How to drop to 1 nap when she wakes at 5am??

[Cocolocos]

My DD is 15mo, and seems to be ready to move to 1 nap. I have tried pushing her wake times longer but she consistently fights the afternoon nap. I also tried limiting the morning nap to 1h but that didn't work either - she just got less sleep.

The trouble is that she wakes about 5am and I can't see how to keep her going to get to a point of napping after lunch, without getting over tired. But otherwise we have either too long a wake time before bed (and overtired) or a chronically early bed time. I feel like these things may be perpetuating the early morning wakes. Any tips??

We managed two naps yesterday but she had only had five hours overnight (horrific! Couldn't get her down until 1am!!) so was knackered and I held her for one nap and buggyed the other! Today she had a nap in the buggy around 10 but only a short one. My back is killing me from all the pushing the buggy and holding her when she's asleep so I've sent DH out with her in the buggy now for an afternoon nap, hopefully!! I'm off out tonight and the plan is for DH to put her to bed, she'll sleep through and he'll get up with her in the morning so I can enjoy some vino and have a bit of a lie in... of course she'll probably decide to pull an all night screamathon instead...

Enjoy your night out tum, sounds like you need the after that night! My son had an hour and s half until 11.30 couldn't get him back down, but he's been ok... husband just going to take him up to bed now. It's so frustrating how it changes daily! How are you getting on coco?

Yes it is so frustrating, makes it so difficult to plan your day!! DD only had a thirty min afternoon nap in the end, on me in the dark in her nursery, so we'll see how DH gets on tonight! Fingers crossed

All my sons naps are on me Tum... fingers crossed indeed!

Are you back at work summer? I don't mind it so much but it stresses me out no end about how she'll cope in nursery. Currently we have my niece living with us and she falls asleep easier on her than on me, but not quite sure about nursery when there's so much going on!!!

Tum, he stated nursery at 12 months. It took a couple of weeks, but he now has one nap at 12 for 1.5 to 2 hours. They assure me he's happy all day! Goodness knows how they do it...

I think they must have magic powers!! DD woke at 5 today and dodged her morning nap... I'm just giving her lunch and trying to decide which is going to take less energy, battling to get her to nap in her cot or taking her for a walk!!

Hi guys,

I just googled early wakings and nap transition out of desperation and this thread came up. My boy sounds exactly like yours were. Just wondering what happened in the end? Am So looking forward to some routine and some after 6am wake ups (we've had some 4.30 wakes this week).

Thanks x

Hi TiredMumma! I’m in exactly the same boat as you with my son who is 15 months old. He has always been a very early riser, usually around 5.30 but had periods of 5am or even earlier! (This week we’ve had 4.30 starts!!) He’s also trying to transition, been refusing afternoon nap but will always take morning nap. It’s a mess and just seems to be getting worse! I hope the ladies come back and can help us if not then maybe one of us will work it out here’s hoping

I’m having exactly the same problem with my 16 month old son. Did you manage to find any help on how to sort this out? Im googling like crazy and nothing seems to solve it! Thanks