Switching to one nap?

Just curious to see at what age most kiddos switched from two naps to one. Now my question - how did you know it was "officially" time to make the change and did you cold turkey switch or gradually shorten the morning nap? My girls are great sleepers - 12 hours at night, and then back down for almost 2 hrs in the am. The afternoon nap is when they are playing for an hour or so before finally napping for 1 - 1 1/2 hours (although today it was more like 30 mins!). I'm sad to give up the am nap (that was my email and shower time!!) Thank you!!

 

I am wondering the same thing so I am glad you asked.

 

It kind of just happened for us. At 15 months or so I think the babies started taking only 1 nap. I didn't really even notice it happening. Occasionally Michael will take 2 if he is really tired. You are lucky they are good sleepers at night. I think mine only get 10 hours at night at the most.

Bridget

 

We've been on one nap a day for a good month or so, but every once in a while they're extra tired and nap in the morning. It's been a long transition process for us. I thought they were ready because they went from taking two solid naps, both about 1.5 - 2 hours long, to kind of whining and fussing and playing around and just not sleeping as long at either nap.

I started putting them down for the morning nap about 15-20 minutes later every couple of days until we got to 11:30 or 12 as the start time. Right now they eat lunch around 11 and are down no later than 12. They usually sleep anywhere from 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours.

 

My girls dropped their afternoon nap at 14 months old. At first I missed it but now I dont know how we ever got anything done with 2 naps lol! They sleep 11-12 hours a nite, up for 4 hours in the morning, then down for a 2-3 hour nap and then up until bedtime...

I knew it was time b/c they just didnt want to go to sleep. It took them a few days to adjust themselves but now they dont even miss it.

 

I posted about this when mine were about 14 months too, and the majority of replies seemed to be 16-18 months. We switched at 16, but my girls had switched at daycare already (at 13 months!). We were lucky that the morning nap was the one they gave up naturally. Sometimes they still fall asleep in the stroller for a brief snooze in the morning, but mostly they can stay up till after lunch. We did give lunch pretty early (11:30) for a month or two -- now it's more like lunch at 12:30, nap from 1-3.

We knew it was time to switch because if we did some excursion in the morning (pool, zoo, etc.) they seemed to have no problem staying up all morning. As long as they kept getting really cranky and tired by 10 a.m., I kept putting them down for a morning nap.

They have always slept 11-12 hours at night.

 

18 mos. and I knew when they quit sleeping AT ALL during their afternoon nap.....

 

It's been a long time for me so I don't remember the exact age that they gave it up. However, I took my cues from them. They were getting enough sleep and they (Kaitlyn in particular) started not napping so I gave up trying. If there were days that they were really tired then they would nap but I wouldn't push it.

 

It was around 13-14 months for us. Kind of early and I did not want to do it, but they were ready. Bea was ready first, but I waited till Ainsley was too. They stopped taking the morning nap then got really cranky and slept too long in the afternoon. So, what we did first was they started napping at 10:30, then we gradually moved it back. First move was to switch lunch to before the nap. Now nap is at 12:30, where it's been for a while. They generally sleep 2-2.5 hrs.

 

We switched before their first birthday. Sydney was a nightmare about 2 naps. So much screaming it was insane. Samantha had a little trouble adjusting. But basically, just keep them awake in the morning. Have a good pre-nap routine. My kids have brunch, then watch 20 min of signing times, change into sleepsacks, drink milk, 3 books and into crib. Usually asleep within minutes. They sleep for 2-3 hours. I love the 1 long nap. And I love the flexibility it gives us to go out twice per day.

My biggest piece of advice.... if your kids fall asleep in the car or stroller.... don't take them out in the AM until they adjust. If they fall asleep in car and don't transfer, it sucks. I still rarely take my kids in the car before naptime. Usually our am outing is stroller to park. Good exercise for me too. The afternoons tend to be errands and other car outings.