This post will help you learn more about sleep regression at 12 months and the transition to a nap.
As your baby's first birthday approaches, most parents start wondering when their baby should switch to one nap a day?
Why does my 12 month old skip naps ?
How will you know when it's time to take a nap ?
Don't all 12 month olds take a single nap ?
In fact, they don't.
It also surprised me when I was a new mom, but the average age of a child transitioning to a nap is actually between 15 and 18 months . They only take one nap until they are 3 or 4 years old , on average, before toddlers stop napping.
This article examines why not all 12-month-olds make the transition to a single nap.
Baby's sleep needs at 12 months
Once a baby has passed the 8, 9, or 10 month mark of sleep regression , most babies usually get into a good rhythm. (I detail a bit more in this article : How to get baby on the right sleep schedule) A 10 month old baby's schedule usually involves being awake for 3-4 hours between sleep periods. Children 10 to 12 months sleep 11 to 12 hours a night and take naps of 2 to 3 hours in total, a total sleep of about 13.5 hours a day on average. Naturally, some babies will have more and some less, of course.
12-month-old children who skip naps or take short naps
From personal experience, I know that some 11-month-olds and 12-month-olds seem to experience sleep regression that largely affects naps.
It looks like your 11 or 12 month old is trying to take a nap. How ? They either start skipping one nap completely (usually the afternoon nap), or they start taking two 45-minute naps. These elements may make you think it's time to switch to a single nap.
Many parents will make this transition and many babies will do just fine. Similarly, babies in daycare are usually only required to take a single nap around 12 months of age, whether they are ready or not. Again, most do very well.
However, I generally tell parents, who have the choice, not to rush this phase.
12-Month Sleep Regression: Causes
When do toddlers start to walk?
A client once told me that her baby started walking at 8 months old! I was shocked because this is the youngest baby I've heard of that walks! Most babies don't start crawling until they are 10 months old! 😀 Do you know that babies crawl in many ways? Click here to learn more
Although my eldest started crawling late, he didn't start walking until three weeks later, at around 11 months. He always wanted to be on his feet, He doesn't stay in place.
While some babies walk very early, the average age of first steps is between 10 and 14 months. Keep in mind that those first steps pale in comparison to how active they are, which is why not all 12-month-olds complete their transition at just one nap. Once they really start walking, they are extremely tired again.
What is the relationship between walking and sleeping?
Think about how you might feel after doing cardio or running on the treadmill for an hour. (I see you starting to sweat
😀 )
Now do it three times a day. I think you'd be down!
I've been exercising a lot more lately and been super tired most nights too. Well, your strolling, walking, running and climbing baby uses a lot of energy. I find that some babies even start to feel hungry at night, again, from all the calories burned. Note : This does not necessarily mean they need to be fed, but it does increase consumption during the day.
I find that even if an 11-12 month old begins to transition from napping, they seem to backtrack as they tire earlier, again, after a few weeks. This could be due to the physical energy they consume or the mental energy. So it's best to keep those two naps a little longer before you push your baby out too soon.
I didn't know it the first time it happened to me and I had some issues a month after giving my 11.5 month old baby a single nap. My child was extremely tired and grumpy and I couldn't figure out what I had done wrong! Then I forced him to take two naps for about three weeks and my child continued to take naps twice a day until he was about 14 or 15 months old. Today, I help clients in similar situations every day transition to a nap.
Sleep regression at 12 months: How long does it last?
In my experience and after helping many parents, the 12 month sleep regression lasts about 3 weeks. It is shorter than many other sleep regressions.
I hope this article has enlightened you on the subject. Feel free to share your experiences with us in the comments.
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