What daytime naps does your toddler take?

[jumpyjan]

DD is 14 months and still needing a mid morning nap. She sleeps from 10.30 ish for about an hour and a half. None of my friends babies seems to do this - they all have naps after lunch.

I would prefer it is DD did this as I would like to take her to some toddler groups etc but they are all in the morning during her nap time. I would like to get out and meet some other mums when I am not at work but I have found no activities in the afternoon and sometimes feel a little housebound due to her needing a nap at this time.

Is there an age when they stop needing a mid morning nap and can last till after lunch?

[gingerninja]

My DD went from one nap to two probably about the 15 month mark but it was a struggle for a few weeks to get her to an after lunch nap. Even now at 18 mnts she occassionally naps early and has to have a late lunch.

It is a pain when there aren't any groups in the afternoon. I found this. Perhaps you could go once or twice a week anyway and see how she copes. They often cope better than we imagine because the different environment keeps them stimulated. One thing I hope I've learned for my second is that I won't be a hostage to naps because they eventually drop them and you're left without a social life if you've stayed at home for all of them. Good luck

[gingerninja]

two naps to one obviously!

[thefunkypea]

When my dd was about 12 mths, I wanted to book us onto a new swimming course which started in 3 mths time. I looked at the 'developmental' books and they suggested that the morning nap would be dropped in favour of a single post lunch nap. Ha ha - my dd slept through a course of 10 swim lessons!!!! And still took an afternoon nap. She's now 16 mths, and she's taking (on average - no two days are the same!)an hour in the morning around 11-12, and an hour to an hour and a half in the afternoon from 4 ish. None of her little friends are doing to the same thing! Certainly not following any known pattern. If we're out anywhere interesting she will stay awake, but can get v grumpy. I've learnt from experience and haven't booked anything that I've had to pay in advance for during known nap times.

[MuddlingThru]

My ds needed a morning and afternoon nap until he was about 16 months. All of a sudden he started playing up for his morning nap. I shifted his nap back by about an hour on the first day expecting it to be a struggle but he was fine and then I think I just kept moving it back by about 15 mins each day and within a week his body clock was set to just having an afternoon nap. Like you until then I hadn't been able to go to toddler groups.

[jumpyjan]

Thanks gingerninja. It is a tricky one and I have to admit I am a hostage to DD's naps.

DD goes to nursery 3 days a week and has a morning nap and sometimes an afternoon nap there too.

I have not met as many mums as I would like since having dd and the ones I have met seem to be out and about a lot more than me.

[jumpyjan]

Thanks funkypea and muddling though. Thats interesting that your LO's seem to be in a similar pattern to DD. She is getting to the point where she can go without the afternoon nap (used to have one about 3.30) but there is no way she could go without the morning one.

Do you find that you are 'home alone' more becuase of this? Just feel like DD has loads of fun 3 days a week at nursery then on the 2 days a week she is home with me it is a bit boring for her as all we do is play at home or go for walks!

[gingerninja]

JJ, perhaps you could go swimming or to a soft play centre in the afternoon instead and try and stretch her out in the afternoon then you'll perhaps get the chance to meet people and give her some fun time. (Though I'm sure she's happy with just you for company on those days)

Although my DD naps later now, I was in the same situation and I really haven't met anyone since having her which I'm sad about and I'm sure it's all linked to my obsession with getting her naps right. Everyone else seemed really relaxed with just going with the flow. I regret that now

[MuddlingThru]

Jumpyjan - I don't remember being home alone (ds is nearly 3 now) I think I just arranged to see friends either before his nap or after (or put him down at their house if they had a travel cot).
Gingerninja - don't worry about your 2nd it is completely different. With your first there is no point going to toddler groups if they fall asleep in the pushchair on the way there. With your 2nd you hope that they will fall asleep on the way there so that you can spend some time with your 1st when you first arrive, it doesn't matter if dc2 sleeps through much of it.