Almost 1 year old - long AM nap

[Madallie]

DD seems to naturally want a longer AM nap and I feel really bad waking her. She's not a long napper - 1hr 20 mins (ish) am - 3.5hrs after waking then 1 hour (ish) pm - I try for 3.25/5 hours but hit and miss when she sleeps.

She just seems to take forever to fall asleep for PM nap and I just feel frustrated that it can take her 45mins or longer to fall asleep for this. I have tried longer and shorter wake times but doesn't seem to make a difference.

Some days we have good days where she drops off quickly but not often.

Have any of your dcs preferred AM nap?

Would it be better for me to push AM nap later (gradually) and aim for 1 hopefully slightly longer nap and (if possible) a catnap or if not early BT?

[vodkaanddietirnbru]

yes, I would start to make the morning nap later until it eventually falls just after lunchtime. Both mine were down to 1 nap by 11 months but it started off quite early and then got pushed until it was around 12.30pm.

[Madallie]

Thanks vodke - I just get really worried about OT by BT and that it may lead to NW and EMW. Did you find this at all or were yours ok?

Hope you don't mind me asking you a few questions, it's just I feel lost about it?

How long did that AM nap last? Did you try for PM nap or just decide that you would do 1 nap and keep to it? Also what time did yous dcs wake in the morning and go to bed at night when they changes to 1 nap?

Hope you don't mind the nosiness!

x

[vodkaanddietirnbru]

I played it by ear to start with so if they didnt nap long enough with 1 nap they could then have another one later on. The alternative would be to limit the am nap to 1 sleep cycle (around 45 mins) and then still try for the afternoon nap.

Its been a while since the dc's napped so its hard to remember the exact timings but I am sure they were in bed some time between 7.30 and 8pm and then up between 6 and 7am. When dropping to 1 nap, it started around 11 am and got gradually pushed until after lunch and could range from 1 to 3 hours.

[Madallie]

Thanks Vodka. Think I should follow your example and play it by ear! I'm not very good at going with the flow. 1st dd so I'm still learning but am struggling with it! Will try though.
Thanks

[MimsyBorogroves]

My DS - same age - is the same. He wakes around 7/7.30, first nap at around 10 until 11.30. We then struggle for a nap at 2, until 2.50 (when we have to go and get DS1 from school)

It suits him. It suits me. He still wakes at least once in the night for a feed, but it's getting better.

[SandyChick]

When my ds has a long morning nap (2 hours ) he never settles we'll in pm unless we are out in car etc and even then he only has a cat nap which makes him too tired at bedtime eye.

I find a short 1 hour morning nap and longer pm nap works best. If he doesn't nap well after lunch i put him down between 4-5. It's working out at 3 1 hour naps at the moment. 9.30-10.30, 1-2 and 4-5.

[Madallie]

I guess thery're all so different, but it's not to hear what others do nonetheless. I guess for my dd, what probably works better is -
wake 6.45, nap 9.45-11, then put down at 2/2.15 and just wait it out til she falls asleep - usually - 2.45 then I wake at 4 if she hasn't woken.

Just get frustrated that it takes her so long to fall asleep. Part of being a Mummy tho I guess!