The Secret to Nap Transitions
We did it! We finally transitioned from two naps to one nap. If I’m being completely honest, I was DREADING this transition. Not only because people had been telling me that it is one of the tougher transitions, but also because Joey’s naps are my “me” time (and I don’t get much “me” time). That morning nap was also our driving time, where she’d nap for 20 minutes while we were out running errands or on our way somewhere (now, I had to do my best to make sure she wouldn’t fall asleep in the car?!?!)
But it was time to get her to one nap (almost 16 months) and I knew it would help our overall schedule with us running around from home to work and back for naps while trying to get some work done in between both naps, but also spend quality time with her to play, read, hit the park, etc. It was time - but I also found myself keep saying “it’s not the right time” or “eh, we’ll try next week.”
But then it hit me…DAY LIGHT SAVINGS was coming up. Sure, it’s great because it means warmer weather is coming, summer is around the corner, more sunlight in the afternoon, blah blah blah - but every parent hates day light savings. Ok, hate and every might not be the right words, but it definitely messes with any and every schedule you had and messes with your head, sleep and overall sanity for a few days. So i thought….her schedule is going to be out of wack anyway, so let’s transition to one nap when Day Light Savings starts.
AND IT WORKED. Sure, I had to keep her a little more busy to make her think she wasn’t tired enough for the first nap and had to throw a few extra puffs and raisins her way to keep her content, but we made it! I will say, she has pretty much always been a good sleeper for naps and nighttime (she has her not so good days and those are what we call: “not her best, not her worst” nights). We were also fighting two molars pushing through and the worst cold she’s ever had…so we had a fair share of excuses and reasons it wouldn’t work, but I knew we had to stay tough and consistent with this one.
With this transition, it makes me even more aware that my baby isn’t so much a baby anymore and on her way to toddler-hood.
Tips to help this transition work:
Use daylight savings to your advantage! It’s awful…but might as well use it as a way to transition easier!
Limit car time during the first few days of this transition
Distract with snacks & being outside
If the morning nap is tough to get past then start by putting them down an hour later than usual in the morning and creep it back by 15 mins every day
Day 1: 10:30 Day 2: 10:45 Day 3: 11:00 Day 4: 11:15 …..and so on.
Joey seems to be down everyday sometime between 11:45 and 12:30 (at the latest!), but I’m sure that will turn into a more consistent time in the next week or two.
What used to be “lunch” may turn into two smaller snacks before and after nap
Stay tough mamas & dadas! Remember, It’s all just a phase!
