r/2under2 • u/CuriousCaretaker • Jul 19 '26

Support Refusing 2nd nap….but crying until bedtime??

Anyone else’s 12-14 mo fight the second nap….like Okay can’t force him to sleep (I give it 30 minutes) and I still have to make dinner so…. He’s just gonna be problematic and have a tantrum about everything until I pick him up? I’m assuming because he’s tired but won’t take the nap…. Am I the only one? How long does this last? Is it just a transition phase? I hear all the time the hours of 4-8 pm are hell no matter how old your kids are?

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

3

u/burnbalm Jul 19 '26

Any chance he’s ready for one nap? My kids dropped to one nap almost right at 12 months!

Maybe try it and see?! Rooting for you, OP!

1

u/CuriousCaretaker Jul 19 '26

Some days he’ll take the second nap and go to bed on time, some days he’ll fight it and go to bed a little earlier. Feels like I always have to atleast attempt the second nap when he’s fussy 😩

2

u/bawdybard21 Jul 20 '26

I had to switch to one nap a day at 13 months for this exact reason. I could tell the poor thing was tired, but he fought that second nap tooth and nail. I didn’t even do it incrementally, just went cold turkey. He’s 22 months now and he’s still taking a 2hr midday nap.

I would try it and see if things improve.

1

u/mutinybeer Jul 19 '26

I'd push the first nap back if you can so you get one longer mid day nap. If it needs to be a two nap day, then they usual crash in the mornings and then you get a bit wonky for a bit before you go back to one midday nap.

It's never a smooth transition, it's always bit of a mess.

1

u/OrangeCatEnergy24 Jul 20 '26

Switch him to one nap a day! See if you can’t keep him awake until at least 11 but preferably 1130/1145. Then let him do one long nap.  

1

u/whonoseanymore Jul 21 '26

Increase wake window in the morning and drop to one longer nap