While newborns will sleep every 1-2 hours all day, most babies will be able to stay awake for 2-3 hours by 4-5 months old. And, most babies will take three naps until 8 months old, on average. That’s one reason the 8 months sleep regression is often more difficult because on top of the development going on, a nap transition is happening, too.

Once your baby is taking two naps a day, you can usually settle in for a great 2-nap schedule for several months. So, when do babies drop to one nap?

When Do Babies Drop From 2 Naps to One Nap?

Babies usually drop to one nap when they can stay awake comfortably for at least 4-5 hours both before a nap and after a nap. For most babies, this doesn’t happen until at least 12 months old but sometimes as early as 10 months. In my 10+ years as a sleep consultant, I’ve seen only a handful of 10-month olds truly transition to one nap.

However, because some babies and toddlers are also learning to walk around 12 months old, it’s not always the best time to switch to one nap. Newly walking toddlers can become overly exhausted and start waking at night again. Also, we sometimes see a temporary 12-month sleep regression at 11-12 months old. After this regression is over, babies will still take two naps for a couple more months.

Depending on what book you read, you might read that 12 months is a good time for babies to drop to one nap. Many daycares do it around this age, too. For some babies, this will work out just fine. However, if your baby is sensitive to being overtired and can’t stay awake for long periods of time, this can be a disaster! We have seen it many times over the years, unfortunately.

On the other hand, if your toddler is 18 months old and still taking two naps, you might be having problems with insomnia or early waking. How can you transition your toddler to one nap when they are waking up at 5:00 AM? More on that with the tips below.

Signs to Transition Baby to One Nap

There are a few definitive signs we look for before we switch a baby to one nap including:

• Nighttime sleep decreasing below 10 hours.
• Insomnia for 1.5-2+ hours at night several times a week.
• Bedtime past 9 PM (unless your family has an intentionally late schedule.)
• Skipping one of their naps 4 or more times a week.
• Suddenly taking two 45-minute naps

Every situation is different so depending on what specific issues you are having, you may or may not want to drop to one nap but these are good signs it could be time. We do not expect to see ALL of these signs. It is more likely to be just one, maybe two, of them. Some babies will drop their morning nap and some will drop their second nap. In my experience, the most common way is to drop the second nap in the afternoon. Once that afternoon nap gets very late in the day, they often skip it.

How to Switch to One Nap

The big question is how to successfully switch to one nap. First, recognize that all nap transitions can be bumpy. And, nap transitions take 2-3 weeks, on average. If you’re having a hard time, it doesn’t mean it’s not the right thing to do. But, if your baby is still struggling after 2-3 weeks, you might want to make some changes.

5 tips to drop baby to one nap:

1. Start delaying the morning nap by 15-30 minutes a day and then move all meals, the second nap, and bedtime 15-30 minutes later, too. You will do this even if your baby woke up early for the day. If your normal nap time is 9:00 AM, move it to 9:30 AM for the day. You can move the naps every day or every other day.
2. Stop moving the morning nap once your toddler is staying awake for approximately 5 hours (and no more).
3. Keep your baby in bed for at least two hours to help lengthen the nap. Once you transition to one nap, the nap should be 2-3 hours long.
4. If the nap is shorter than two hours, move bedtime earlier but no earlier than 6:00 or 6:30 PM to guard against early waking.
5. Offer two naps once or twice a week. Being on a 1-nap schedule for one day or a few days is one thing but every day is another. Many babies will start to get more and more overtired over a period of several days. Catch up for one day and then get back to the new schedule the next day.

Dropping to one nap can be challenging so expect it to be bumpy. Once your baby or toddler has adjusted, they will sleep 11-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours during the day, on average. But, what will their schedule look like after they transition to one nap?

What 1-Nap Schedule Should You Use?

The schedule to use with a baby or toddler taking one nap will depend on your baby’s age and how long they can comfortably stay awake between sleep periods. On average, the nap is approximately 5 hours after they wake up for the day and bedtime is 5 hours after they wake up from their nap. As they approach 18-24 months old, we see the awake period increase.

For a complete list of sample schedules, see our sample toddler schedules by month here!

I hope this post has helped you decide when a baby drops to one nap. Dropping from 2 naps to 1 nap isn’t always easy but your baby will adjust. If you have any questions, we’re here to help!

