Transitioning to one nap

We are trying to transistion to one nap. There are multiple issues. First the reason we are transitioning is that Nate won't take his morning nap. So basically I have eleminated the first nap and moved the second nap up about 1/2 an hour to 12:30. But they are only sleeping 3/4 to 1 hour. They are tired long before that but I don't know how to find the "sweet spot" to put them down for nap, give them lunch- and not have them over tired at bed time. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Michele
Mom to Doug and Nate 15 months.

 

What we did was push the first nap out slowly. I put mine down around 10:30 and fed them breakfast or a snack right before. I've pushed it back to 11am now. I encourage putting them down before they start rubbing their eyes and act tired, by then they are over tired and usually sleep worse.
Also I'm not sure if you do cio but when mine only sleep for an hour I tend to just leave them in there. Sometimes they fall asleep and sometimes they just end up playing with their stuff in their crib.
Just a couple thoughts, good luck! Transitioning is not easy! :grouphug:

 

I would try putting them down earlier. We are transitioning to one nap right now. I feed them a snack around 10:30 and then they take their nap at 11:00 or 11:30. They usually sleep 1.5 hours or more. Once in awhile DS will take a 45 minute nap, and then I usually attempt a second nap in the late afternoon. We have also had some 2.5 - 3 hour naps, which are wonderful! I try leaving them if they wake at 45 minutes. Sometimes they return to sleep, sometimes they don't.

 

i agree with PPs, i would try putting them down earlier. we do lunch at 11:00am & their nap at 12:00pm (or sometimes 11:30am if they're hitting the wall). also, when we first transitioned we moved their bedtime earlier until they were a little more used to the longer awake times & then gradually pushed it back again. last, but not least, my girls did take shorter naps for a good couple of weeks before we settled into a consistent 2 - 2.5 hour nap routine. GL!

 

I would also try putting them down earlier. It took my two a couple of weeks before they slept longer then an hour when we made the transition. Like Brigette, unless they had a poo or were in major distress, I left them in there. I figure quiet time can help just as much as a nap. Good luck!

 

We have been in nap transition for forever! I had to nap separately for a while because I have one that needs two naps about half the week. Currently we make it until 10 am and usually sleep 2-2.5 hours. If I wait any later right now they sleep a shorter nap. This is a tough transition...I want to get to that 11 or 12 to 2 or 3 nap...just stay flexible and maybe start earlier and work up to the desired time.

 

Thanks for the ideas ladies- I think I will move the nap up and once we get that down slowly work it later- yikes who knew it would be so much work just to sleep

 

I don't do CIO, in that I'm not personally willing to let him scream in his crib for however long it takes to get back to sleep. But I will let him whimper and fuss for a little bit if he wakes up after just an hour. It happens about 1/3 of the time, maybe. And most days, he'll go back to sleep and nap for 3+ hours. If he really starts crying, I'll get him out. He hasn't taken 2 naps for a few months, unless he doesn't feel well (today, for instance, he took 2... but he was running a low-grade fever and seemed to really need it).