Dropping a Nap: When and How to Transition Your Baby or Toddler’s Sleep

Sarah Patel
Aug 14, 2023
2 min read

Updated: Oct 18

Dropping a nap is a major milestone in your baby’s sleep journey. Once your baby starts showing consistent sleep patterns, it can feel nerve-wracking to reduce daytime naps—but transitioning to fewer naps can make outings easier and may even improve night time sleep.

How Many Naps Should My Baby Be Having?

There is no ideal age for dropping naps—every baby is unique. Below is a rough guideline:

Age	Typical Number of Naps
4–6 months	3 naps per day
7–9 months	2–3 naps per day
12–18 months	1–2 naps per day
18–24 months	1 - 0 nap/s per day

Some babies naturally don’t fit this schedule, and that’s perfectly normal. If your baby is happy, alert, and sleeping well, you don’t need to change their routine.

3 Signs Your Baby is Ready to Drop a Nap

Knowing when your baby is ready is key to a smooth transition. Look for these signs:

1. Bedtime or Last Nap Gets Later

If your baby fights their last nap and bedtime is pushed later, it may be time to consider dropping a nap.

2. Night time Sleep Changes

If your baby starts having false starts, split nights, or early morning wake-ups, this could indicate they are ready for fewer naps.

3. Naptime Resistance or Shorter Naps

If your baby fights naps or wakes early but seems happy, it’s a sign they may no longer need that daytime sleep.

4 Steps to Support Your Baby Dropping a Nap

1. Gradually Reduce the Nap

Start by shortening the nap you want to drop to about 15–20 minutes before eliminating it completely.

2. Adjust Bedtime Temporarily

Put your baby to bed slightly later the night before to help them sleep a little longer in the morning.

3. Offer a Different Activity

During the usual nap time, do something engaging like outdoor play or bath time to signal that sleep isn’t coming. This helps your baby stay awake and adapt more easily.

4. Avoid Motion Around Nap and Bedtime

Avoid rocking, swinging, or other motion near the dropped nap or bedtime to prevent an unintended “danger nap.”

What to Do if Your Baby is Struggling

Transitioning from two naps to one (or from one to none) can take days, weeks, or even months. Some babies temporarily revert to the old nap schedule, which is normal. Patience and consistency are key.