Want FREE sleep help that you can put to use right away? Download a copy of our free guide, 7 Common Napping Mistakes! The guide is available to download instantly, which means you can start using the techniques in it as early as today. So download now, and learn why your baby is not napping – and what you can do about it.

Click here to learn more about how to get your free guide.

A better daytime schedule could be just a few clicks away. So don’t wait – download now, and start your journey to better napping today!

The post When Do Babies Drop to One Nap? 5 Signs to See Before You Switch to One Nap appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

Sleep is huge for new parents of multiples. We all know the challenges of a new baby who is awake around the clock, but two at a time! Let’s just set the coffee pot on continuous brew, shall we? Although sleep can be difficult for new twin parents, good sleep in your house is possible.

We all know that sleep is wonderful for healthy growth and development, but how do we get good sleep? Instead of looking at sleep (or lack thereof) as something that just happens to you, let’s try viewing it as a habit to work on. While some babies seem born to sleep, some may need more practice. Some may require a long nap each day, some, no nap at all at certain stages. Chalk it up to temperament. Lucky for you, twin parents usually take a more proactive approach to sleep because of their circumstances. You may find you establish good habits and are in tune with your babies much earlier on because of your lucky twinning odds. Without further ado, here are some top tips to help your little glowworms nap happy.

Tip 1: Create a Napmosphere (Nap Atmosphere)

Put yourself in your babies’ tiny shoes for a moment. If you had the luxury of a good nap in the middle of the day, what would make it enjoyable? Lights down? Soft music? Your twinzies are probably thinking the same thing. Create a sleep atmosphere that is conducive to sleep. Does your nursery get sunny during the day? Try black out shades on the windows to help keep it dim and calm. How about the temperature? Ensure it is not too hot, not too cold, but just right for sleepy time. Some background noise can also be helpful for some babies when the sounds of the day (or their twin) interfere with a good snooze.

Tip 2: Run With a Good Routine

How you structure your day can greatly impact naptime. Try to regularly “start” your day (even if you are still operating on a 24 hour clock) at around the same time. During wakeful periods in your routine, try to provide sufficient stimulation to encourage a developmentally appropriate for their age. For the sleep deprived twin parent, setting up your living room with a Baby Workout Circuit is quite common! When choosing your gear, think about what type of stimulation each station provides and balance it with touch time, and food time. Meeting all these basic needs helps set the stage for a good nap to follow.

For some parents, cabin fever—particularly if you endured bed rest like many twin mamas out there—and your routine may benefit from scheduled outings and social activities. Others may have older kids to manage and their schedules may largely dictate your plans for the day. Either way, make your best efforts to ensure you are not over committed to a schedule that makes napping difficult. Prioritizing sleep in your routine may make your day go a whole lot smoother.

Tips 3: Separate Sleep Can Be Good Sleep

You heard a whimper. You’re up! Damn your baby cells that make it impossible to get a good REM. However, don’t underestimate how much racket your twins can actually learn to sleep through. If you are prematurely curbing Baby A’s whimpers with the hope Baby B doesn’t wake, your tactics may backfire down the road. If your twins are sharing a nursery, consider white noise that is loud enough to neutralize those whimpers for the sibling. Yet if your twins really are struggling to nap together—space permitting—you may consider temporarily separating them for naps for the sake of everyone’s sanity. Consider what alternative spaces you have in your home, and it could be as simple as a pack-n-play set up in a mater closet with air circulation or a guest bedroom.

Tip 4: Be a Team and Stay Flexible

Routines are a powerful tool. While a good routine is useful, understand that it is just that – a routine. Don’t be a slave to your routine, rather make it work for you. If your son consistently gets drowsy 30 minutes before you plan for nap, be flexible. It may be helpful for him to stick to your schedule as best he can, but provide some wiggle room so that adjustments can be made as necessary to ensure that everyone is getting good rest. Try your best to read your babies sleep cues and get them down when they are tired, not overtired. Trust your gut and adjust the flow of your day accordingly.

Tip 5: Recognize the Stages and Ages

One of the most frustrating things about parenting in the early stages is how quickly things change. Four months in, everyone is rocking two naps a day and getting good nighttime sleep. Suddenly, out of nowhere, morning nap is a disaster and everyone is cranky all the time. Needs shift over time and will continue to as they grow and reach new ages and stages. The more prepared you are mentally for these shifts, the better you will handle them and reach your new normal for that stage. You cannot always control what happens, but you can control how you react to it. Be gentle with yourself and your babies, and remember that you are guiding them, stage by stage. Work with them, not against them and you will get through it.


