Just when you think you have things figured out with nap times, it’s all change. Your little one is making huge developmental leaps, such as walking and beginning to talk and their cute personality is emerging. Not surprisingly, this can all impact sleep and naps are often one of the first things to go.
Babies are typically ready to drop from 2 naps to 1 sometime between 13 and 18 months. Of course, for a minority this happens slightly before or after this age range.
So, if your baby is around 13 - 18 months and you are wondering if they are ready to make the leap, look for the following signs:
Naps become shorter and your child starts to protest them on a regular basis.
Your child requires a later bedtime so that you can fit the second nap into their day.
Settling at bedtime becomes more difficult.
You child begins to wake more frequently overnight.
Your child begins waking early in the morning.
The above difficulties would need to be seen for a minimum of 1 - 2 weeks before making the decision to drop a nap.
Once you have made the choice to move from a 2 nap schedule to a 1 nap schedule the goal will be for the nap to happen halfway through the day, about 5 - 6 hours after the morning wake up. The most efficient way to make this happen is to gradually move the morning nap later in the day, whilst also moving and shortening the afternoon nap until it is cut out completely. This transition can take from just a few days to 2 or 3 weeks, depending upon the temperament of your baby. Some days may work perfectly, while others just won’t go as planned - rest assured, this is all normal and you will get there!
The biggest challenge will be stretching that morning awake time as it will be much longer than it was previously. Help your baby to manage this by engaging them with an activity. Continue to have a predictable nap time routine so your baby can learn what is expected of them and when. And finally, if the nap ends up being shorter than expected, you may find you need to put your little one to bed a bit earlier that night.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. I offer a free Discovery Call, during which I will give you some hints and tips to get you started. I can also set you up with a nap schedule which fits around your family’s needs.
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