Moving from 3 naps to 2

I know this has been posted 100 times, but I feel like I need clarification on some things. One of the books I was reading said that by 9 months you should really be without the 3rd nap of the day. I would like to start moving in that direction in a couple of weeks (since 9 months is fast approaching) and have a few quick questions about how to do so. Our day starts at 7/7:30am and they usually take a nap around 9-9:30...this nap is anywhere between 1 hour - 2.5 hours, just depends on the day. The second nap is exactly 2 hours after the first--again right around 1 hour (sometimes more). That puts nap #3 at anywhere between 3-4:30pm...and I never let them sleep past 5pm since we have a 6:30-7:00pm bedtime. So...how can I get rid of that 3rd nap? Is it time?

 

We are not there yet, but I have been wondering the same thing.

 

QUOTE(knorts @ Jan 10 2008, 03:49 PM) [snapback]566824[/snapback]
So...how can I get rid of that 3rd nap? Is it time?


I knew it was time when they wouldn't take the third nap anymore. They would scream/cry until I went in to get them, while the other two they were going down very nicely.
If I remember correctly, our 3 nap schedule was 9-10, 12-1 and 3-4. When they didn't want to do the third, they did make the other naps longer. For two naps they did 9-11 and 2-4. It was a little bit harder at the beginning holding them more then two hours {they got really sleepy after two hours} but I tried to switch rooms at that time so it gave them a burst of energy to stay up a little longer. Also wanted to add that it took them a few days to get used to the new routine and before they started sleeping two hours straight. Good luck!! And if they are happy with three naps, keep it that way!

 

I'm currently battling this. They are so tired by the end of the day, but when I try to put them down for that third nap they will cry the whole time. So now it's just not worth it. It's a tough process. I still don't know what I'm doing. I keep asking myself why I don't remember ANY of this stuff from my first kid!!

Reyna

 

Are they still taking the 3rd nap without much trouble? If so, they probably need it. Many babies are ready to drop the 3rd nap by 9 months, but if yours aren't there's no reason to deprive them of that good sleep just to fit them into the "average" mold. Mine still definitely need 3 a day, with no signs of dropping one yet!

 

QUOTE(mrsfussypants @ Jan 10 2008, 04:42 PM) [snapback]566931[/snapback]
I'm currently battling this. They are so tired by the end of the day, but when I try to put them down for that third nap they will cry the whole time. So now it's just not worth it.


Same here! Well, for one DD. And she's a bit younger than yours. It was nice while it lasted, though.

 

My babies showed signs of wanting to drop that 3rd nap right around 8 months. They had trouble falling asleep for that middle nap, because it was too close to the first. I spread out the distance between the morning and afternoon nap, dropped the late one, and put them to bed earlier.

 

My girls started taking a cat nap, if at all, during the third nap and I knew to drop it. Once we did that we went to a 9 and 1 nap schedule and they slept anywhere from 1-3 hours per nap. I had to end up moving bedtime up a little (5:45/6, instead of 6:30) since they were so cranky by the end of the day, but we eventually got bedtime back up to 6:30.

 

Your babies sleep so much more than mine ever did! So jealous.

Does that third nap impact their bedtime at all? If not, I wouldn't be too hasty to get rid of it. If you see them resisting bedtime and/or waking without any good reason during the night then I'd skip that nap.

We got rid of the third nap when the boys began resisting it to the point that it was more trouble than it was worth. We had a couple of weeks of crankiness before bedtime because they were slightly overtired, but that passed once they got used to their new schedule.

 

My girls starting fighting the 3rd nap sso we changed the schedule around.

It took a few days but instead of naps at 9:30, 12:30, 3:30 for only an hour or so, we now take them at 10:30 and 3:00 for almost 2 hours each nap!! It takes a few days to adjust but it worked out for us.

 

We were basically on the same schedule as you at the same age...My twins are now almost 10 months.

They started resisting that third nap on their own as we approached 9 months. I encouraged that by keeping them awake, stimulating them,etc. and moved their bedtime up about 45 minutes from around 6:30 to around 5:45-6 p.m. I know it seems early, but they are definitely ready for it and sleep through until 6 sometimes 7 a.m.

Now that they are approaching 10 months, we are starting to shift the naps to more of a 10 am. first nap and 1:0-2 p.m. second nap.

 

Mine are kind of at the same spot, we rarely get the third nap in anymore because they tend to want to stay up a little longer between naps. I have still just really been trying to watch for their sleepy signs. I usually let them go a half hour longer between each nap and that usually puts them waking up from their last nap around 4-4:30 and they can last until 7 and not get too overtired. Mine just kind of naturally started not getting as tired as quickly and trying to get them down for that last nap was a nightmare. There are still some days where one of them will be sleepy litteraly an hour after they wake up, so I let them nap. If they are really resisting the nap I would let them skip it and move their bedtime up a little to start and then gradually push it back.

 

My boys started fighting the third nap at six months. They were taking three 45 minute naps each day and I didn't feel like they were ever really rested. They would cry for 30-45 minutes before finally crashing for the third nap and I just decided it wasn't worth the battle. At seven and a half months we dropped the third nap. For the first couple of weeks they napped from 9-11 and 2-4... and now it's more like 9-10 and 1-3. They go down great at bedtime... 7pm.

I would say if you're really ready to drop the third nap (and if they're really ready) then you have to just do it one day. They'll probably be extra sleepy that day, and maybe the next day, but they'll soon adjust.

Good luck!