6 month old will only have one nap a day

[BlueFrenchHorn]

He's obviously tired after being awake for 2-3 hours, but will only have one (long) nap a day. So if he wakes at 6.30am, he is tired by 9am, goes down for a nap until midday, then is awake until bedtime - 6.30pm! He's really tired but just won't nap.

If I keep him up til say midday, he'll have an afternoon nap midday - 3pm, which is better as he's not hysterically overtired by bedtime. But then he's tired all morning.

I've tried reducing the morning nap to an hour, and even 45 mins. Makes no difference. As long as he's had one nap in the day, he won't nap again.

At 6 months I though he should be having a small morning nap and a longer lunchtime nap.

Any help or advice please?

No help I'm afraid but my dd is the same, she only ever had one 2-3 hour nap in the middle of the day.

Do you think I should just resign myself to the obe nap and try and place it in the afternoon? Just seems so early to "drop"/not have a morning nap.

I think you've got to take your lead from him. I used to stress and worry about sleep with dd by in the end she did what suited her and once I accepted that it was fine. Our kids clearly haven't read the books! I don't think you should shorten any naps just let him work out his own routine for a while and see if it works for him.

I warn you I am by no means an expert!

Oh, a 2-3 hour nap each day sounds fantastic !!!!

I can only echo pp - they really do just have their own rhythms.

My ds is now 7 months and napping the most he ever has - a 40 minute in the a.m. And a 40 minute nap in the afternoon ! I am being a bit dramatic as lately I can normally stretch the afternoon one to an hour an a half. This is the most he has napped, ever.

my DS only had about one nap of 45 mins at that age!! he started a longer nap when he got more mobile but dropped his nap completely around 18 months to 2 years. Some kids just need less sleep. luckily he's never been a particularly early riser to 7 to 7.30 is usual

My dd is 4.5 months... She point blank refuses to nap some days at all - you can see her forcing her eyes open! It really is quite funny to watch, when you're not exhausted!

She has taken to sleeping a good 7 hours at night, having a bottle around 2 or 3 am, then back to sleep til about 7am. That works for her, and us to a degree.

:)