Dropping from 1 nap to no nap
So, you have tried my various tips in my most recent blog titled Nap Strikes – Is your toddler resisting their nap and feel it may be time to remove your toddlers nap.
If your toddler is aged 2 – 2.5 years old, I recommend trying my tips for an additional 2 weeks as in my experience it is very rare that a 2 – 2.5 year old is truly ready for the transition to no nap and removing the nap too prematurely can create a new set of sleep concerns for parents.
Once you are confident your toddler is ready for the transition to zero naps, here are my top tips to ensure a smooth transition.
When your toddler transitions to no nap, bedtime will need to be between 6pm – 6:30pm for the first few months after they adjust. Most children up to the age of 5 – 6, need a bedtime of no later than 7pm.
Replace nap time with quiet time. Your little one will need some “quiet time” to help them have a rest during the day in place of their nap. This may be time out with a book or story time with a parent or it may be a snack and some songs. Essentially, it’s a low stimulation activity. Some parents decide to offer this quiet time in their toddler’s bed/cot to help them unwind further.
Finally, on days when your toddler has recently transitioned to no nap and they are appearing extremely tired, you can offer a nap on this day. Worst case scenario, they resist the nap and then I recommend bringing bedtime 15 minutes earlier than usual. It is not uncommon that even when they have transitioned to no nap, that a toddler may need a nap once every few days or weeks.
I hope these tips help you,
Colette McCann
Child Sleep Consultant