New Nap/sleep Schedule for 1 Year Old Needed

Updated on May 20, 2007
J.H. asks from Minneapolis, MN
8 answers

Hi moms,

Until several weeks ago, my 1-year old slept very consistently and very well-at night from about 8 pm to 7 am, with 2 naps: 9-10:30 or so, and 1-2:30 (sometimes a bit more or less). Now, he's waking up between 5-6 every morning, no matter when I put him to bed. He seems to only want one nap, either/or-but if he skips the pm nap he's tired by 5 pm-too early to put him to bed. I can't remember with my 1st child when she transitioned to one nap and how that works. What could I try with him-one longer nap? When? Thanks!

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K.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

I was lucky in that my son quit his morning nap cold turkey a week before his first birthday. Most people drop the AM nap and move the afternoon nap to early afternoon or even noontime at first. Some kids will be a little crabby near bedtime but others adjust just fine.

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T.A.

answers from Minneapolis on

my son is 2 1/2 now but he started doing the same thing when he was one. i started putting him down for a nap at 1pm and if he didn't wake up on his own by 3pm i woke him up. it took about a week for him to start sleeping in a little later. it doesnt take long for those little ones to catchup on some sleep. his schedual after that first week: bed time 9:30 wake up 7:30, naptime 1-3. its heaven, but that first week he may be a little crankier that usual due to the changed sleeping patern and his being tired at unusual times. you'll get through it just fine! good luck!

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M.F.

answers from Minneapolis on

My son is 16 months old, when we started sleeping less at either of the naps, I gradually woke him up from his morning nap earlier and earlier until he wasnt napping anymore in the am. Now, he takes one nap anywhere from 12:30/1 to 3/3:30. He still is taking just the one nap and goes to bed at 8, our problem is that he is waking up between 5 & 5:30, way too early for all of us to get up...it makes for a very long day trying to entertain and keep a 16 month old happy all day long. I dont have any advice on getting him to sleep later in the am because were having the same issue, so I will be reading the responses for some advice too. I would say to cut his morning nap shorter or eliminate all togeter and you may have to lay him down earlier for the afternoon nap, he will probably take a longer afternoon nap but maybe not.

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J.X.

answers from Minneapolis on

Do you have blackout blinds? I just put them up for my 15 month old and he is sleeping at least another hour every night. He had been getting up earlier and earlier with the sun.

N.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

I do home childcare and by about a year old my hope is to elimnate the morning nap all together. I keep them busy and distracted, constantly changing activities and making sure there is outside/active dancing time in there too. We eat lunch around 12 or 12:30 and all are generally down for naps by 1pm.

Sometimes these younger 1 year olds are down about 12:30...but they still sleep 3 hours usually. Parents say they go to bed without incident about 8pm and sleep all night.

Just start manipulating the schedule where you can with the goal being no am nap withing maybe a month...you will get there.

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S.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

My second daughter was always a 1.5 - 2 hour napper- even when she gave up her am nap. She was in bed by 6pm and would sleep 13 hours. She would always take her nap at 12- I was very diligent about doing any errands right away in the morning so that we were home by 10am and cold play and not worry about falling asleep in the car to through her schedule off. My suggestion is to be consistent. You might not get the longer nap you are hoping for but you will have a happy, restful child!

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M.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

Not real sure about the naps (looks like you've had some good advise). Just wanted to input that he may be waking early due to the summer sun. My son has been waking between 5-6 every morning lately too (he used to sleep until 7). But, the little boy that I nanny for (both 11 months) is doing the same. I gotta wonder if it's a summertime thing.
Best of luck!
:) M.

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B.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

If he were in daycare this is how it'd work.

Up early 7am/8am ish.....

skip morning nap, if he's dying to have a nap let him sleep 30min. then wake him up just keep letting him sleep less and less until nap is completely gone.

Make sure he get's outside time, or some hard physical fun to really get his body moving. (Helps with afternoon nap)

Eat lunch

Naptime 1:00-3:00 give or take

Bedtime anywhere from 7-9pm ish.....

That should work for you, that's what we did at the home daycare I worked at and my daughter handeled it just fine.

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