About the Author
Out-of-the-box thinker, Krystal Workman, gets creative under stress…and life with twins happens to be full of it! In order to soothe her crying babies while alone, Krystal invented the first ergonomic twin baby carrier—TwinGo Carrier—to cuddle both her babies at the same time. TwinGo now empowers thousands of parents worldwide to keep their babies close. As former President of one of the largest twins clubs in the USA, Krystal assists new parents with babywearing, breastfeeding, sleep coaching, healthy routines, and positive discipline. You can get more twin-related information on the TwinGo Blog.

The post 5 Nap Tips for Twins From the Land of Nod appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

Click on Image to Englarge

We get nap questions really frequently from our clients – particularly these three questions:

• How many naps does my baby need?
• How long should my baby’s naps be?
• How much sleep should my baby get during the day so they sleep at night?

Well, we’re answering all of them in today’s article. How many naps your baby takes will depend on their age and unique development. All babies develop at their own unique rates.

How long your baby’s naps are also depend on age but once your baby is past 4 months old, we want at least one nap that’s an hour or longer. Once past 6 months old, we want at least two naps that are an hour or longer. And, once your baby transitions to one nap, we want a nice, long 2 to 3-hour nap.

We hope you’ll use this chart as an ongoing reference tool since it covers nap totals and lengths from the newborn stage all the way through age 3. Print off a copy for yourself and use it as an easy reference tool – and consider printing off a few for your friends or family members who have struggling nappers at home!

Baby Nap Chart: Naps By Age

How Did We Make This Nap Chart?

The above chart is derived from over 10 years of experience as a sleep consultant, with thousands of families, in conjunction with the following two books:

Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems by Dr. Richard Ferber
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth M.D.

While you can obviously read multiple 200+ page books, we strive to bring you practical information at your fingertips that you can put to use right away.

Need Nap Help For Your Baby or Toddler? The Baby Sleep Site^® Is Here For You!

If you are looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation, and want plenty of support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations. Your consultation package will provide you with the chance to interact one-on-one with a trained sleep consultant, who will create a Personalized Sleep Plan™ for your family and then work to help you implement it at home.

Our VIP Members Area is packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! As a VIP member, you’ll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant.

Essential Keys to Your Newborn’s Sleep is THE newborn sleep book that will help you to not only improve your newborn’s sleep using gentle, sleep-inducing routines – it will also answer your feeding and newborn care questions. You can even buy a bundle package that includes the e-book AND a Personalized Sleep Plan™ PLUS a follow-up email to use for further support!

If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, I encourage you to explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.
Need help knowing where to start? Visit our Help Me Choose page for help choosing the Baby Sleep Site^® resources that are right for you.

The post Baby Nap Chart: Learn How Long Baby Should Nap, and How Many Naps Baby Needs appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

We all want our babies and toddlers to take long, restorative naps at regular times each day, right? Judging by how popular our nap articles are with all of you, I’m betting you answered ‘Yes!’ to that question!

But here’s something to consider – are the expectations you have for your baby or toddler’s naps unreasonable? How can you be sure that your nap expectations are reasonable, and are in keeping with what your baby or toddler is capable of? Sometimes, when we work with parents who say they are struggling with naps, it turns out that the problem has more to do with mom and dad’s nap expectations, and less to do with their little ones’ napping habits!

3 Signs Your Nap Expectations Are Unreasonable

1. The amount of nap sleep you expect from your baby or toddler far exceeds the average sleep totals that are appropriate for her age.

Think about how much sleep your baby or toddler typically gets at night. Now, think about how much nap time sleep you expect from your little one each day. Add those two numbers together, and then compare them to the following average sleep amounts in a 24-hour period:

• Newborns: 15-18 total hours of sleep
• 1-4 Months: 14-16 total hours of sleep
• 5-8 Months: 13-15 total hours of sleep
• 9-10 Months: 12-15 total hours of sleep
• 11 Months-3 Years: 12-14 total hours of sleep
• 3-5 Years: 11-13 total hours of sleep

How do your totals look? Keep in mind by the time your baby is 4 or 5 months old, the majority of her sleep should be happening at night, and by the time your baby is 6 months old, he will need just a few hours worth of nap sleep during the day.

