How did your DC transition from two naps to one?

[CityDweller]

And how did you manage that transition?

DD is 1yo and it's getting hard to 'fit' two naps into the day - in that her awake times are getting longer, and I think she needs less sleep as she's waking up earlier in the morning and falling asleep later at night and she's fighting her naps more (although she does nap well once she's asleep, especially if she's in her cot). She currently does:
7am wake up (although really more like 6am these days, sometimes earlier)
10-11 nap
2.30-4 nap (she'd often sleep longer if we let her)
7.30 bedtime (asleep by 8)

Is it time to consolidate the two naps? If so, how do I do it? Just try to keep her going for longer in the morning before putting her down and hope she then sleeps for longer, e.g. 11-1? I'm not sure she could last from 1pm until bedtime though...

Personally I think 7.30-8 is late for bed

My dd is 12 months and goes to be at 6.30-7

We are sometimes on one nap sometimes on two ATM but if you go for one nap try earlier bed time

At 1 and now at 2.7 we had a 7.30-8 bedtime so if that's what suits keep doing it. I brought the long afternoon nap forward slightly after I realised I was putting him down for a morning nap and he just kept chattering till I got him back up again. He obviously wasn't tired enough and was ready to drop it. Naptimes were something like 10-11 and 1-3 and for a while became 12-2, gradually moving a little but later till that one was gone as well. The 12-2 was a pest for lunchtime but he wouldn't eat it he was too tired so just had to go with it!

Our DS (16 months) also goes to bed at 8:00. He wakes
At 7:45 - 8:30. With the transition we slowly shortened the morning nap from 2 hours (10-12) down to 30 mins (10-10:30) and at the same time slowly moved his afternoon nap (3-5) forward to 1pm. Then we cut the morning nap completely and he just had a long afternoon nap (1-4ish) which now he's getting older has shortened to 2 hours (sometimes longer if he's nackered).

I suppose it depend on what you do in the day

On a work day me and dd are out of the house by 7.15

Even on a no work day that's a school day we are out at 8.30

Up to about 16 months, we did the 2.3.4. routine, so

up at (say) 7, keep up for 2 hours, then short nap

from 9 till about 9.40, then keep up 3 hours, then long nap

from about 12.45/1pm till about (no later than) 3pm

then bed about7.

When about 16 months, moved to the 5.2.5 routine, so

up at 7, keep up for 5 hours then long nap from about 12 till 2, then up

for 5 hours then bed.(Lunch just before the nap.)

My dd is 15mo but had this routine from 11mo,

Awake at 6ish
Nap at 11.30-1ish
Bed at 7
Asleep by 7.30!

Depends how busy they are/ how likely they are to nap in cars/ pushchairs I think..

Great - thanks everyone. I think I shall try to move her to one nap whilst I'm off work over Easter.

(3DC Bedtime routine starts at 6.45 with bath, etc. She's in bed by 7.30 - can't imagine starting bedtime routine any earlier as both DH and I work and don't get home until 6.30ish)

So is the general consensus to have lunch before the single nap? Does that mean lunch at 11am??

It worked if I moved lunch to 1130.

So, breakfast 8
Play
Snack 10
Prep for lunch 11
Lunch 1130
Nap 12-2
Play
Snack 3
Tea 4-5
Bath 6
Bed 7

Yes much earlier than you are used to. But works if you factor in two decent snacks at mid am and mid pm.

Eg ham cracker apple slice

See our bedtime routine can start at 530 on a no work day and 6 on a work day. I work 3 days. We only do baths on non work days unless she is actually dirty lol. She has to have her milk at 6pm or it is the end of the world! On a work day we get home about 5.45 so it's literally in the door and then milk! Into pjs and then she will have a little play!
Today is a non work day and she is in the bath already!

I found at that stage it was helpful to have a cold, picky lunch which could be offered before nap at 11.30 ish, and if they were too tired to eat it, it could be offered again at 2ish.