18 Month Old Taking One Nap

Updated on February 09, 2010
E.O. asks from Lexington, SC
7 answers

I have recently dropped my sons morning nap and he takes his afternoon nap at around 12:30 or 1:00. He was taking three hour naps now only two. I usually put him to bed at 7:30 in the evening should I make it later? Also he has been waking at between 5:30 and 6:30 every morning crying and eventually falls back to sleep till 7:30. He clearly is not ready to get up till 7:30. Should I make his bedtime later or earlier and should his afternoon nap be longer.

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A.K.

answers from Atlanta on

My 18 month old has always taken one nap. I tried my hardest to coordinate with my 3 year old nap schedule so they both go down about 130pm and sleep til 3pm/4pm. Their bedtime is 8pm and sometimes 730pm but my youngest sleeps til about 9am. Some kids need more sleep and others don't so you just have to see how the routine is on an every day basis. I love the days with long naps.

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S.M.

answers from Atlanta on

My 20 month old has a similar nap schedule. Nap by 1pm and usually sleeps for 2 hours. I put her in bed around 7:30 and she sleeps until about 7:30a the next morning. Great routine! My other daughter wasn't so easy, she took 1 hour naps at that age and went to bed at 7:30 but awoke around 6:30...basically, I agree with the others, every child is different.

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J.D.

answers from Philadelphia on

it depends on what works for you and your family. If he gets up at 5:30... is that to oearly for you? I work at night, so I don't get home until after midnight. If my kids got up that early I would die! So we keep them up later... until 10pm on average, and they sleep until 8am on average. That is what we have found works for us. :-)

A.G.

answers from Pocatello on

I say a two hour nap is pretty normal for that age. So that seems fine to me. as for the waking up early I will tell you what all my baby books say. The rule is if you want them to sleep in later you have to put them to bed earlier. It sounds backwards but most of the time kids wake up early like that when they aren't getting enough sleep. Since your son is taking shorter naps he might need to go down a little earlier so he will sleep longer and then not wake until 7:30. So I would try putting him down at 7:00 for about a week and see if that helps, Also sometimes kids just got through little funks with their sleeping so he might just stop waking up at 5:30 on his own. Good luck ;)

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K.E.

answers from Atlanta on

My 18 mth old goes to sleep at 7:30 and wakes up at 6:30. She takes a nap from 12:30-2:30. So your little boy sounds about the same. 2 hour naps are normal for this age. He may be waking up crying because he's thirsty. My daughter wakes up somewtimes arouns 4am. I go in and give her some water and then she goes back to sleep. Try leaving a sippy cup with some water in his crib..you may have to get up and show him where it is the first couple of mornings. Also make sure you have some dark curtains, If he's getting up with the sun that might help!

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R.M.

answers from Nashville on

Mine dropped the morning nap at 15 mos, and everything I read made that seem about the right age. The remaining nap stayed at about 3 hours for a couple months, then went down to 2 hours. Your times sound right on with the stuff I have read.

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K.H.

answers from Washington DC on

No that seems fine , my 19 month old has one 2hr nap/day and goes to bed at 7pm and sleeps until around 6.30am sometimes a little later. I would keep his bedtime where it is , an early bedtime is good for kids.

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