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Is this nap transitioning? Naps have gone v wrong lately

4 replies

PenelopeChipShop · 02/08/2013 11:30

My DS is 13 months. He's never been a great sleeper, never even got close to sleeping through the night but that's another thread! Am starting to wonder if part of his problem going to sleep at bedtime (which is an utter, utter farce at the mo) is that he no longer needs two naps. I thought he was a bit young still to drop one yet but does this sound like he's ready?

He usually wakes between 6 and 7am and sleeps at about 10am. (I know this is quite late but he doesn't seem tired til then!) In the last couple of months this nap has become more and more reliable and now it's usually an hour - 1.5 hours, incredible for a baby who previously only slept in 30-minute blocks! I always let him sleep until he naturally wakes as a) it's so rare for him to have a decent sleep and b) I assume he needs it. But the problem with this is that he now doesn't want an afternoon nap until really late in the day - about 2.30/3pm. He is tired at this time and gives me his usual 'put me to bed' signals. But if he sleeps then, 7pm bedtime is a total no-no. If I try to skip this nap altogether he'll go to bed pretty well at 7pm but will either be falling asleep in his dinner or just VERY VERY cranky.

I'm thinking he's nearly ready for one good post-lunch sleep but he's not yet quite ready to stay up all morning yet so not sure how to handle things. Any advice? Sorry this is so long!

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MissMarplesBloomers · 02/08/2013 16:26

Yes sounds like he is in that in between stage of needing to drop a nap but being cranky if the timing is wrong.

Coul you do an activity in the morning that keeps hm going, then an early lunch (even if 11.30) then a long nap after?

Keep pushing the nap back & only have one hour he'll soon get adjusted, maybe oush bedtime back a half hour on days when he just crashes in the afternoon as they sometimes do.

Can you give him a late-ish big stodgy supper followed by a good glug of milk before settling him to see him through- this age often wake as blood sugars drop & complex carbs will keep the levels steady as they release slower. Weetabix or porridge with a banana are good ones.

HTH

omama · 02/08/2013 18:20

You have 2 options: temporarily push his bedtime back eg to 8pm until he is ready to last til after lunch for his nap, or you slowly push the morning nap later & go straight for the one nap. I think you'll find if you can get it to start around 11am he may nap more reliably for around 2hrs.

My ds napped at about 11 for quite a long time (we did lunch when he got up at around 1pm) & then bedtime at 6.30-7pm. He was nearer 17/18 months before he started napping after lunch. Hth.x

PenelopeChipShop · 02/08/2013 20:08

Thanks for your replies. Omama that is sort of what I've done accidentally as I can tell he's not teady for bed at 7 but putting him down takes so long that even if I aim for 8 it ends up being 8.30/9 and he'll still wake early so am worried he's becoming chronically sleep deprived!

I think your first suggestion is best, and as mrsmarple says too. Try to keep him going til a little bit later then let him crash! Now you've both said it that seems obvious, I don't know why I needed help, but I am so sleep deprived I can't think straight!

Also for some reason I was thinking that if he only hd one nap it HAD to be after lunch (not sure why!) but as to us at it could be at 11 and then he stays up all afternoon. Thanks for your suggestions :-)

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PenelopeChipShop · 02/08/2013 20:10

Second suggestion, rather!

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