3 Signs it's Time to Drop a Nap

Are you wondering if your baby or toddler is ready to drop a nap?

In the newborn months, naps can be pretty unpredictable and all over the place. It is normal for your newborn to not necessarily have a set number of naps they take each day. If you are struggling with your newborns naps or night sleep, check out my First Four Months Guide.

By around 4 months, most babies are getting on a more predictable nap cycle throughout the day. The average four month old is taking around 4 naps a day. This means the first big nap transition is usually dropping from 4 naps to 3 naps per day. You will continue to experience nap transitions with your baby pretty quickly over the next year. Most babies are down to 1 nap a day by 14-16 months old!

So what are the signs that your baby may need to drop a nap?

Before I dive into the top three signs to look for, I do want you to be aware that signs of being undertired can look very similar to signs of being overtired. If your baby's nap schedule was working fine, but you are suddenly experiencing some of the following signs, then it's most likely time to drop a nap. If your baby's nap schedule has never really worked for them and you have always been experiencing the signs below, then it may not necessarily be time to drop a nap. There could be other reasons (including sleep habits and overtiredness) for your baby's nap struggles.

Below are three main things to look out for when you are wondering if it is time to drop a nap:

1. Your baby was previously going down for their naps easily, but they are now fight their naps or are taking shorter naps. Maybe you spend 30 minutes struggling to get your baby down for a nap only for them to wake up 30 minutes later happy and well rested. This is a telltale sign they are ready to extend their wake windows and drop one of their naps.

2. Your baby was previously going to bed relatively easily but they are now starting to fight bedtime or their bedtime is becoming later and later due to fitting all of their naps into the day. If your baby is taking a while to fall asleep at bedtime (20+ minutes) they could be ready for longer wake windows. If you are struggling to fit in their last nap of the day and it is continually pushing their bedtime later and later, they could be ready to drop it.

3. Your baby was sleeping well at night but now they are suddenly having more nighttime wakings or early morning wake ups. You may find they are waking more frequently and it is harder to get them back to sleep. You may even experience a "split night", which is when your baby is awake for one long period in the middle of the night (1-3 hours).

Before you drop a nap, make sure you have been experiencing one or more of these signs for at least 2 weeks. This can help you make sure it's not just an illness, teething, or a regression causing your nap issues.

Another important factor to consider before dropping a nap is if it is age appropriate. Yes, every baby is different. Some babies have higher sleep needs and others have lower sleep needs. Some babies will drop naps earlier or later than others. But it is still important to know the average ages for dropping naps to make sure you are at least close to the age-appropriate time. For example, your 5 month old is most likely not ready to drop to one nap per day, even if you are experiencing some of these signs.

The average ages for nap transitions are listed below.

• 5 Months: drop from 4-3 naps

• 6-9 Months: drop from 3-2 naps

• 14-16 Months: drop from 2-1 nap

• 3 Years: drop naps completely

These ages are just the average! What is more important than worrying about these age markers is tuning in to your baby's sleep needs.

Feeling confused about your baby's nap schedule? Head over to the Sleep By Alex Membership and we will get this figured out!