How to Lengthen Toddlers' Naps

It is very common for parents of twins, triplets or more to sleep train their children during infancy. By the time the babies grow to be toddlers, they're sleep patterns follow a defined schedule and everyone naps at the same time. The snag generally occurs when at least one toddler requires a shorter nap than the others. It's a biological fact that different people require different amounts of sleep regardless of their age. Toddlers are not an exception to that rule.

In my experience, my daughter could have made it through the day at two-years old without a nap, but my sons probably could have continued taking two naps a day well into their second year. Staggered nap schedules was not an option for me. My sanity would have been at risk if I didn't get at least an hour of peace to break up the chaos of my day with toddler triplets. I had to keep them on the same schedule, and the only way to do that was to find a happy medium between the amount of sleep all three of my children needed during the day. I knew I could shorten my sons' daytime sleep to include just one nap, and they would adjust quickly. However, I had to find a way to get my daughter to nap or at least rest while the boys slept.

I tried shortening their one afternoon nap per day to just an hour, but my sons were so tired they couldn't even function for the remainder of the day. They needed a longer nap. There was no way my daughter was going to get in her crib quietly. She simply did not want to nap. My triplets share a bedroom and allowing her to stay up while the boys napped was not an option. I tried it, and my sons did not like it one bit. Bottomline, they had to sleep. My daughter already brought her favorite stuffed animals into her crib with her, but they did not occupy her while her brothers slept.

Finally, I decided to let my daughter choose a toy to bring into her crib with her. She loved the idea of picking a toy, and it worked like a charm. From the first day she brought a toy into her crib (it was her Fisher Price Little People Tea Party Set), she completely settled and played quietly in her crib while her brothers napped. Eventually, I let her choose a book to bring into her crib as well. As it turned out, once she was able to relax in her crib, she did fall asleep, and she still does. She'll play for a bit then I'll hear her quiet down and actually sleep. If she wakes up before her brothers, she'll play with her toys, which allows the boys to get a bit more sleep. She truly does still need some downtime during the afternoon, and she's much happier for the remainder of the day now that she is able to rest. At this point, my sons are starting to sleep for shorter intervals in the afternoon, so I let them pick toys and books to bring into their cribs, too.

Parents of multiples have a unique challenge when it comes to toddlers and naps because we need to juggle the sleep patterns of more than one child. Finding the right balance is the result of trial and error and a lot of patience. The quick fix is to eliminate an afternoon nap entirely, but that may not be what's best for your toddlers. Spend a few weeks working with your toddlers, and you'll find a solution that allows them to get the rest they need and you to get the physical and mental break you need.