The three to two nap transition

Is your baby getting ready to transition out of their third nap? If you suspect this is the case or maybe you aren’t quite sure, check out today’s post for helpful tips on how to help your baby transition seamlessly from 3 to 2 naps.

Like any nap transition, it’s a process that starts anywhere from 5-8 months (yes there’s a wide range for this!) And when I say it’s a process, I mean that some days your infant will need that third nap and some days not - and that’s totally normal and ok. It could take some time for your infant to adjust to a 2 nap schedule. 

Let’s get right into it…

Is my baby ready to drop the third nap?

Here’s what to look for to determine if your baby is indeed ready to drop that third nap.

1. Short cat naps 

2. Difficulty falling asleep for naps

3. Difficulty falling asleep at bedtime

4. Decreased nighttime sleep.

5. Disrupted nighttime sleep or very early morning wakings. 

6. Refusal of that last nap altogether. 

When do babies typically transition out of the third nap?

Babies can start dropping the third nap anywhere between 5-8 months old. Keep in mind that there's a wide range for when babies drop the third nap; Some drop it at 5 months while others drop it closer to 9 months. The average age for dropping the third nap is between 6-8 months.

How to help your child transition from 3-2 naps

If you suspect your child is ready to go from 3-2 naps, implement the suggestion below for helpful ways on how to deal with this transition as effectively as possible. 

1. Provide an earlier bedtime for your child.
   
   This one is inevitable and necessary. So don’t be afraid of the early or earlier bedtime because your child will need it to make up for lost sleep and accommodate that extra large wake window that he didn’t have beforehand. Pushing your child off until his regular bedtime will likely result in over tiredness, very early morning waking and a very cranky baby come early evening.
   

2. Work on shifting the nap schedule.
   
   Push the 2 remaining naps up slowly so that they are more spread out throughout the day and evenly distributed. Push them in 10-15 minute increments for sensitive sleepers and 30+ minutes for babies who are not as sensitive and can handle larger wake windows. If you do have a very sensitive sleeper, you can push the naps even slower by moving them up every other day as opposed to every day.

3. Implement quiet time for your child.
   
   Implement quiet time in the late afternoon for your baby, even if it means laying in a stroller or in their crib quietly for a few minutes to help them get through that very long stretch of awake time before bed. This can be very restful and rejuvenating even if they don’t actually fall asleep. If quiet time in the crib isn’t. working out for your baby and they end up crying the entire time, opt for any quiet and low-key activity that is non-stimulating to give your baby a chance to wind down before bed.
   

4. Let the nap drop organically.
   
   Sometimes you don’t need to do much to drop that third nap and it will often happen on its own. Some babies will need a small push to drop with some adjustment time, while other babies wake up one day and decide they don’t need that nap anymore. You’ll know when this happens when your baby is suddenly refusing the third nap consecutively for days or weeks in a row.

5. Be patient.
   
   Nap transitions are a process and often take time for your little one to adjust to. A lot is happening here and we need to give them time for their bodies to adapt to this new schedule with less sleep. It’s normal for your infant to take the third nap some days and not need it other days. Be patient! She will get there at her own pace.

What age did your baby drop the third nap?

If you have questions about your child’s naps, feel free to send me a message or book a free discovery call so that I can answer all of your questions.