11 Month Old Only Napping 1.5 Hours a Day

Updated on February 02, 2011
H.P. asks from Ann Arbor, MI
4 answers

Hello,

I have a very active 11 month old--he'll be one in about three weeks and he has decided he does not want to nap in the afternoon. Taking this as a cue, I tried transitioning him to one nap a few days ago. He immediately slept through the night--something which has been very erratic in the last weeks, possibly also due to teething. It's been about three days now and he's been on one nap. Last night he woke up at 4 am and would not go back down to sleep until 5:30 am-he has two teeth coming in. He ended up sleeping in this morning until 8-he usually wakes up around 6:30-7. Today he seemed so sleepy, not just tired, at 10:30 am. I debated making him stay up until noon after his lunch, but he was more sleepy than I had seen him in a while. So I put him to sleep and he slept for a little over an hour (10:30-11:50). I thought he would need a second nap at around 3, but he would not sleep after 40 minutes of being in his crib. So now I will end up putting him to bed at 6 because he won't be able to stay up any longer. He is not cranky right now despite his little sleep--he'd just rather play.

Did I transition him too soon? Is 1.5 hours enough time for an 11 month old to be napping if he's going to bed at 7- 7:30 each night? He slept this much over the weekend for his nap when I kept him up until noon as well. He definitely seems to sleep better with one nap, give or take waking up from teething. Or is there a better way I should be transitioning him?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

thank you so much for your suggestions! After some long days and him eventually even fighting bedtime, we reluctantly put to bed later - 8 pm instead of 7:15 at the advice of a friend who is also a pediatrician. and it worked! He 's been sleeping much better and his nap is later in the day-the shortest time still being 1.5 hours. My only concern is that he's not sleeping a full 12 hours at a given time, he wakes up because of a dirty diaper and is a lot of trouble going back to sleep. Hopefully, we will see more total sleep soon, but I think the 2-1 nap transition is definitely a transition! thanks everyone!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.E.

answers from New York on

11 months is slightly young to transition to one nap but I know it happens. My DD is in the midst of transitioning now at 15.5 months but it's still hit or miss. At 11 months they should typically get around 14 hours of sleep in total so if he's getting that after adding all the hours up you can rest assured he's getting enough. It just sounds like it's a little too broken up. The one nap may be the answer for him and he may STTN more regularly. I have a friend who's 15 mo only ever took a 20 minute nap here and there and still doesn't always STTN! I think your fine - just in a transitional state and I know the teething doesn't help. Keep doing what you are doing. Some days he will need two naps and others just one. That's my story right now and it's been like this for a few weeks. I believe it just takes time. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.B.

answers from Detroit on

I'd try to wait until later in the afternoon to put him down if you can. One nap looks like what he needs at this stage. He's getting into more play now and working on lots of developmental stuff plus the teething so he may not settle into a real routine for a few months. Just go with the flow.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.M.

answers from Detroit on

Sometimes you just have to go with it. Teething can be very disruptive to a schedule.....teething doesn't care about your schedule. Some babies give up the two nap thing earlier than others. If he is going to bed at 7 or 7:30 and stayig there....yeeha!!! If he is happy to have some playtime on his own in his bed and then just go to sleep...yeeha again! Sleep habits change all the time with little ones. No worries!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.W.

answers from Detroit on

No, your transition was probably fine. But teething just changes everything. It will pass. If he needs 2 naps while he's teething because he woke in the night, then do two. If one is enough, then go with it. I dropped the 2nd nap around 14 months when I was weaning my daughter. She's done fine, but is teething now and no matter when I schedule the nap she is always grumpy around 4pm. I've even tried doing a second nap, to no avail, she just screamed in her crib for an hour. Just hoping those teeth come in soon! :)

Best wishes!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions