One sleep per day??

[Harmony83]

Another question (Im full of them today!!) At what age did your little ones start having one sleep a day, and how did you know they were ready...

The reason I ask is at the moment DS wakes at about 7ish, then has a nap at about 10-11ish for 2 hours, he won't have another sleep until about 4-5ish (for about 1 - 2hours), then he stays up until about 9.30-10pm... So I was wondering if I should maybe push his morning sleep up to lunchtime, and get him to bed for the night earlier (7ish)... I tried that the other day though, and by 11am he was miserable, tired and very cranky!! Not fun!! Gosh this parenting thing is so confusing - I feel so hopeless!

[the_queen]

Hi Harmony, first off your little boy is GORGEOUS :D

My Vallerie started having only one day sleep at about age 2, but all kids are different and if you want to get yours into bed a bit earlier at night, you could try putting him onto one nap a day. What you tried the other day sounds good, that's exactly what I would suggest. Early lunch, nap after lunch and then night-night about 7pm-ish. He might be a bit cranky the first few days, because it's a change to his routine. So I'd suggest changing other parts of his routine too, maybe some really exciting activity in the mid-morning that would stimulate him, eg painting. Then after that, time for lunch, then nap after that.

Good luck, and have fun!! If he really resists it then he probably isn't ready for just one daytime nap. In which case, you could try to bring his afternoon nap forward a bit so he will hopefully get to bed a bit earlier at night. To bring the pm nap forward I would suggest a big walk, trip to the park, etc etc to tire him out and then put him down about 2pm.

Yes, parenting is very confusing isn't it!!! Don't feel hopeless, you sound like a FABULOUS mum and it's all a big learning curve, especially with bubs number one!! You're doing a great job, trust your motherly instincts and you will be fine!:)

[3cherubs]

Arwen was about 17 months when she went to 1 nap I found she was not wanting to go down for her 9.30 am sleep so i extended her till 11 am and then until 12.00. She got cranky, but i tried to keep her busy and it probably took about a week and she goes to sleep from probably 12.00 till 2pm.

Good Luck and keep persisting.

[mariafresnel]

Hi Harmony...

Here's my bit.....well Sophia is 16 months....about a month ago I started with the one sleep at 1045/11....up til that time she has breaky/snacks/snacks(all fruitor yoghurts, and then a bottle of milk just before her sleep (She doesn't have a bottle when she wakes up anymore). From 11 she sleeps until 12.30 or 1pm, so we have lunch then.....I find that althought she looks or acts tired at about 3, it's impossible to get her to sleep. So I do giveher a bottle at 2.45/3 and encourage her to sleep; sometimes she does, others she doesnt', if she doesn't I'm happy for her to stay in her cot (with some soft toys and a comforter) and she has some quiet time in her cot for an hour. I pick her up at 4 (if she's still awak) and we play or go to the park (to work up the appetite) before dinner. This allows her to go until dinner at 5/5.30/ then bath, at 6.30 and then milk for bedtime at 7.30/8.00. With this routine she's waking up at 7.00 or 7.30. We find that if she goes to bed any time after 8.00pm, she's actually overtired, and it 's a tough night usually.

Hope this helps?

Maria