Poll Discussion: 2-1 Nap Transitions

 

Today’s poll is on the 2-1 Nap Transition. Here are you questions:

 

1. What age did you start the transition from 2 naps to 1?

2. What age was your child officially at one nap instead of two?

3. In retrospect, were these ages the right age for your child?

4. What age do you think would have been best for your child to move to one nap?

5. What method did you use to go to one nap? Examples: Cold turkey, weaning, shortening the morning nap, etc.

6. When your child first went to one nap consistently, what time did the one nap start? 

7. What time did your child’s nap land at once the transition was done?

8. How long was the one nap once the child was settled into one nap a day?

9. Any words of advice on making the transition smoother?

 

 

27 thoughts on “Poll Discussion: 2-1 Nap Transitions”

  1. 1. My son was ready at 12 months, which scared me because it seemed too early.2. By 13 months, we were solidly at one nap a day.3. Yes, he was ready even if I wasn't!4. About 12-13 months.5. We dropped to one nap cold turkey and progressively moved it later in the day by 20-30 min increments until we were all happy with his nap time (moved from 930 to 1)6. 1pm7. 2 hours8. Stay busy in the morning and avoid the stroller/car nap at all costs! Get outside, go run errands, go to the park, meet up with friends…do whatever you can to avoid being home or slowing down!

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  2. 1. What age did you start the transition from 2 naps to 1?13 months2. What age was your child officially at one nap instead of two?15 months3. In retrospect, were these ages the right age for your child?Starting age, yes. We shortened the morning nap to preserve the afternoon nap. Official switching, no, but that is what happened when we took the pacifier away. I don't regret taking it away, only that it didn't happen sooner so it didn't bother the transition so much4. What age do you think would have been best for your child to move to one nap?18 months to officially be on one5. What method did you use to go to one nap? Examples: Cold turkey, weaning, shortening the morning nap, etc. We shortened the morning nap, then dropped the pacifier at 14.5, then cold turkey at 15 months6. When your child first went to one nap consistently, what time did the one nap start? 11:307. What time did your child's nap land at once the transition was done?12:158. How long was the one nap once the child was settled into one nap a day?2 hours, sometimes longer9. Any words of advice on making the transition smoother?Take it slow and don't hurry it. Take their cues because every child is different!

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  3. 1. about 14 months2. about 15 months3. Yes, she was ready.4. She was ready, so it was best.5. Essentially cold turkey. We had been shortening the morning nap for a month or so and it just stopped working well, so we went straight to one nap.6. Noon – moved IP to previous morning nap time so she could "rest" and/or take a short "power nap" if she needed to – she did off/on for about 2 weeks.7. Noon – I just started where I wanted it and let her take her time to adjust.8. between 2 and 3 hours9. Don't try to stick to two naps if it's not working just for the sake of having two naps. I was trying to and it was making no one happy.

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  4. 1. We began the transition around 13 months.2. He was officially down to one nap at 15 1/2 months.3. Yes! I followed his lead and it felt really natural and comfortable for him.4. It was a great time to move to one nap.5. We gradually shortened the morning nap until it just wasn't happening.6. We put him down at 1:00 right at first.7. Right now (at 19 months), he goes down anywhere from 1-1:45 depending on when he wakes up that morning, how tired he is, or what our schedule looks like for the day.8. It was 3 hours at first, then dropped to 2 hours, and is now settling around 2.5 hours.9. Hang in there and remember it's just a phase! I did a post all about our 2-1 nap transition on my blog. Hope it can help some of you! http://www.mydevising.com/2013/02/dropping-morning-nap.html

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  5. 1. 20 months2. 21 months3. Yes, it seemed late, but my daughter is very high octane and has always required a lot of sleep. She took 2 naps and still slept 12.5 hours at night.4. i think this was ideal. I may have tried it sooner, but at 18 months I had just had another baby so I was enjoying her taking 2 naps for a while longer!5. Cold turkey, and just moved the afternoon nap earlier. 6. 12:30 pm7. 1:30 pm8. 2.5 hours, sometimes 3.9. Remember it IS a transition… when I first made the switch her one nap was very short so I second guessed myself a lot. But after couple weeks she adjusted and the one nap is so great and offers a lot more flexibility.

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  6. 1. 18 months2. 2 years 1 month (VERY late, but she's a short night sleeper and very sensitive to waketimes)3. No. 18 months was way too early for her. At 22 months we went back to two naps with a very short morning nap and that worked until we transitioned right after a year.4. 2 years worked well5. Shortening the morning nap down to 20 min of sleep6. 12:307. Still at 12:308. 1.5-2.5 hours. Depends on morning activities and how tired she is. 9. If it's not working after a couple of months, don't be afraid to go back to 2 naps! I kept thinking the nap would lengthen, but it didn't and I had an overtired mess on my hands. 6.

