The following is a lesson in parenting that I’ve picked up over the years: Transitions between naps can be challenging. They aren’t always terrible, although at times they can be.
When do babies drop to 2 naps ? The shift from three to two naps often takes place between the ages of 6 and 9 months.
Signs that your baby is ready to drop to 2 naps
- The baby refuses the third nap on a consistent basis.
- The third nap invariably results in a later than appropriate bedtime.
- The baby wakes up earlier than 6 o’clock in the morning and is unable to go back to sleep after having three naps. Additionally brought on by excessive naps during the day.
- Your infant is between 6 and 12 months old AND is/has been sleeping wonderfully throughout the night. This indicates that the infant sleeps for 10-12 hours straight with few awakenings throughout the night. Your infant should, ideally, be able to sleep through the night.
How to help your baby drop the 3rd nap
Nice and early bedtime: In the event that you choose to reduce the number of naps your baby takes from three to two, you will need to advance the time that he or she goes to bed.
Wean off the 3rd nap: For the next three days, try to keep the third nap to no more than 20 to 30 minutes. The time should be reduced to fifteen minutes. I’ve found that taking this third short snooze in the baby carrier or stroller is the easiest option (while supervised.)
Naps 1 & 2 must total two hours daytime sleep: It is not worth getting worked up over the fact that naps for babies less than six months might be unexpected and can be rather brief. The frequency of naps is the single most essential factor in the development of young children.
Summing It UP
By the time they are six months old, most babies have transitioned to taking two naps per day.
However, because every child is unique, it is just as likely for a baby to stop taking a third nap at five months as it is for them to stop doing so at nine months.
Therefore, it is essential that you learn to interpret the indications that your own baby gives you in order to determine whether or not she is ready to make the shift.
