As a Pediatric Sleep Advisor, I’m dedicated to serving to you navigate all issues sleep, and the transition when your child drops to 1 nap is usually a doozy. Don’t fear, although! I’ve obtained you lined! I’m sharing my suggestions that will help you efficiently navigate the two-to-one nap transition!
First, this recommendation assumes your toddler has impartial sleep abilities. With out that, making any change to their sleep schedule will probably be tremendous difficult. In case your child hasn’t mastered impartial sleep, I’d begin engaged on that first earlier than dropping to 1 nap.
Indicators of Readiness
Now that we’ve obtained that lined let’s begin with age. Most infants are able to consolidate their two naps into one lengthy mid-day nap between 15 and 18 months. They’re transitioning from child to toddler! It’s necessary to know that this transition has a large age vary and may happen wherever from 13 to 24 months! Some maintain onto each naps a bit longer, whereas others transition earlier. In case your toddler is on this age vary, the subsequent factor to do is look out for some indicators of readiness.
1. Boycotting One or Each Naps
The commonest signal your toddler is able to transition to 1 nap is solely not taking them. Many infants will play of their crib via the entire morning nap quite than sleep. Or your child would possibly take an attractive morning nap after which stay awake throughout their afternoon nap. If this goes on for about two weeks, it’s time to drop to 1 nap!
2. Naps are SUPER Quick
One other signal is when your toddler begins taking two SUPER quick naps. I’m speaking 30-45 minutes naps when beforehand the naps have been 1-1.5 hours every! Once they transition to 1 noon nap, it ought to lengthen once more to 1.5-3 hours of sleep.
3. Early Morning Waking
And presumably the worst of the indicators . . . sudden early morning wakings! In case your toddler remains to be having fun with their two naps as regular, however then they start waking between 4:00 and 5:00 am, it’s time to transition. This means they’re getting an excessive amount of daytime sleep, and it’s time to shift that sleep again into nighttime (for everybody’s sake!).
Sleep Advisor Tip: Don’t make the error of leaping the gun on this transition. Maintain onto each naps so long as you possibly can! A method you are able to do that is by micromanaging naps a bit! In case your toddler’s morning nap is over one hour, shave down the morning nap by quarter-hour to see if that helps hold each naps for a bit longer. For instance, in case your kiddo normally sleeps an hour and a half, wake them on the hour and fifteen-minute mark for just a few days. If that solves the issue, then nice! If not, you possibly can shave one other quarter-hour off, in order that they solely nap one hour however don’t go any shorter than that. By doing this, your toddler could also be extra prone to sleep for his or her afternoon nap, and also you’ll have the ability to maintain onto each naps a bit longer.
Timing the Nap
Now that you realize your kiddo is able to drop to 1 nap, you could be questioning what time the nap ought to fall. The final rule of thumb is to start out the nap between 12:00 and 1:00 pm. Something later usually leads to a second wind, a skipped nap, or a too-late bedtime. Any earlier, and also you’re taking a look at an overtired kiddo by the top of the day and a perpetually early schedule.
In case you have an early riser, midday will seemingly be the very best match on your kiddo. However as your youngster will get older, the nap will shift nearer to 1:00 pm. In case your youngster sleeps later, nap time will probably be nearer to the 12:30-1:00 pm vary.
Managing the Transition
You’ve obtained two choices: chilly turkey or gradual and regular.
Chilly turkey is your best choice in case your youngster is skipping their morning nap however taking the afternoon nap. This can make for a reasonably simple transition. Cease providing the morning nap and start providing one nap at midday.
In case your youngster was taking the morning nap and skipping the afternoon nap, use the gradual and regular method. Start pushing their morning nap later by 15-Half-hour each couple of days till you land at midday. It can take about two weeks to land at midday and as much as a month on your toddler to totally transition into their new nap time.
Intention for 2 hours of crib time. Generally kiddos who’ve just lately transitioned to 1 nap take a brief nap as a result of they’re overtired and never fairly used to stretching their wake window but. If this occurs, give them further time to resettle and lengthen their nap. Additionally, use an early bedtime, about 30-60 minutes sooner than regular, to maintain them well-rested.
Don’t Rush It!
Do nothing in case your toddler is within the 15 to 18 months age vary, however naps and nights are nonetheless going effectively! Don’t make this transition till your kiddo persistently reveals you they’re prepared!
Dropping to 1 nap is usually a good change on your day by day routine. You possibly can get pleasure from a enjoyable morning and after nap exercise with a pleasant stress-free break within the center. Embrace your new one nap life—it’ll be sticking round for at the least a few years!
