Transitioning Your Baby From Two Naps To One
Your baby has become a good sleeper, and naps are going well…until they’re not. Is it because of the busy hours spent with grandma yesterday? The weekend activities? Or, maybe this is the beginning of transitioning to one nap? And if it is a transition period, how does this work? Let’s talk about it!
They’ve Already Ditched The Late Afternoon Catnap
To be clear, baby has already stopped the late afternoon 30-minute catnaps, and is down to two naps a day: one in the morning, and another in the afternoon. This 2-to-1 transition we’re discussing here is going from two naps to one.
What Age Does This Transition Occur?
Babies are typically between 14 and 18 months, but it can happen as early as 13 months, or as late as 24 months. It really depends on the child. If a baby is 12 months or a bit younger, they may begin to take shorter naps at this time, but usually they’re not ready to drop to only one nap a day. If baby is going to start daycare around the age of one, they may need to go to one nap a day, and that’s okay! They may just need an earlier bedtime.
How Do I Know If My Baby Is Ready?
Difficulty falling asleep during naps and/or bedtime
Although they may not be fussy or cry, they may actually be completely awake during the entire nap period
They may begin to refuse or reject either their morning or afternoon nap
They may take a very long time to fall asleep during their afternoon nap, which pushes their bedtime to a later time
Early morning wake-ups can also happen during this time
Wait a couple of weeks to see if these signs are happening on a regular basis. Sometimes it’s due to other factors, such as overstimulation from a busy weekend, or a visit from grandparents.
Which Nap Is Dropped? Morning or Afternoon?
Typically the morning nap is dropped, but not always. We want to aim for a bedtime around 4 to 5 hours after the nap ends, so an afternoon nap is common. But sometimes it’s the afternoon nap that’s dropped.
So How Do We Make This Transition?
Baby Has Stopped Their Morning Nap – Begin putting them down for a nap around 12:30. Our goal is to aim for a 2 to 3 hour nap, so you’ll want to put them down after they’ve had lunch. A full tummy will (hopefully!) mean a longer nap. You may have to give them lunch a bit earlier, around 11:30 or 11:45. When they wake up, give them a nutritious snack such as yogurt, fresh fruit, or cheese and crackers to tide them over until dinnertime.
Baby Has Stopped Their Afternoon Nap – Try putting them down for a nap a bit later in the morning, around 11 am. Once they wake, it will be time for lunch. They may be a bit tired once the mid-afternoon comes around, so it may be a good time to get outside and play (weather permitting of course!), take a class together at the local community center, or head to the local library or park. A late afternoon nutritious snack to tide them over until dinnertime will be great for them too! An earlier bedtime may be needed, especially when ditching the afternoon nap.
Transitioning from two naps to one can be challenging, so be patient with yourself and your baby. It can take a few weeks (sometimes longer) before the transition is established. Consistency is key! Stick with it, and your little one will be on her way to a nice, long nap (perhaps for you, too!).
