly recommend it.

It's not about clock watching in terms of time of day, it's about watching intervals between naps. 2 hours of awake time between the morning wake up and the start of the first nap. 3 hours between the end of the first nap and the beginning of the afternoon nap. 4 hours between the end of the afternoon nap and bed for the night.

My boys thrived on this system until we switched to one nap at 14 months. It wasn't smooth sailing from day one, but it was wonderful once we got into a groove and their little bodies really enjoyed the routine. We also always did wind-down activities before sleep, such as stories in a dim room.

 

QUOTE
About 7 months.


You started that at 7 months? My LO's have been a little off kilter and Im wondering if they need a little tweeking in their routine........although I don't think my DD is ready to drop that third tiny nap????

 

For 2-3-4 ... how long would the naps be and what time is wake time for everyone?

 

Interesting! I hadn't heard of this, either. Not sure if my LOs are too young for it; after their first morning feed they're usually only up an hour before we start to see drowsy signs and they're back down for their morning nap (which fits with what HSHHC recommends).

 

I am on 2.5-3-4 hours schedule. Love it!!!! We started at 8 months and now babies know what to expect and I know when I can take my break!

 

Wow that sounds really logical; my guys are getting ready to drop that third nap, and they seem to be gravitating toward staying awake longer after their first morning nap. I'll try this and see how they like it. I wasn't really sure how to eliminate the third nap, but this sounds like a good way to start.

 

We have been on a similar schedule since about 9mths, it works like a charm for us. I don't go by the clock but time from when they wake up in the am so it may be different each day but it's still 2.5-3-4.5.

 

Hmmm that is how my girls napped but I didnt know it was an actual "system" LOL... they did this from about 6 mnths to 16 mnths and then we dropped to one long afternoon nap. The naps were usually at 9-11am and then 2-4 and then bed at 8:30 worked PERFECT. After we switched to one nap it was from 1pm-3 or 4.

 

Our kids started this pretty much on their own around 6 months when they went to 2 naps. They still have not given up the 2nd nap, so we are still on this schedule and I have to say I did not know that this was an actual thing until I came on to TS! But it has worked well for us. Like 7M's, our nap schedule was/is similar. 1st nap 9:30-11 and 2nd nap 2-4 and bedtime between 7:30-8:00. I think we all liked it because we all knew what to expect and could look forward to breaks! Good luck!

 

Nap duration depends on the kids. My guys didn't nap for extended periods until after they started crawling and cruising. So for a while it was just 45-90 minute naps. I would always try to co-ordinate their wake-up times though, even if it meant making some noise 10 or 20 minutes after the first baby woke to give the other one the hint!

 

Around 7 months we were having napping issues, then someone suggested the 2-3-4 schedule. At first I thought they'd never be up for more than 4 hrs in any given period.. I was wrong, and it's worked wonderfully since!