Naptime is important. It gives your child the chance to recharge, and you the chance to get some stuff done and recharge as well. Please make sure that you have children nap. Children will stop napping between age 3 and 5. I encourage you to also continue with a rest time after naps have ceased- great for that necessary recharge.
How I knew my kids were ready to stop napping?
The transition from 2 naps to 1 nap happened the same for all of my kids. They kept taking their 9:30 nap and then wouldn't take their afternoon nap. At that point, I transitioned them to an afternoon nap and dropped the morning nap.
The transition from 1 nap to no nap also happened the same for all of my kids. They would take their afternoon nap fairly consistently, the amount of protest increased, and more often they would take longer to fall asleep. AND when they would take a nap, they wouldn't go to sleep at night at their usual 7pm bedtime- it would take them until 9 or 10pm to fall asleep. As that became more of the norm, I dropped the afternoon and opted for an earlier bedtime- I would have them go to sleep as early as 6:30pm during the transition. I would also have them lay down in their room and read books in the afternoon for a bit.
Share your nap transition story.
Showing posts with label nap transition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nap transition. Show all posts
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday Sleep Dilemma
Q: How do you transition from 1 to 2 naps? How do I know my baby is ready? What should I expect?
A: Around 14-22 months old (18 months is pretty average), you will probably notice your baby start taking shorter naps or not going to sleep for the afternoon nap (for some reason this often happens) but still taking a good morning nap (this often leaves a parent perplexed). Something will present itself as "off" in your baby's sleep schedule. Really, these are just the signs that they are ready to transition to only an afternoon nap (Yes, an afternoon nap, even if that is the nap they are skipping).
Some ideas for making the transition as seamless as possible:
*Once you are on the one nap a day schedule, this schedule will continue for the next 2-3 years until they transition out of naps.
*Protect that afternoon naptime- they need it!
*Don't forget about sleep environment. As they get older, distractions come easier to them- you may want to opt for black out shades of some sort.
*Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child is a great book and sleep resource for all the ages and changes.
A: Around 14-22 months old (18 months is pretty average), you will probably notice your baby start taking shorter naps or not going to sleep for the afternoon nap (for some reason this often happens) but still taking a good morning nap (this often leaves a parent perplexed). Something will present itself as "off" in your baby's sleep schedule. Really, these are just the signs that they are ready to transition to only an afternoon nap (Yes, an afternoon nap, even if that is the nap they are skipping).
Some ideas for making the transition as seamless as possible:
- Have your baby take a morning nap somedays and an afternoon nap. Other days have them just take an afternoon nap. On the afternoon only day make the nap a bit earlier 12:30 or so and then an earlier bedtime.
- Keep your baby busy during the normal morning nap time- have a playdate, go to the park, run errands. Come home before lunchtime, eat, and put them down for a nap. Note: Don't fret if they fall asleep in the car and take a little cat nap. In this case it will be ok- try not to let that happen right before the naptime you want them to take.
- When they start taking the one afternoon nap, it will probably start around 1 and last until 3:30-4:30. They will probably also need an earlier bedtime- possible 7pm, maybe as early as 6:30. The time will adjust as they get older.
- If your baby needs two naps somedays that is okay.
- If your baby takes a short nap that is okay. (They will eventually adjust to one long afternoon nap. If they are waking up tired you may want to just leave them in there until the desired wake up time, so they can learn to take that longer nap. Give them the chance... this is a big change.
*Once you are on the one nap a day schedule, this schedule will continue for the next 2-3 years until they transition out of naps.
*Protect that afternoon naptime- they need it!
*Don't forget about sleep environment. As they get older, distractions come easier to them- you may want to opt for black out shades of some sort.
*Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child is a great book and sleep resource for all the ages and changes.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Sleep Ponderings from Me
What do you do with the loss of naptime? It is a sad day when naptime ends all together! This is a SAHM's time to get everything done- you have a couple hours to clean, prep dinner, do the laundry, maybe take a nap or sometime for yourself on a good day.... and now it is gone.
I encourage you to continue expecting some sort of quiet time or rest time from your child. Set a timer, so you both know how long this period will be. Have them lay down and rest, or read a basket of books, or choose an activity out of a basket reserved for this time, or play quietly in their room during this time. You still need to get stuff done, and they need to have some more chill and relaxing time during their busy day. Again, like everything in parenting be consistent and set up this expectation clearly for your child.
I encourage you to continue expecting some sort of quiet time or rest time from your child. Set a timer, so you both know how long this period will be. Have them lay down and rest, or read a basket of books, or choose an activity out of a basket reserved for this time, or play quietly in their room during this time. You still need to get stuff done, and they need to have some more chill and relaxing time during their busy day. Again, like everything in parenting be consistent and set up this expectation clearly for your child.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Ponderings from Me: Transition to NO Nap
The dreadful transition from that oh so precious afternoon nap to no nap occurs sometime between age 3 and age 6. Marc Weisbluth, author of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child states that at age 3- 91% still nap daily, at age 4- 50% still nap about 5 days a week, at age 5- 25% still nap about 4 days a week, and at age 6 the nap is pretty much gone.
My daughter transitioned out of her afternoon nap at around 3 1/2. She had been a good sleeper and good napper since she was 5 months old. Always had an early bedtime and no problem going to sleep at night. Then, around 3 1/2 my great napper started staying awake for hours when I put her to bed at night... just talking in her bed or whatever until 10 o'clock or so. This went on for a week or two. (I was not ready for her to not have a nap.) Finally, one day we skipped her nap and did a quiet time instead. That night she went right to sleep at 7 o'clock. From then on, she has been fine without a nap and goes to sleep immediately at 7 o'clock and wakes up at about 7 o'clock every morning. A nice, solid 12 hours of sleep.
And then, then follow-up question: what do they do during their past naptime? How can I continue to get stuff done?
I have a bunch of quiet activities that my 4-year old pulls out during her "quiet time". She knows that I have stuff to do during naptime and has become quite good about finding quiet activities to occupy herself. You may also try having them play in their room, spending sometime with them alone, having them watch a short show, giving them a stack of books to "read" on your bed, or?? Readers please share any of your ideas. And good luck finding solace in no naptime.
My daughter transitioned out of her afternoon nap at around 3 1/2. She had been a good sleeper and good napper since she was 5 months old. Always had an early bedtime and no problem going to sleep at night. Then, around 3 1/2 my great napper started staying awake for hours when I put her to bed at night... just talking in her bed or whatever until 10 o'clock or so. This went on for a week or two. (I was not ready for her to not have a nap.) Finally, one day we skipped her nap and did a quiet time instead. That night she went right to sleep at 7 o'clock. From then on, she has been fine without a nap and goes to sleep immediately at 7 o'clock and wakes up at about 7 o'clock every morning. A nice, solid 12 hours of sleep.
And then, then follow-up question: what do they do during their past naptime? How can I continue to get stuff done?
I have a bunch of quiet activities that my 4-year old pulls out during her "quiet time". She knows that I have stuff to do during naptime and has become quite good about finding quiet activities to occupy herself. You may also try having them play in their room, spending sometime with them alone, having them watch a short show, giving them a stack of books to "read" on your bed, or?? Readers please share any of your ideas. And good luck finding solace in no naptime.
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