“Is it time to transition to one nap yet?” is right up there with “Can I have a snack?” as being amongst the questions I hear the most (These questions don’t usually come from the same people, FYI.)
To the former, I give the same answer every time: hold on to two naps for as long as possible. Even if that means capping that first nap to ensure the second one happens.
Believe me, I get it. Your 13-month-old skips one of her naps at least two, maybe three, days a week. You’re tired of putting her in the crib and seeing the babyfoolery. You’d rather be out and about doing things than glued to your video monitor, gritting your teeth willing her to SLEEEEEEEP.
It’s not uncommon for a young toddler to begin resisting one of his naps. Developmentally at this point, children are experiencing all kinds of growth – from verbal explosions to the new-found freedom of movement that comes with walking. Nap time is a prime time to practice their new skills. The drive to sleep during the day just isn’t as strong as it is at night (same as with us grown-ups), so many little ones take that time to practice what they preach. Literally. I often work with parents who are certain that their little one is trying to transition to one nap, only to find that after a couple of weeks, the child is back to taking two naps – and now also has some new skills to show off!
Here’s why I say to keep offering two naps for as long as possible, even if you have wonky days for a while. The transition to one nap is the toughest one for a child – even harder than going from one nap to none, and tends to take the longest to pin down. It’s a big jump in their “awake” time and getting to a solid, consolidated early afternoon naptime takes some time – sometimes several months. The older they are, the more easily they will adjust to the change.
The typical age for a child to transition from two naps to one is between 15 and 18 months, though some children hold on to two naps for even longer than that. Transitioning too early can cause night wakings, very early wake-ups, and, as a result, a sleep-deprived child who puts up fights at bedtime, has a shorter attention span, and gets frustrated more easily.
But what if you need to transition? Many children are in daycare, where they move up to a different room at 12 months, and now they are suddenly required to be on a one-nap-per-day schedule – ready or not. When that’s the case, I give parents the same advice that I give stay-at-home parents whose children are boycotting naps. An early bedtime is essential to curbing overtiredness and making it as easy as possible on the child. Don’t shy away from a bedtime as early as 5:30 PM! If they’re not getting that sleep during the day, there is only one other place to get it – and that’s overnight. And remember, a very early bedtime doesn’t need to last forever. But it does go a long way in keeping a transitioning child well-rested and from waking during the night.
And remember, even when your little one doesn’t nap, quiet time in the crib is important for her. Not only does it offer her a chance to decompress and rest her brain and body in a less stimulating environment, but it also gives you a much-needed break too!
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to be stuck in the land of “two-naps-is-too-many-but-one-nap-is-not-enough” for a stretch. Sit tight. Soon enough, the time to transition really will come, and chances are you’ll miss those two breaks!
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Kristina Amerikaner is the (mostly) rested mom of two and a certified pediatric sleep consultant with Good Night Sleep Site New Jersey. You can also connect with her on Facebook or over on that newfangled contraption known as Twitter. When not thinking about sleep (yours and hers), she loves reading, baking, and tackling The New York Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in Northern New Jersey, her native state.
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