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  7. I can't wait to read the results! My daughter is 9 months and is happily at two naps per day. The daycare she will hopefully start around her first birthday has their 9-18 month olds in a room with two naps. I am hoping she'll wait until 14-15 months for the transition to one nap, and then we can try to get them to move her to the next room a bit early.

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  8. 1. With my daughter I tried to start when she was around 17 months old but only was able to bump it up by 30 min in the morning nap and she still really clung to it2. Just officially dropped it for her this week and she's about to turn 18 months3. Yes, I think it's TIME for it to be gone. The transition is kinda rough but she wasn't sleeping as solid for her afternoon nap or nighttime so it was time4. 18 months ish5. Cold turkey worked best for her. My son was 16 months when I dropped his morning nap and we did a slow weaning by bumping his morning nap up by 15 min increments but that just didn't go well with my daughter6. 12:307. It's still in the transition phase but it will be 1:008. She typically will sleep from 12:30-4:00 so 3 and 1/2 hours. My son is four and still sleeps from 1:00-4:00 every day9. Have a LOT of fun, outside the house, things planned when you drop it. Keeping the toddler BUSY will be less fussiness for everyone!www.journeyofparenthood.com

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  9. 1. 12.5 months, though she had been trying to go to one nap off and on for two months.2. 12.5 months3. So far so good! I wouldn't change it.4. I think I did it at the right time which for us was 12.5 months.5. Cold turkey (she had been taking an hour plus to fall asleep for naps or barely sleeping for one nap or the other prior to this)6. 11:30 7. At 14 months it's still at 11:30 8. Usually 2 hours.9. Not sure if I have any advice. Guess mine was just super easy.

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  10. 9. I would add what another person said. Don't try to force 2 naps just because it's the thing to do or you think your child is too young. If they're ready, just do it!

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  11. 1. 13 months2. 13 months3. Yes, although mommy wasn't ready. :)4. 13 months. She absolutely could not take a second nap if she had a first one at all.5. I tried making the first nap shorter, but she decided to go cold turkey. :)6. 11:30 a.m.7. 1:00 p.m.8. 1 1/2-3 hours9. Don't try to keep them awake for too long – start off by having the nap in the late morning and then just put them to bed early – she went to bed at 6:30 pm (an hour early) for about a month. Then gradually shift the nap and bedtime later. If you have a child like mine, you may have to accept cold turkey instead of weaning off the nap and live with a few weeks of slight crankiness….it will be worth it: one nap is great!

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  12. 1. 15 months2. 15.5-16 months3. Yes4. 16 months5. Combo-shortening morning nap with #2; cold turkey with #16. 12:00/12:307. 1:00pm8. 2-3 hours9. When my boys started waking early from afternoon naps or fighting afternoon naps, I began weaning the morning nap. Even a 15 minute cat nap in the car in the morning helped get my boys through the morning and they still took great afternoon naps. We will see how it goes with my baby girl (7monts)!

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  13. 1. No transition. When he went to the older class at Montessori around 18 months I think. 2. 18 months3. Doesn't really matter, if that is the schedule the school sets then that is what it has to be. 4. Again, doesn't matter, whatever his school does is how it has to be and works just fine. As long as children are napping on a schedule (same time each day) and sleep a total that is appropriate for the age (combined sleep time of nap and nighttime), then they will be fine.5. No method, he went to the new class and napped when the class napped, woke up when the class woke up. 6. Nap time is 1-3 for all classes at his school 7. 1-3 on weekdays, on the weekends he probably goes down about 1:30 or 2 and sleeps until 5 or however long we let him. He is 3 now so sometimes we just might not be home at exactly 1pm, but for our son, he is old enough now that he can go without a nap and be fine, but if we have a preference it is that he at least nap around 1-3 timeframe to keep it consistent, but we never wake him up if we don't have to. 8. See above9. My best advice would be have them in school and they nap when the other kids nap – lol. But for real, even if you are home with the kids, schedule a nap time and stick with it just as if they were in school.

