2-1 nap transition/danger naps

[inomniaparatis]

Baby is 14mo and I think she's ready to drop to 1nap as bedtime is getting later and later. However I am really going to miss 2 nap days as they fitted in perfectly with going places - sleep on the way there and back, well rested baby for the main part of the day.

Sleeping from 11-1/12-2 just seems so much more awkward. I know that if we do anything that involves the car or the pram earlier in the morning/later in the afternoon she will fall asleep, but I really hate staying home all day. Getting out is my coping strategy! How do others navigate this? Is it just a case of accepting that she might fall asleep and rolling with it? Do they eventually adjust to staying awake longer after a while? Or do people just have to stay home more? Any thoughts appreciated!

My son is 2 1/2 and he naps from 12.30/1 until 2.30/3 sometimes a little longer. I get us out in the morning doing something active and when he rests I rest (I have lots of health issues so it works for us) I suppose it depends on whether you prefer naps at home or out and about. I prefer the naps at home as it gives me a chance to rest too and I know he's comfortable. it was a change going from two naps to one but you do get used to it. I'm dreading going to none!

Gosh yes, 1-0 will be a shock to the system. Thanks for your reply, that's useful. We've always done naps on the go but she will now occasionally nap in the house which is tempting I must admit. I also like the idea of having longer active mornings but I struggle with afternoons so 4-6pm will be a challenge for me. I usually go to the park but I think she'll just drop off in the pram... Though I suppose if we're out all morning, being home in the afternoon might be less tricky. Food for thought!

My son is 3.5 and still naps 12-1.30ish when he's home (not on nursery days)
I remember this transition. It was hard to ajust too but i tried to stay local in the mornings... walk to park/town/have a friend over. Then drive out somewhere after nap as i knew he wouldn't fall asleep in the car then, after a few weeks he got used to it. If i did drive somewhere I'd give him something to play with in the car or constantly chat to him. It depends really if you prefer naps at home or out and about. Mine would nap 11.30-2/2.30 in those days
I am due my 2nd in 7 weeks and im thinking about how different its going to be this time around regardling naps as i can't keep older one home just for that, its not fair on him. I'm sure it'll all work out though🙈

Thanks, heading out straight after the nap sounds best as long as we return home not too late! I know we'll adjust, and every phase has it's pros and cons, but I'm just struggling to reconcile this one to our current routine!

A lot of my friends have found their second baby is so much more flexible and chilled for exactly the reason you describe - hope that's the case for you!

Yes definitely they all have pros and cons. Im dreading the no nap stage too, which is just around the corner. We went out today for the day and he fell asleep on the way home 5pm-5.45pm! I was absolutely dreading bed time but luckily he was still tired and fell asleep at 7.30

Thankyou. I'm sure it'll all be fine. Different to what we're used to but it'll all fit together I'm sure. Hope you don't struggle too much with the new routine. I much preferred the one long nap in the middle of the day. But that's because I'm lazy and liked a nap too😂

I don't have a car and 17 month old DS doesn't nap in his buggy so now he's dropped his morning nap I just keep us out of the house and busy from 9 - 11:30 and then either have a picnic lunch or come back to the house for lunch before putting him down for a nap.
Dropping his morning nap coincided with him wanting to walk more around 14 months so keeping him in the park, practising his walking wasn't too difficult.
I miss the morning nap because it gave me 15 mins to clear the kitchen and enjoy a coffee in peace!
Get some wellies and a puddle suit so you can stay outside in wet weather - I've found it's so much easier to keep DS active when we're outdoors and he naps really well.

Thanks, a puddle suit will definitely be needed, she's exactly at that stage with walking now too. For most of the first year every nap was in the pram for us, it's her most reliable sleeping space but I'll just need to stay local ish for a while so she has less chance to nod off. Appreciate all the tips, will just need to roll with it I think! She had two naps today but the second was only 10 mins in the car and she was awake by 2.30pm so I'm hoping she'll be asleep soon🤞

My son is 15 months and has been on 1 nap now for a good month or so.
We tend to get out after breakfast and then back home for lunch at 11:30ish.
Nap 12-1:30/2pm and then sometimes back out or we stay in/go in garden! Goes down for bed about 6:30/7pm.

I sometimes find it a little awkward but if we do a day out somewhere further away but we make sure we go early as possible from when he is awake in the morn and don't go back to late after his has woken from his nap so we don't risk him falling asleep in the car! Xx

I think when they drop to one nap it works well to go out first thing, home for nap, then you can chill in the afternoon or head back out again for a short while to get home before danger nap territory.

My daughter dropped to one nap just before she turned 1 and it's so much easier! we go to a class 9.30-11ish. Lunch 11.30 then nap 12/12.30/2.30... out from 3 back at 5 for dinner. Bed 7/7.30

I just accept my toddler will fall asleep so plan this into my day. As an example, aim to drive somewhere to arrive about 11, then aim to leave about 4 and allow two shorter naps and bedtime is fine. But worse is not enough sleep. Then we get false starts and split nights. Mine only went to two naps a day at 20 months by the way. So play around with it.