5 Common Signs Baby is Ready to Drop a Nap
How do you know when you little one is ready to drop a nap? Here are 5 common signs it might be time.
1. Baby is the appropriate age to drop a nap:
⭐ 4-5 months (4 naps ⮚ 3 naps)
⭐ 6-7 months (3 naps ⮚ 2 naps)
⭐ 13-18 months (2 naps ⮚ 1 naps)
2. Baby starts fighting a nap, has a hard time going down, or refuses a nap altogether.
Does this sound familiar?
Last week baby took her afternoon nap like a champ, but this week she doesn’t seem tired. You put her down at her usual time but she’s crying and fighting the nap. Every day this week!
Could be time to drop a nap.
When there is a nap in question, continue to offer that nap for a week or two before fully transitioning out of the nap. Some days baby might take the nap and other days baby might refuse it.
If baby consistently refuses the nap after two weeks, it might be time to work on transitioning.
3. Naps become consistently short.
Alternatively, if baby’s naps start to become 20-30 minute catnaps on a consistent basis, it could be time for a transition.
When naps become consistently short, it can mean baby just isn’t tired enough to take a long nap. They are capable of staying awake longer. In fact, they need more awake time in order to get the restorative sleep they need from a nap. Always transition out of a nap gradually and move bedtime up to avoid an overtired baby.
4. Consistent early morning wakings.
If baby is consistently waking before their normal wake time, and they are in the appropriate age range, it might be time to consider dropping a nap.
Too much sleep during the day can lead to less sleep at night.
All babies need a certain amount of sleep for their age in a 24-hour period. Typically 10-12 of those hours occur at night. If baby is maxing out sleep hours during the day, they won’t need that sleep at night.
Use the chart below to gauge the appropriate amount of wake time for your baby.
*There are many culprits for early morning wakings besides a nap transition. Check out my post on Top Reasons for Early Morning Wakings BEFORE you drop a nap.
5. The last nap of the day starts to interfere with bedtime.
If the last nap of the day is too close to bedtime, you’re going to have a hard time getting baby down at night. You could:
⮚ Move bedtime later.
⮚ Work on dropping the last nap and push bedtime up.
Pushing bedtime up and working on a nap transition is the best strategy for long-term sleep success. It’s the most effective way to get restorative sleep during the day and at night.
Now that you’ve determined baby is ready to drop a nap, keep reading to learn about HOW to drop the nap.
5 Steps to Transition a Nap
1. Start by pushing the first nap of the day back.
Do this in 15-minute increments. If baby usually goes down at 9:30AM, push baby to stay awake until 9:45AM.
We want to gradually widen baby’s wake window in order to prevent baby from becoming overtired.
2. Move bedtime up.
Pushing a nap back will leave a wider window of time before bedtime. Moving bedtime up to help fill the time gap until baby is accustomed to the transition.
Read this post on Respecting an Early Bedtime. There is a great chart that will be helpful in determining an age-appropriate bedtime after the last nap.
3. Keep the sleep environment consistent for all sleep periods and follow your routine.
Try to keep baby home for naps during the day while you’re transitioning and let daycare or other caregivers know you’re working on a nap transition. Give them the new schedule you’re trying to follow. Getting everyone on board keeps things consistent and smooth.
Check out this blog post on The Ideal Sleep Environment to review the 4 elements needed to create the optimal environment for sleep.
4. Fill wake time with intentional play.
It’s important to be intentional during the transitional wake time. If you see baby is getting tired and you are working on stretching wake time to push back a nap, change activities and engage with your child. Go outside for a little, try a little tummy time, have a dance party, play peek-a-boo. Being present during this window will help baby make the stretch during the transition.
5. Take it one day at a time.
Give yourself some grace and have patience. Nap transitions take time and are gradual to start. But your baby will quickly pick up on the new schedule and their sleep will be better for it.
If you need help creating a schedule for your child or more clarity on your child’s specific sleep struggles, check out our services page to schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation!
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