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  14. 1. What age did you start the transition from 2 naps to 1? At about 10 months… I know, so early!2. What age was your child officially at one nap instead of two? 11 months3. In retrospect, were these ages the right age for your child? I don't know… I would have sure liked her to take two naps longer. But if she slept even for 30 minutes in the morning, she just could not fall asleep for her second nap at all.4. What age do you think would have been best for your child to move to one nap? Like I said, I think she was really young, but this is what worked for us… once we went to one nap, she took a long afternoon nap of up to 3 hours and everyone was much happier.5. What method did you use to go to one nap? Examples: Cold turkey, weaning, shortening the morning nap, etc. Tried shortening the morning nap, but then she would not sleep at all anymore after that. So we went to cold turkey and it was amazing how much happier she was.6. When your child first went to one nap consistently, what time did the one nap start? About 12:007. What time did your child's nap land at once the transition was done? Still around noon.8. How long was the one nap once the child was settled into one nap a day? Anywhere from 2.5 to 3 hours.9. Any words of advice on making the transition smoother? Not really… she totally took me off guard. My mom actually suggested just putting her on a one-nap schedule because I just wasn't even considering that at all, thinking she was too young. But it was amazing the amount of stress that was cut out of my day once she would just happily go down for her nap and sleep a long time – like she had done up till 10 months of age. I guess every child is different, so don't go too much by what other people are doing! Thanks for doing this poll, Valerie! I was hoping you would at some time!

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    • Hi LYS, my son is almost 10 months and is in the same boat as your little girl. The one nap will work best as well since I plan on doing some part time work in the late afternoon. Could you reply with how you adjusted your schedule with solids and four nursing or bottle sessions?

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  15. 1. 17 months2. 19mo3. No, I wish I would have waited about a month longer. 4. 18mo5. We started with shortening but that did not work, so we went cold turkey.6. 12pm 7. 1pm8. 2 hrs9. Unfortunately, no, I think this was the most difficult nap transition with our DD. Okay, maybe one thing. Don't rush it just because YOU are ready for 1 nap….. because honestly, you think you will be able to get out and do more, but all you have is a cranky toddler on your hands then.

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  16. 1. What age did you start the transition from 2 naps to 1?I don't remember.2. What age was your child officially at one nap instead of two?My oldest was 18 months, my middle son was about 15 months, and my youngest was at 8 months! Yes, 8 months!! He's ridiculous. I think it's because we're on the go in the mornings a lot.3. In retrospect, were these ages the right age for your child?Yes. Even though, I don't understand why my 8 month old will only take one nap a day. He's always been so full of energy.4. What age do you think would have been best for your child to move to one nap?I think 15-18 mo is ideal.5. What method did you use to go to one nap? Examples: Cold turkey, weaning, shortening the morning nap, etc.I think they start shortening the morning nap on their own, then you move the morning nap later and the kind of just mesh into one. I usually start with one nap starting at 11:30.6. When your child first went to one nap consistently, what time did the one nap start?11:30, I tried doing it later with my oldest, because that's what my friend did, but it didn't work for us. 7. What time did your child's nap land at once the transition was done?11:308. How long was the one nap once the child was settled into one nap a day?Eventually, it settled in around 12:30/1:30, depending on the age.9. Any words of advice on making the transition smoother?Follow their clues. Don't try to force your child to fit into a particular mold. All of my kids were different with naps, and that's okay, because all of my kids are different kids.

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  17. 1. Around 16 months2. 17 months3. I think he was ready for one nap earlier, but I wasn't ready to give up the morning nap. He had begun fighting his naps (morning, afternoon, or both on bad days) around 12 months, but I thought he really needed that morning nap since he looked so sleepy mid-morning.4. I would have loved for him to make it to 18 months, but I think I should have let him go to one nap around 15 months.5. We first tried shortening the morning nap at 12 months, but that only worked for a few weeks. We finally went cold turkey to one nap.6. We started out having a nap at 10:15. I moved it later by about 10 minutes every day. 7. We had a 12:00 p.m. nap (right after lunch) for a long time, but when the new baby came, I had trouble getting him in bed that early. Now (he's 29 months) he naps at 1:00 p.m.8. Generally two hours, give or take. At first he only gave me an hour and a half, so I had to move bedtime up way earlier, but when he got caught up on his sleep, he stretched it to two hours. This week he's been taking 3 hour naps!9. Do a SUPER early bedtime during the transition so that they can make up for any sleep they miss during the day. We actually did a 5:30 bedtime for a few days, and it really helped him handle himself better.

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  18. 1. About 14 months2. 15 1/2 months3. Yes, the transition was hard but once she got through it its been great.4.15 months5.I would wait until she was tired and then put her down. It got later and later. She would sleep for 4 hours so I knew she wouldn't take another nap.If she did only do a 2 hour nap we would do a 2nd one later. 6.It started at about 10:307.Now its at about 12. She is 16 months old and I think still transitioning abit.8.Usually 4 hours unless she is teething then its about 2 1/2 but then she will have a 5 hour nap or something the next day.9. Don't do it too early. When she was 12 months old she went through a phase where she only wanted one nap one day then 2 the next. I didn't try to make her go to one nap and I'm glad because after a couple weeks she went back to her normal 2 nap shedule. When she started doing it again at the end of her 14 month I waited again for about 3 weeks before officially transitioning to 1 nap.

