Naps - Shelbyville, IL

I think you should read his cues as to when he is ready to cut down to just one nap or change his nap schedule. Getting enough sleep in critical to his development, and just because he hit that 1 year mark, doesn't mean he needs less sleep--unless he is showing it.

I would keep him on his consistent nap schedule until you see signs from him--like not being tired at his usual nap time, unwilling to fall asleep. Then you may be able to gradually cut back on one of his naps--like taking two naps some days if he needs both, and only one on other days if he's not as tired.

I used to work in a one-year-old classroom and there were several children who still needed two naps well into that year.

I'm a big believer in consistent naptimes. Most days, my kids slept during naptime because they were used to it being a part of their schedule. But even on days when my kids spent naptime reading a book or just being quiet with their own thoughts, it was good for them. When my firt-born would spend naptime awake and looking at herself in her crib mirror, my first instinct was to go pick her up and engage her. My mother-in-law encouraged me to let my baby have her "naptime", even though she was clearly wide-awake. "Let her learn to enjoy her own company" was her advice.

It was really good advice. Now my kids can spend an hour (or more, if they want!) by themselves, reading or drawing or just daydreaming. They don't have to be entertained all the time.

No, no, no - do not let your child decide or you will regret it with a crazy schedule and an even crazier attitude. At 12 months your child should be taking 2 naps a day - one in the morning (usually go down around 9 or 10 am) and one in the afternoon (usually go down sometime after lunch) and then of course a consistent bedtime as well. I promise you - you will be glad that you do it or you will have one crabby toddler on your hands. Good luck.

Good Morning Rachel, I say keep him on the schedule for naps or anything else you have going. The more disciplined he is to a schedule the easier it is for both of you. Once you start letting him make up his mind, Well Granny bar the door the race is on.

Best of everything to uou and your little one.
K. Nana of 5

I think it depends on your life. If you don't have something specific you must do every day in the middle of the day, you can be a bit more flexible. But if you had older children to get from school and activities to run them to and from, then you would want baby rested before those activities. Also, if there is a chance you may have to go to daycare at some point, some places are very picky about naps.

Personally, I believe all children should be allowed to sleep if they are tired, when they are tired whenever possible. I do like all my kids to have a quiet time in the afternoon and for the most part my kids all sleep everyday at the same aprox time. But, if some of them are not tired on occasion I let them play quietly, read, watch tv etc. It is possible to find a caregiver that believes the way you do.

I believe with all my heart that these kids will be out there in the world soon enough having to follow everyone elses schedule. There are priveleges to being little. Let them eat and sleep when they are hungry and tired :)

Suzi

Hi Rachel!

In my opinion, children should have a consistent nap and good routine either for naps or meals. I always make my children have a nap or a quiet time in their rooms, mostly with my toddler, he naps every single day at the same time, of course there are sometimes when I need to move their naps to another time for any reason, but that is just once in a while. They need this time to renew energies, grow and behave better! Schedules depends on your routine, if you work out of your home or not; but ALWAYS is good to keep a time for children to rest and charge their batteries, and yours as well if you are at home!. Routines are great for naps and meals for children to learn, grow, be healthy and be happy. Starting nap routine at early age is the best. I hope, Rachel this helps... this is my experience.
Alejandra

I love and use schedules, but I think it is important to be flexible with your schedule. I have a half hour cushion. My kids go down for a nap at 1:00, but if they are very tired, it may be at 12:30 or if we are busy it may be around 1:30. 1:00 is just my goal :) Kids need your direction. They never want to take naps. I taught mine early that they needed to nap when it was nap time. Otherwise they wouldn't nap until they just crashed (and it is a long uphill battle before that). So, my advice = yes, keep a schedule. Kids depend upon routines to organize their days. But, be flexible iwth it so that you keep your sanity.

Well I think it depends if your child goes to daycare then you should keep your child as close as possible to the same napping schedule. If you are a SAHM, then I think it depends on what your daily activities are. Since I do daycare my youngest daughter goes down for nap at 1 pm like the other daycare kids but on the weekends depending on what are plans are and what we are doing she may go down and hour earlier or later then that. Either way is ok and whatever best suits your needs and his. W. B.

rachel, my son (22 mos) has always been a good sleeper, so i might just be one of the lucky ones, but our routine is a lot more strict during the week - mostly because of our daycare, but when i happen to be home with him during the week, we stick to it also. on the weekends i am more flexible and go with his cues, but his cues almost always mirror his weekday routine. i have no problem letting him stay up a bit later at night (like an hour at most), or take an early nap, on the weekends, and he normally has no problem sliding right back into his normal schedule. good luck!

Consistency is the Key!

you want to keep them on a constant nap schedule because that helps them predict there schedule. i have two toddlers that are 17 months and 19 month old and they are on a schedule and they can predict what there days is going to be like. this is a key point.

Get him on a schedule now and it will make life easier for the next couple of years. He's old enough to have one long afternoon nap. If you can get that schedule going, you'll have some free time for yourself and when he starts preschool, you'll be set and he'll sleep good there too. Good luck and God Bless.

SCHEDULE !!
LOL ! You will BOTH be much happier with consistency.
:o)

Hi, Rachel. I am a big believer in putting kids on a schedule, especially a nap schedule. It will help you so much in the years to come. It helps you plan out your day. The earlier children learn to adapt to a schedule, the easier it is for them to follow one later. It helps them feel control over their environment, which really helps them in their preschool years. You will be glad you put your child on a schedule. Good Luck!

Consistency and routine are key. If you play around with naps during the day, his sleep habits at night will suffer as well. As hard as it is sometimes, make time for that nap at a regular time!

Kids do much better when they have a routine :)

Keep the 12 mo old on a consistant nap schedule - you life will be much better! I kept my 2 girls on a daily nap/rest time until they were 5 (my youngest just turned and and the naps ended this summer). Your whole day will be better. They still need that rest and little guys really do better with a consistant daily schedule. No to mention that if you have plans for the day you can tell when your little guys will be at his best. You'll know that he sleeps from 1 to 3 and that he'll be just fine to go to dinner at 5:00pm with the in-laws. Good Luck!!

Like most of the other moms, I also highly recommend a schedule. However, it was right around 12 months that my son dropped from 2 naps a day to 1, so we had to really play with the schedule for a few weeks until he was completely switched over. I realized he was ready for the switch when his morning nap was only lasting about 30-45 minutes. So, keep a schedule, but also take his cues to figure out when those naps should be!

Hi Rachel,
I highly recommend keeping him on a consistant nap schedule for as long as you're able to. My daughter is nearly 3 1/2 and we still have her on a consistant nap schedule, though because we've been consistant for so long, we're now able to be a little more flexible when we have activities or things that occur during her normal nap time and it doesn't disrupt her at all. I strongly believe that naps are needed for children as long as possible and helps their mood be more positive and improves their ability to learn because they are well rested. Children that age still need 12-14 hrs of sleep, if memory serves. However, I will say every child is different, so you also have to do what's right for your child. Good luck!

I would try to keep him napping around the same time everyday as long as you can. On the other hand I would also read his cues. I have a 4 1/2 year old who gave up napping at two, but she still needs time to herself to play quietly after lunch. I also have a two year old who gave up naps at 18 months. She now goes to sleep around 6pm or 7pm and stays down until 8:30am. I miss 'my time' from when she used to nap, but at least I have the whole night now! I may be more relaxed than other parents. I nursed on demand and I support attachment parenting. It is important for you to know how you like to parent and take it from there... you will be the one to know best!