[Jule'sMomInOR]

I work from home and with the project I'm on now, I work 6:30 - 3:30 or so. Sometimes I finish around 3-3:15. DH leaves for work about 8:15, so he's in charge until then, and we have our nanny come at 8:30.

I think Juliana's almost ready for a one nap per day schedule. She was late going from 3 naps to 2, but when we did it was as simple as me keeping her up a little later and within a few days this was her new schedule. I'm thinking that when she does one nap per day, it will probably be about 12-3. (She current takes a 1 hour nap about 10:30-11:30 and then 2-2.5 hours from about 3 or 3:30-5:30). After we move to one nap, I'd essentially be having the nanny stay for a 3.5 more hours to get an additional half our of babysitting. At $12/hr, that's paying $42 per day for half an hour that I'd actually need her. That's $210/week and $840/month down the drain. And sometimes I finish at 3-3:15 and wouldn't need her at all.

I'm tempted to want to send her home at noon. But then, what about the 10% of so of the time when Juliana wakes up early? And who would want to work just 3.5 hours per day? She does already pick up extra work from a nanny agency, so she probably could continue to do that. I suppose she could leave, and then I could look for someone who actually wants this schedule. We do like her a lot, though.

Also, I had considered keeping her on and asking her to do additional housekeeping, but I don't think this will work. She does the dishes and sweeps the floor now, but that's about it. Most days she finishes that and then reads a magazine waiting for Juliana to wake up. There's definitely more that could be done, but I don't think she's that "clean" type of person. And honestly, I don't think I'd want to pay an extra $42/day for cleaning even if I could train her to recognize what needs to be done and do it.

If I do send her home early, there is the issue that I'd have zero free time and a lot of multi-tasking to do. Now, she leaves when Juliana starts her 2+ hour nap, and I typically take the first hour of the nap with her, then use the second hour to make dinner, clean up, or just relax and read. With the new schedule I'd lose my opportunity for a nap, and I'd have to make dinner while entertaining Juliana. I'd probably be a little stressed. Some days, Juliana can entertain herself and others, she's just super clingy.

What I'm leaning towards is asking the nanny to stay until 12:30, 4 hours per day, and clean another half hour into the nap. Then I'm thinking about trying to find a high school girl from my neighborhood to come from about 2:30-3:30, in case Juliana should wake up early. If Juliana stays asleep, she could cook or clean. But then I wonder about bringing another person into the house and the germs associated with that.

WWYD?

[starrsgirl]

I honestly would give it a week or 2 and see how the one nap goes. When we went to 1 nap, Emmett didn't sleep any longer because then he was older. So he only naps once for 1.5 hours...maybe 2 on a very lucky day. So I guess I would see if you actually get any 3 hour naps. For the time being, just have some extra projects or cleaning for the nanny to do that you were really wanting to tackle.

[Jule'sMomInOR]

Originally Posted by starrsgirl

I honestly would give it a week or 2 and see how the one nap goes. When we went to 1 nap, Emmett didn't sleep any longer because then he was older. So he only naps once for 1.5 hours...maybe 2 on a very lucky day. So I guess I would see if you actually get any 3 hour naps. For the time being, just have some extra projects or cleaning for the nanny to do that you were really wanting to tackle.

Only 1.5 hours all day? I think I'd go crazy. How long does he sleep at night? Juliana only sleep 10-10.5 hours (and not consecutively) so I'm thinking she's go to be good for a 3+, but I guess trying it out for a while wouldn't hurt. My nanny has to give her availability to the agency 2 weeks in advance, but I guess we can invest two weeks to find out how it goes.

[starrsgirl]

Emmett sleeps 10 hours at night and then the 1.5 hour nap. I have this book that shows total amount of sleep for babies his age and that puts him right in the middle I think.

what Liz said. When we went to 1 nap a day it was for 2 1/2 to 3 hours but we just realized that wasnt working so after 2 weeks of 1 nap a day we've learned she still needs 2 separate smaller naps. Along with sleeping 11 hours consecutive at night.

I would try the one nap a day but keep the nanny around for 2-3 weeks until you make sure thats what will work for her.

[Jule'sMomInOR]

Originally Posted by starrsgirl

Emmett sleeps 10 hours at night and then the 1.5 hour nap. I have this book that shows total amount of sleep for babies his age and that puts him right in the middle I think.

Hmmm, I keep seeing things that say 12-14 hours for a 1 y/o but when I just googled it I found lots of different links with lots of different opinions! I guess I have no idea what to expect but I assumed if we go to 1 nap it would be just slightly shorter than the combined time for the two now but I could be surprised. Of course, it will gradually get shorter over the months.

Originally Posted by KaiX2Momma

what Liz said. When we went to 1 nap a day it was for 2 1/2 to 3 hours but we just realized that wasnt working so after 2 weeks of 1 nap a day we've learned she still needs 2 separate smaller naps. Along with sleeping 11 hours consecutive at night.

I'm just curious - what made you want to go to one nap and what made you realize it wasn't working? Just general fussiness or still acting tired at the old nap time?

Ok, I think I'm going to try to hang on to the 2 nap schedule for a few months and maybe revisit this idea toward October/November.

[Ally-Mac]

we do one nap here and it's usually only 2 hours. she then sleeps 11 hours at night (bed at 7:30pm, up at 6:30 am). Her nap is usually around 12:30ish.

Originally Posted by Jule'sMomInOR

Hmmm, I keep seeing things that say 12-14 hours for a 1 y/o but when I just googled it I found lots of different links with lots of different opinions! I guess I have no idea what to expect but I assumed if we go to 1 nap it would be just slightly shorter than the combined time for the two now but I could be surprised. Of course, it will gradually get shorter over the months.



I'm just curious - what made you want to go to one nap and what made you realize it wasn't working? Just general fussiness or still acting tired at the old nap time?

Ok, I think I'm going to try to hang on to the 2 nap schedule for a few months and maybe revisit this idea toward October/November.

There is a thread in the hideaway about it but basically she was fighting to stay up until after lunch then laid down from 1-4pm which seemed great but everyday for over a week she would scream and cry in the evening. I almost though it had to be some type of "toddle colic". It was bad. I ended up taking her to the Saturday clinic at my pedi's office to have ears checked and throat checked and she wasnt sick at all and said to go back to two naps, even if she fights the 1st one and that worked. She only fought it for 5 minutes and now is back on a 10am and 3 pm nap with no fussiness in the evening. I just assumed since she seemed to want 1 nap she was ready but I think it was just she would rather play then sleep even though she needed it.

[Jule'sMomInOR]

Originally Posted by KaiX2Momma

There is a thread in the hideaway about it but basically she was fighting to stay up until after lunch then laid down from 1-4pm which seemed great but everyday for over a week she would scream and cry in the evening. I almost though it had to be some type of "toddle colic". It was bad. I ended up taking her to the Saturday clinic at my pedi's office to have ears checked and throat checked and she wasnt sick at all and said to go back to two naps, even if she fights the 1st one and that worked. She only fought it for 5 minutes and now is back on a 10am and 3 pm nap with no fussiness in the evening. I just assumed since she seemed to want 1 nap she was ready but I think it was just she would rather play then sleep even though she needed it.

Ah, I only read the first couple of responses and never saw the reason. I'll have to go read the whole thing. Thanks.