Most babies are between 5-6 months of age when they’re ready for two naps a day. 

3 to 2 Nap Transition Signs:

Here are common signs you’ll notice when your baby is ready to move from three naps to two:

• Your baby is less tired at their usual naptimes and cries or plays for a long time before falling asleep.
• The third nap becomes a problem – your baby takes a long time to fall asleep, doesn’t fall asleep at all, or sleeps for less than 30 minutes.
• The first two naps become longer, making it difficult to fit in a third nap and resulting in too long of a wake window before bedtime.

How to Transition from 3 Naps to 2:

Here’s how to transition to 2 naps:

• Gradually Increase Wake Times: Increase your baby’s wake times by 15-20 minutes every few days until there are approximately 3 hours between sleeps. (Download free sample schedules including a 2-nap routine here.)
• Anticipate Overtiredness: If your baby is fussy or naps become short, it may be due to overtiredness, which should resolve as their body clock adjusts. Consider an earlier bedtime to help reduce overtiredness. (If short naps persist, check out this post for troubleshooting tips.) 

It may take a few weeks for your baby to get used to longer awakes times and only two naps. Be patient and put your little one to bed earlier during this adjustment period. Soon enough, your baby’s sleep will improve, and you’ll likely find more freedom in your day with one less nap.

Need help navigating the 3 to 2 nap transition? Book a free call to learn how personalized support will help your baby get the sleep they need.