Teaching Your Baby and Toddler To Sleep

Join group

Group Detail

Public Group
30,692 members
51,298 posts
Created: 04/25/2008

Group Owners

All Members ()

Report this group

General concern about naps and getting older

Posted 11/07/2013

I'm getting myself confused on what to do when ds gets older. I shouldn't worry about the future but I am - can't help it. :) So currently ds is 8.5 months old. I posted a couple weeks ago about him not sleeping well and got fantastic advice that he should be staying awake longer. We extended him and he sleeps so much better now. So now my question is, what happens when he gets older? As he continually is able to stay awake longer in between naps, how does that work? For example: if ds wakes at 6:30, he shouldn't need to go down until 9:30, right? We limit that nap to one hour (he would sleep the morning away if you let him). So if he stayed up another 3-3.15 hrs before the next nap you're looking at 1:15ish or so. He'll nap until 2:45-3, which makes BT around 6:30. That's fantastic for us. But as he gets older he's able to stay awake longer in between naps, so when does that interfere with bedtime? You obviously don't keep pushing BT back. Is any of this making sense? So let's say he's able to stay up until 10 before his first nap. Even if I limit that to one hour, do I make the second nap still 3.15 hrs or so after? That then means there wouldn't be a long enough WT before BT. I know I'm rambling, I apologize. I went through all of this with my ODD but that was 5 years ago. I've forgotten a lot since then. Any help would be appreciated. :)

Comments (8)

Last edited 11/07/2013
He would eventually transition to one nap.
I think naps may get shorter naturally as part of that.

But I'm a FTM with a 10 month old still on 2 naps, so not totally sure how it works!
Posted 11/07/2013
This chart has helpful info on scheduling and WTs:

Eventually you will transition to one nap. Your bedtime will probably end up getting later as well.

Here's our sample schedule on one nap (at 2 years old):

7:30 WU
1:30-3:30 nap
8:30 bedtime

Boy / girl twins 11.2.11

Posted 11/07/2013

But at what point do you transition to one nap? I've read the document that you posted several times. It's been very helpful. But I'm trying to figure out what I would need to tell his babysitter for naps. I mean, if his WT's are increasing do both naps just decrease in time so he gets plenty of WT? Because if I need him up by 6:30 for work purposes he would need to go to bed by 6:30 to protect his night sleep. I can't push his second nap back until after 3 because he wouldn't get enough WT.

Posted 11/07/2013

You won't transition to one nap until you HAVE to.  At that point you'll be having wake times over 4 hours, refusal of one of the two naps or one of the naps will be crazy short, and early wake ups in the morning.  Usually babies are on multiple naps until at least a year old.  Don't worry about it - it will become obvious when he needs a schedule change.

And at some point he won't be sleeping 12 hours at night, so you will have more time in the schedule.  He may go down to as litlle as 10-10.5 hours of ONS when he's nearing 18 months (or like my LO from birth - ha!).


Working, Lupus Fighting Momma to silent refluxer Audrey (06/16/12)

Baby #2 due April 1 arriving via c-section in March

Posted 11/07/2013

So because the amount of WT doesn't really differ that much between 8-9months (maybe 1/2 hour), his schedule should essentially stay the same for awhile, right? Unless it's obvious I need to change it.

Posted 11/07/2013
Yep just keep what you're doing as long as its working. I think around 10-11 months u might notice some changes in sleep needs. Just count your self lucky that u have an awesome sleeper right now!

Mom of twin boys Caleb and Silas born 4/30/12

Posted 11/07/2013

My 3.5 year old didn't transition to one nap until almost 18 months. Some do it earlier. Now she still takes a nap most days, at 1 or 2. Bedtime is 7:30 or 8. Sometimes it will take her a while to fall asleep but it doesn't really matter at this age. As they get older, you go by a BTC schedule and WTs don't really matter anymore. But you're a ways away from this so don't worry about it too much.


Kristina, mom to Molly (4/6/2010) and Bennett (8/25/13)

Posted 11/07/2013

I learned all about this with my ODD with the one of the original creators of this, BabeGirlMom (who was AWESOME!). I've looked back through all my old posts but couldn't find anything on this and it's amazing what you can forget in 5 years! Thanks for all the help. I'll try not stress but I'm a worrier by nature! :)

What's on your mind?

Create a new post

Please sign in

This field is required.
This field is required.