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  19. 1. 15 months2. Almost 2 years old. By 18 months she rarely needed a second nap, but up until age 2 she would fall asleep during independent playtime every few days for about 30 minutes in the a.m.3. I am still not sure.4. Maybe starting at 18 months.5. Initially tried shortening the a.m. nap, that still made the p.m. too short or not happen at all so went cold turkey after about 3 days.6. 1 p.m. 7. 1 p.m.8. 2.5 hours, once in a while it went to 3 hours.9. No. 

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  20. i am hoping she'll wait until 14-15 months for the transition to one nap, and then we can try to get them to move her to the next room a bit early.san ramon dentist

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  21. 1. 13-14 mo for both my kids2. 14 mo3. yes4. 13 mo5. weaning / every other day then cold turkey6. would have preferred 11:30 but 12 on days I had to take my oldest to preschool. 7. 128. 2 hours9. early bedtimes!

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  22. 1. What age did you start the transition from 2 naps to 1?At around 14 months.2. What age was your child officially at one nap instead of two?around 18 months3. In retrospect, were these ages the right age for your child?Yes it was gradual and not all at once. 4. What age do you think would have been best for your child to move to one nap?I wish it had been a little longer but she was ready. 5. What method did you use to go to one nap? Examples: Cold turkey, weaning, shortening the morning nap, etc.we just did iess cold turkey, but we did that for a bit, then went back to two naps for a few weeks, then to one again. There was always a random day where she'd need two naps and we just rolled with that. 6. When your child first went to one nap consistently, what time did the one nap start? Um I think it was 12:00. 7. What time did your child's nap land at once the transition was done?1:008. How long was the one nap once the child was settled into one nap a day?about 2.5 hours9. Any words of advice on making the transition smoother?Just roll with it. Don't over think it.

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  23. 1. just before 12 months2. just before 16 months3. Absolutely4. the age we did it:)5. -Shortened morning nap just before 12 months to 1 hour, as she was having a hard time sleeping for the PM nap (kept pm nap time same as before). -after 2 months of this, just before she was 14 mo, she started having an issue falling asleep in the pm again, so we shortened the morning nap to 45 min. we also had to shorten the second waketime from 3 hours to 2.5 hours, otherwise she was OT from sleeping for less time in the AM.-a month later, once she was almost 15 months old, we had to shorten the morning nap to 30 minutes, and the second wake time to 2 hrs 15 min (even though the first one was 2 hrs 45 min! it was just because of such a short morning nap.) -just before she hit 16 months, even the above wasn't working, and we finally just went to 1 nap.6. DWT is 8, we tried to start the nap at 12, which is a little earlier, because she wasn't very old, but it always resulted in a nap that was only an hour and a half. So we ended up trying 1pm and it worked great!7. 1pm (5 hours after waketime) for 6.5-7 months, then moved to 1:15, then moved to 1:30 1-1.5 months later8. 2.5-2.75 hours, occasionally 3, although not often9. I think it went the smoothest it could have for us, it wasn't too bad at all!

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  24. 1. A little over 16 months old.2. 16 months old.3. Yes. We thought it was too early actually, but after reviewing the BW toddlerwise, it was clear we were on track.4. Perhaps a month earlier. He had been weaning himself it turns out. The morning nap was erratic or shortened and the afternoon nap was a mess increasingly through his 15th month.5. Cold turkey once we discovered that was the issue. We tried to keep his morning routine easy and consistent until his stamina was built up.6. Once the one nap was introduced, we wound the naptime back to noon. He gets up between 6 and 6:30 in the morning.7. We aren't there yet. We have been at this for about a week and a half 🙂 We are hoping for 12:30 to 1pm. 8. He's not settled yet, but we are averaging 2 to 2 1/2 hours.9. Watch for the signs of readiness even though you aren't ready 🙂

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  25. 1. 14 months2. 15 months3. Yes4. This was the best age for him, although I wouldn't have minded if we had lasted a bit longer on 2 naps5. Shortening the morning nap6. Between 12:00 – 12:307. Between 12:30 – 1:008. 2.5 hours9. Like anything, hang in there! He only slept 1 hour at first, even though he wouldn't take a morning nap anymore. But after a week or two he got the hang of it.

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