The 2-1 Nap Transition

09 Aug The 2-1 Nap Transition

When you think everything is under control and your little one is sleeping great, they have to drop a nap, and that screws everything up! I feel you! That is why I created this blog for you, to help you navigate this nap transition more smoothly!

Expect this transition between 12 to 18 months of age. Best to wait until at least 13 months, but lots of kids start daycare around 12 months and start on a one nap schedule.

This transition can be hard for certain children. It is common for this transition to take place over 2-6 weeks.

First, let’s review signs that show your baby is NOT yet ready to transition to 1 nap, even if they’re in the 12-18 month window and struggling with sleep:

• Your baby fusses or stays awake longer than usual at nap time, but then ends up taking a good nap (1 hr+)
• Missing a nap makes your baby extremely tired/cranky/and irritable. Your child must handle at least 4 hours of awake time to succeed on a one-nap schedule.
• Your child is learning a new skill.
• Night sleep has been off lately. It is always best to focus on night sleep first rather than naps. If your child often wakes at night, switching to one nap rarely helps and can create new issues.

If you’re in this boat, you should try limiting your child’s first nap to one hour and then increasing the amount of time your baby is awake between naps one and two. This will help build “sleep pressure” before the second nap.

While every child is different, the following signs may indicate that the baby is ready to drop down to 1 nap:

• Refusing nap two even after adjusting and capping the first nap.
• Protesting nap 2 for long periods of time, followed by a short nap.

Like the 3-to-2 nap transition, these signs should be happening consistently for at least three weeks before beginning the transition to one nap. Making this transition too soon can cause more sleep problems to arise.

HOW TO NAVIGATE THE 2-TO-1 NAP TRANSITION

First, move your baby’s morning nap later. The nap would start around 10:30 am- 11:30 am.

Remember that your baby should be able to handle a four-hour of awake time, so you are only adding around 30 minutes. You can remove the second nap, and bedtime will be moved earlier to compensate for the lost nap.

For example, if your baby’s morning is typically at 6 am, you would move it to 10:30 am for two days, then 11:00 am for two days and so on until you reach 12 pm.

The target start time for one nap to begin is typically 12:00- 1 pm for a baby that wakes around 6-7 am.

When switching to a one-nap schedule, you can allow up to 3 hours of daytime sleep during a single nap. If your child does sleep for 3 hours, this does not necessarily mean that your baby’s bedtime should be shifted later. Early bedtime is often key to a successful nap transition. This is simply an adjustment to your child’s internal clock and will take time.

The foundation for a successful nap transition is always consistency and patience. Nap transitions can be overwhelming and frustrating for the whole family, especially when your little one is such a great little sleeper. It is important to remember that they are a phase every parent will experience, and they don’t last forever!

Remember, you are a great mom, and you got this!!!

P.S. If you are struggling with these transitions, contact me for extra help & support!