As your baby grows, their sleep needs change — and so will their nap schedule. These transitions can feel tricky, but they’re completely normal. Here’s what to expect and how to help your baby adjust.
3 Naps to 2 Naps: Between 7–9 Months (most typically around 8 months)
Most babies follow a 3-nap pattern from around 5 to 8 months:
- Morning nap
- Midday nap
- Short afternoon catnap
But somewhere between 7 and 9 months (usually at the 8 month mark) your baby will be ready to move from 3 to 2 naps.
Signs your baby is ready to drop the third nap:
- They resist or skip the third nap several days in a row
- Bedtime becomes a struggle, they may fight bedtime or appear not to be tired (pushing bedtime later)
- They start waking more at night
- Overall naps become shorter
- Your baby starts waking earlier in the morning
How to support the transition:
- Reduce the last nap of the day until it is only about 15mins
- If your baby is resisting that nap or completely skipping it already, you can drop the third nap and move bedtime earlier for a few weeks to help with that last wake window
- If you aren't already following a two nap schedule, start to extend wake windows to be around 2.25 hrs mins - 3.5 hours, with the longest wake window being at the end of the day.
- Your baby may be fussier than usual at bedtime, so don't be afraid to bring it forward as needed until they adjust.
- Stick with the new rhythm for at least 3–5 days to help it settle
2 Naps to 1 Nap: Typically 15–18 Months
This transition happens later — ideally between 15 and 18 months — though some babies make the switch as young as 12 months.
Signs your baby may be ready:
- They consistently play through the morning nap or skip it completely.
- They start skipping the second nap (less common).
- They fight or resist bedtime because there isn't enough sleep pressure since the end of the last nap.
How to support the transition:
- Start moving the morning lap later by 10-15mins every 2-3 days, while reducing the afternoon nap by the same amount.
- If your baby skips the afternoon nap completely, use an earlier bedtime to avoid overtiredness
- The goal is to reach one single, middle of the day nap - you can drop the 2nd nap once it is just 15mins in duration.
- This is by far the hardest nap transition, you may flip flop between 1 and 2 naps for some time and that's ok.
- If your baby is struggling with the change, you can offer two naps on some days to help maintain sleep needs.
Will the app handle these changes automatically?
Yes! The Smart Sleep Coach app uses your baby’s sleep data to dynamically adjust the schedule, including when it’s time to drop a nap. It may take a few days for it to catch up to you since it needs a few days of data to be sure.
If it doesn’t feel quite right or you’re unsure, you can always reach out to our support team and we’ll take a look with you.