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Nap timing advice

10 replies

Catsby · 01/11/2013 10:08

Bit of a random one but I just wanted to pick people's brains and see if anyone with more experience has any advice.

22mo is still switching between one and two naps a day. If she's doing something interesting in the morning, she'll happily go to 12.30/1 and have at least an hour if not more, which is what she does at her CMs. However if we're in and nothing much is happening, she does get very tired about 10 and we often put her down for a nap. She will then normally have another half hour about 4ish (which has never interfered with bedtime).

However some odd days she is at the CMs from 12-6, rather than 8-4. She's at home with DP, not at groups or shops etc as DP is getting ready to work a long shift after he drops her off. So she wants a nap at 10 (and I don't blame DP for continuing with this as he has to get ready for work). However, she's now refusing to have a late afternoon nap at the CM's - understandable as there are far more exciting things happening - which means she is exhausted by the time I collect her and get her home, and rather grumpy and silly at the CMs.

What confuses things a lot is that the trip to the CMs is 20 mins in the pushchair. If she's kept awake to nap after lunch at the CMs, she will actually fall asleep in the pushchair but won't stay asleep once she's there, so it would end up being a terrible 20 min nap. But while napping in the morning at home, it makes the evenings horrible for CM and me, and I already do straight into bath and bed when I get her home.

Sorry that's so long and waffly! Does anyone with more experience have any suggestions? Oh, have asked the CM obviously, but her children are older and she's new to taking in little ones, so she can't remember too well what her kids did when they napped, and DD is the only mindee she has with this awkward 12 drop off

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
NeedlesCuties · 01/11/2013 12:14

I have two children.

DS used to nap at same time everyday, and had two naps right up until he dropped the naps altogether at age 2 years.

DD was different. Only ever had one nap from birth, usually around noon. DS would sleep perfectly in his cot for naps, whereas DD only naps in the car.

I think with your DD if she's happy napping in different places at different times then that's maybe just what you have to go with. Sometimes you can't 'fix' them to your plan, even though that'd be handy!

Catsby · 01/11/2013 13:48

Thanks needles. I think I'm concerned about that early nap leaving her a nightmare by the end of the day (that was a very waffly post above, sorry [gri]) But yes, I can't see how I can 'fix' this. It's such an awkward drop-off time, midday, but there's nothing we can do about it.

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SteamWisher · 01/11/2013 13:53

Will she stay asleep if left in the pushchair? Maybe get a snooze shadeand recline her on the way.

I'd also go cold turkey on the morning nap because you get to a stage where it's counter productive. My 23 month old still has a mid morning dip which I counter with a snack. Can your DP do the same? Or pop the tv on for 10 mins will he gets ready.

Catsby · 01/11/2013 13:57

I think it is a mid-morning dip, yes - when I'm with her and we're out doing something she flags for about half an hour and then perks up. DP is understandably less bothered about doing something as if she naps at home, he gets to shower, shave and eat before work in some relative peace Grin But then he doesn't see how tired and excitable she is in the evening.

I don't think she'll nap in the pushchair, sadly. Generally getting her inside the house is enough to wake her. I've left her outside to sleep on occasion which has worked but I don't think the CM can realistically do, with the layout of her house she wouldn't be able to see DD while looking after the other children.

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SteamWisher · 01/11/2013 14:23

Can you just send her to the cm for longer then? So starts at 10?

Catsby · 01/11/2013 14:34

I am toying with that. At the moment I'm a bit loathe to do it as she can be there quite long hours anyway but it might have to be done, and it is a bit of a pain for DP to get her there, but it might be the best solution.

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SteamWisher · 01/11/2013 14:55

It would only be temporarily so not too bad?

Havingkittens · 03/11/2013 22:26

After a lot of reading and advice from others I have learned that, apparently babies have around a 90 minute sleep cycle (when they are a bit older it seems to vary between 90 mins to 2 hours or thereabouts). I don't get up at the same time every day. Obviously, if the baby decides to sleep longer in the morning than usual I will take advantage! So, rather than him having a nap at exactly the same time each day I keep an eye on him from about 90 mins after he's woken up. As soon as he starts showing signs of nose and eye rubbing, ear pulling, squeakiness etc I try to get him down for a nap. It tends to work, more often than not. The same again for the next nap. His naps last anywhere between 20 mins and 1 hour 20 mins usually, so times all vary.

The interesting thing I read, which also seems to ring true so far is that if you miss the "window", or the baby falls asleep at the tit or in the buggy for 10 mins and wakes again you have to start the whole 90 minute timing again from scratch. I've only been using this method for a couple of weeks (it's only taken me 24 weeks to get to grips with this!) but it does seem to be working.

SteamWisher · 04/11/2013 09:47

The sleep cycle thing works for younger babies but from 9 months on its better to put them down at the same time every day.

Havingkittens · 04/11/2013 10:35

Thanks, that's good to know.

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