As your child grows, they will need less and less day sleep over time. Before 6-8 months, there is the most change. After this point, the changes are fewer and further between.
They will generally move from 3 to 2 naps at 6-8 months, from 2-1 nap around 14-18 months and then finally drop their nap around 2.5-3 years.
Three naps to Two naps -
This nap will typically need to be reduced to 15-20 minutes by 6 months of age, and then cold turkey if you notice any of the following:
Nap refusal of the third nap
Difficulty consolidating the middle of the day nap
Difficulty settling at bedtime
Any obvious night time changes
Two naps to One nap -
To move to one nap, your child will need to able to manage 5.5 hours awake time and last easily until 12noon. If this morning nap is dropped too soon or too fast, it may interrupt night time sleep and create early morning waking due to over tiredness.
Start dropping this morning nap by reducing the length of it to 15 minutes every day, then move to offering the morning nap every second day, then every third day, until the nap is eventually dropped.
Signs to drop to one nap include:
Refusing to sleep until after 10am for at least a week.
Difficulty settling at bedtime
Night waking or long periods of awake time overnight
Early morning waking:
One Nap to No Naps
Dropping the final nap can take several months until it has finally disappeared. The first move to be made is that the nap length should be shortened by 15 minute increments. Always wait at least 5 days to see if the sleep will come back together before reducing it further. Once the nap is 30 minutes in length, you can attempt to drop the nap all together.
Signs to look for to reduce or drop the final nap:
Delayed sleep phase at bedtime
Night waking
Long periods of awake time overnight
Early morning waking
Nap refusal after 2.5-3 years of age
Shereen Nielsen
My name is Shereen Nielsen and I am a certified infant and child sleep coach and a Doula, training at the Doula Training Academy. I am also a lecturer and mentor for students on their journey towards becoming a Sleep Consultant, through my on-line internationally recognised sleep consultants course.
If you would like more information about my services please contact me:
Phone: +61419820474
Email: hello@shereennielsen.com
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