[greenthumbs]

Just wondering when your child gave up day sleeps?

DS 16mths has only slept once a day (mostly - we don't have a routine) for ages. He had a late sleep in - 9.30am - last week, and didn't sleep at all that day, then crashed at 7pm and stayed in bed all night! He usually goes down between 8.30 and when I go to bed around 10.30 or so. He always needs numerous settles/breastfeed during the evening and can be difficult to keep in bed (cosleeping in our bed) but that night although I still had resettle a few times, he stayed in bed all night!

I'l love him to go to bed at this time everyday! It was such a relaxing night, for once I had time to myself

So, out of curiousity, what's the earliest you've had or heard of bubs giving up day sleeps?

edit to add: on that one day he was really whingy and upset by dinnertime and virtually falling asleep on the changetable after his bath, so was ridiculously tired.

This post has been edited by greenthumbs: 14/12/2012, 11:02 PM

[msro82]

Dd was under 18 months. Her bedtime without a nap was 5:30/6pm

[AvadaKedavra]

I personally believe in a good bedtime routine and discipline which helps your child fall asleep on time rather than 'make them so exhausted they crash' approach. An overtired child cannot play and cannot learn. It's unfair to make a young child exhausted because the parent has not learnt to put them to sleep. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but at 16 months it is virtually impossible that your baby not need a day sleep, or that they need to be exhausted to fall asleep by 7:30. Honestly, even 7:30 seems late, the more tired they get, the harder it is to fall asleep (until some hours later when they finally pass that point and pass out.

I think you should keep the day nap, work on a strict bedtime routine which you enforce and never back down on, and aim for a 6:30-7 bedtime.

It is a rare child that can go without a nap before 2.5 years, and usually it goes between 3-3.5. You know when a child is ready to drop a sleep when they can not only last the distance without being tired/cranky/irritable, but they maintain their normal ability to play/interact etc.

[monkeys mum]

My dd had her last day sleep on her first birthday. My ds2 was around 18months and now he occasionally has one if hes had a late night ahd we're in the car in the early afternoon, but thats once a week/fortnight at most.

[marnie27]

My 3.5 year old still sleeps for 2+ hours a day and cannot make it through without a day sleep. If we are out and he can't sleep he will drop off as soon as he gets in the car. Not sure how he will manage full days at school in February!

[Akeyo]

DS1 (now 4) dropped his at 2, and DS2 (now 2.3yrs) at 22 months. Nothing I could do to get either of them to have a day nap after that. Although every now and again it all catches up with them (more so DS2) and they doze off in the car or on the couch if we've had a busy day. 16 months is pretty young and I'd say he probably still needs that rest during the day. Maybe just cut it a bit shorter and make sure it's not too late in the day.

Going to bed as late as 10:30pm is not good for them either. As PP said, perhaps work on his bedtime routine. He may be waiting for you to come to bed if you're cosleeping. Both my boys have had low sleep requirements. Even now, with no naps, bedtime is 8-830pm (730pm in winter) and wake up time is 5-530am (a bit later in winter). Sigh.

[roses99]

My DS dropped his day sleep at 3. It coincided with the arrival of DD and it just became too hard to coordinate their sleeps. But by that stage, he really didn't need it.

DD, on the other hand, is still sleeping for a three hour block every day. I hope she keeps it going for a bit longer!

[vitaechel]

DS dropped his day nap around 3. We had to wait until we could get him sleeping a bit better at night on a regular basis. He still has the odd day where he might doze off if in the car around 3-4. We try to avoid that as he is hard to put to sleep at night at the best of times and a nap in day makes for a very late night.

[iwanttosleepin]

My 4 year old still sneaks one in at least once a week....

He goes to bed by 7.30 every night and has done since he was 6 weeks old (didn't sleep through until about 12 months though). Gets up at about 6am. Although he occasionally sleeps to 7am. on these days his big brother makes up for it and will get up at 5am!

[Leee]

DS and DD both dropped theres a 2. I am always envious of those that still had nappers at 3. My nephew is 17 months and still naps, I dont know any kids that have dropped before around 2.