Transition from 2 to 1 naps (16 mo) - advise please

[Ihaveoflate]

Hi - I'd really like some opinions on what to do about naps:

Our 16 mo still has 2 naps a day, but we cut the morning one very short (15-30 mins max) so that she will sleep for 2 hours in the afternoon. This has worked very well for a long time and she is a really good sleeper. Her current schedule looks something like this:

6:30m wake up
9:30-10am nap 1
1-3pm nap 2
7pm bed (she sleeps through)

At nursery (two days a week) she only has one nap at 1pm for 1.5 hrs at the most and seems okay, but is quite tired when she gets home. I have tried her on this schedule at home but she flakes out by 11am even if I try and get her to power through.

Over the past week she has been waking early (5:30 ish), and even though we don't get her up until 6:30, I can hear her chatting away so I am also lying awake. I think this may be an indication that it's time to drop the morning cat nap. So here's my question:

Do I carry on as we are and hope the early wakings are a temporary phase? Or should I push her to 11am and put her down for one big nap then and give her lunch at 1/1:30pm when she wakes up?

Sorry, it may sound like I'm overthinking things, but I'm quite a routine-y person and she has done really well on this routine for so long. Any views from parents with a toddler who sleeps (or slept) 11-1 are particularly welcome.

Thanks

When my wee one dropped to one nap, we started with the one nap around 11 like you describe, but gradually pushed it later over a week or two to fit after lunch. We weren't precise about it - a bit earlier if she was clearly falling asleep in her plate, a bit later if she was still full of beans - but I know other families who are more routine-based and have moved nap time back 15 or 30 min every 2-3 days, or something like that. We did always try to make sure she'd had something to eat before nap so she didn't wake up hungry. We also had some earlier bedtimes during the transition.

Looking at your current schedule, you might find that nap time at 12 or 12.30 at home works better for her than nursery's 1 o'clock, so the nap is more in the middle of her day. As she gets used to being awake longer, she might not be tired enough at 7 if she's slept until 3.

I just pushed the morning nap back slowly. Started at 11ish and then moved it back to 12/12.30/1ish eventually and after lunch. Earlier bedtime to make up for it until they get used to it. Half hour every few days. Took a few weeks and some days they still end up having 2 naps, but eventually they get the new routine. Lots of singing in the car/distractions/snacks to keep them awake in the morning. Avoid long pram walks or car journeys when they’d usually nap.

For food you just kind of have to go with the flow. Maybe just a bigger snack around 11 and then a snacky lunch when they wake up. Eventually they’ll settle and probably take a longer nap on non nursery days to make up for it

Also that was my pfb DS that I was able to do the gradual approach. My DD had to fit with our routine and I had a nursery pick up at 12.30 so we transitioned her in about 4 days as we had family visiting. She also did fine.

Enjoy naps! Mine don’t nap anymore now (5 and 3) and I miss the peace

Thank you so much for your replies - it’s really helpful.

We’re going to start with a decent snack and nap at 11am and gradually push it to after lunch. I also think a nap around 12/12:30 would suit her better, so that’s something to aim for.

Thanks again!