2. You expect too many naps from your baby or toddler, given his age, and/or you expect the naps themselves to be too long

A baby’s nap needs change A LOT in the first year, so it’s understandable that we parents sometimes have a hard time keeping up with exactly how many naps our babies need, and how long those naps should be. It’s possible that you are expecting too many naps from your baby, or that you are expecting naps that are too long for her age. Take a look at the list below, and compare these totals with your expectations:

• Newborns: Newborns take many short naps throughout the course of a day. Your newborn will spend more time asleep than she will awake, which is normal.
• 1-3 Months: Your baby will take 4-5 naps per day, and each of those naps will usually be about an hour long (give or take 15 minutes or so). Shorter catnaps are considered normal at this age.
• 4-5 Months: Your baby will take 3-4 naps per day. The length of each nap varies, but each nap should be between 45 minutes and 90 minutes long. At this age, your baby needs about 3-4 total hours of nap sleep per day.
• 6-8 Months: Your baby will take 2-3 naps per day, and each of those naps should be about an hour long.
• 9-15(or 16/17) Months: Your baby or toddler will take 2 naps per day (although some toddlers transition to 1 nap around 12 months, we usually recommend that parents try to stick with 2 naps until 15-18 months). Each nap should be at least an hour long – preferably longer. At this age, your baby or toddler needs 2-3 total hours of nap sleep per day.
• 16 (or 17/18) Months-3 Years: Your toddler will nap once per day (although some toddlers give up their naps before age 3, the average age to drop the afternoon nap is between 3 and 4 years old). Your toddler’s afternoon nap should be 1-3 hours long.
• 3-5 Years: Your toddler will likely drop the nap at this point. When that transition happens, you can institute an afternoon ‘rest’ hour in place of the nap.

3. Your expectations about nap timing don’t line up with your child’s morning wake-up and bedtime, or with the average wake time totals for her age.

Along with number and length, the timing of your baby or toddler’s naps matters too – this is important to remember. Be sure that you aren’t squeezing your little one’s naps too close together, and failing to leave enough wake time in between. And make sure you time your little one’s naps around the morning wake-up and evening bedtimes – these two fixed points in your child’s schedule will help ‘set’ the rest of the nap times.

Use the following wake time averages to help you time up your child’s naps with morning wake-up time and bedtime:

• Newborn-2 Months: Wake times should be kept short at this age – between 45 and 90 minutes, generally.
• 3-4 Months: Babies this age can usually stay awake for about 1-2 hours between naps.
• 5-8 Months: The average wake time for babies this age is about 2-3 hours.
• 9-10 Months: At this age, most babies can stay awake for about 3 hours between naps.
• 11-15 Months: Most babies and toddlers this age have wake times of between 3-4 hours.
• 15 Months-3 Years: At this age, toddlers can generally stay awake for about 5 hours.
• 3-5 Years: Most toddlers and preschoolers at this age, who have dropped their afternoon naps, can stay awake for 11-12 straight hours during the day.

How To Create A Reasonable Nap Schedule That Will Work For Your Baby or Toddler

For even more nap and schedule help, check out these members-only resources, found in our VIP Members Area:

• Mastering Naps and Schedules e-Book (unlimited VIP member access at no extra cost!)
• Custom Schedule-Maker (unlimited access – make as many schedules as you’d like! Includes meal times)
• Nap Transitions tele-seminar with Nicole Johnson
• Short Naps tele-seminar with Nicole Johnson
• How To Put Your Child on a Schedule tele-seminar with Nicole Johnson
• 5 Tips To Manage Nap Transitions [EXPANDED VIP MEMBER-ONLY VERSION]
• 5 Tips For Handling Tough Daycare Nap Schedules [EXPANDED VIP MEMBER-ONLY VERSION]
• Day-by-Day Nap Training Plan
• Downloadable Sleep/Nap Coaching Plan Workbook (learn how to create your own nap coaching plan!)
• Printable Sample Schedule Shifts Forward (great for daylight saving time change)

Not a VIP member? Not a problem! Join today, and you’ll receive instant access to our vast online library of sleep coaching resources, including expert live chats and our “Ask the Author” feature!