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1.  now that my twins are almost 8 1/2 months, i've been working hard to schedule naps around the clock instead of following the 2hr rule as i used to.  i try to put them down at 9:00am and 1:00pm, however, their naps are usually quite short...especially the afternoon nap.  i am wondering what an appropriate amount of "awake time" in between naps would be at this age.  i am trying to target that "magic" time so that they are tired enough for a nap, but not overtired.  since their naps are so inconsistent, their "awake time" between naps is different each day as well.  should i adjust that afternoon nap time based on the length of awake time between naps, or just stick to the schedule and follow the clock?
2.  since they seem to be catnappers on most days, they still need an afternoon nap daily.  how can i encourage them to drop this 3rd nap...will this just happen naturally or should i stop offering them the opportunity to sleep (this thrid nap usually starts between 4:00 - 4:30 and i do not let them sleep past 5:00.  they are usually asleep for the night between 6:45 - 7:00p.m.
3.  my goal is for them to take a total of 3hrs of naps daily...am i correct in thinking that this is appropriate for this age (they usually sleep about 11hrs at night on average, waking up for 0-2 feedings during that time)?
thanks so much for any feedback!

My daughter is 8 months old and I'm still struggling with length of her naps.  She's been getting between 11-12hrs at night.  Her naps are either 45min to an hour and I leave her in the crib for 20min to see if she can try to fall back asleep and she never has since we last discussed this.  Can she be getting too much night sleep?  I'm aiming for 9 & 1 for naps with 3hrs of awake time between with 3.30-4hrs before bedtime.  I know she's becoming more active (trying to pull herself up etc...) thats the only thing I can think of.  When do I give up trying to lengthen these nap and just accept the fact she's a short napper and going to bed early (5:30-6) every night.  I thought by giving her an early bedtime this would help with the naps and to use the early bedtime temporarily (sp).  I give up!!

For the past 5-6 weeks, my almost 15-month-old has been transitioning to one nap.  For the past week or so, he has only taken one nap and has been doing well with the whole thing.  That is, up until 4 days ago. 

We put him down for his nap at about 11:15 (this is the longest we can stretch him) and now we are lucky if he sleeps 1.5 hours (he used to sleep 2-2.5 hours).  I have moved his bedtime up to 6 pm (he used to go to bed at 7:30 when he was taking 2 naps) and he goes to sleep quickly with no problems, but now he is also waking up in the morning about an hour earlier than he used to.  So by my estimation he is short at least an hour or more of sleep per day, and needless to say, he is cranky and is starting to throw tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants - not fun!!!!

I keep telling myself he just needs to get used to this schedule and will start sleeping more like normal soon, but I also wonder if there is something I am doing wrong.  Any guidance on this issue would be so much appreciated! 

My daughter is still having major issues with sleeping.  I put her down at noon and she takes an hour fifteen minute nap just about every day!  So that means she is up at 115.  I always leave her in there until 2-230.  I am pretty diligent in getting her to bed early, she is usually in bed by 515 and asleep by 530.  She will sleep an average of 12 hours at night, which puts her waking up very early in the mornings.  It's hard for her to get to noon for the nap, but she will not take 2 naps anymore and she will not take any longer of a nap than an hour fifteen!

Any suggestions?  We have been doing the one nap for a couple months now and not much has changed.  In the beginning of transitioning she slept more like 1.5 for a nap, but now it's shorter and she's not sleeping longer at night either...

I've tried putting her to bed at 5 and that usually backfires.  She does not seem to go down well that early and will play in there for an hour or more.  I'm just confused and really beginning to wonder if she is ever going to sleep well.

For some reason my daughter has regressed this week.  All of her naps have been an hour and a half at the most.  Then it's been taking her a good 30 min to an hour to fall asleep each night. That has never been a problem before.  I've also started hearing her earlier and earlier in the mornings rustling around. She has been yawning and laying her head down beginning around 9!  She is sooo tired!  I'm really not sure what is wrong?  I just want her to sleep!!! I am very concerned with the regression!

My daughter is still having major issues with sleeping.  I put her down at noon and she takes an hour fifteen minute nap just about every day!  So that means she is up at 115.  I always leave her in there until 2-230.  I am pretty diligent in getting her to bed early, she is usually in bed by 515 and asleep by 530.  She will sleep an average of 12 hours at night, which puts her waking up very early in the mornings.  It's hard for her to get to noon for the nap, but she will not take 2 naps anymore and she will not take any longer of a nap than an hour fifteen!

Any suggestions?  We have been doing the one nap for a couple months now and not much has changed.  In the beginning of transitioning she slept more like 1.5 for a nap, but now it's shorter and she's not sleeping longer at night either...

I've tried putting her to bed at 5 and that usually backfires.  She does not seem to go down well that early and will play in there for an hour or more.  I'm just confused and really beginning to wonder if she is ever going to sleep well.

OK... so I'm a slow learner.....
The latest my daughter has ever slept is 7 and that's only happened a few times.  She's been averaging about 615. What time would you say is late enough to push her to 1230 for the nap?  I just want to clarify. 

Going decent...naps aren't too much longer than an hour maybe on average 1.15min some days she gives me an hour and half in the am then a short one in pm.  I noticed on the days when she fusses in the crib trying to fall asleep...those are the days when I push to a 3hr awke time before her pm nap.  So I've been going for 2.45 awake time and she seems to fall asleep more easily.  Now watch today I have trouble!  Also between last nap & bedtime I do the 3.30 awake time and she seems to sleep alittle later in the morning.  I'm sure I'll be in touch in the future!!

He is sleeping the way he "needs" to be sleeping.  You will know when he needs to make a change in his schedule when he consistently shows signs.  He will stop taking that morning nap regularly when he is ready to transition so that would be the sign to move him to one nap and he won't be such a bear doing it .

Hey Jaimie how are things going right now?