When do babies start dropping one of their naps? Should we try and keep 2 naps for as long as we can?

Answer 1

well, it is according to how old the baby is. Also, how well the baby sleeps at night is another consideration. If he/she is waking up in the middle of the night, I would drop one of the naps. If not then, I would keep 2 as long as I could!

Answer 2

Around 18 months, kids may drop their morning nap. But that was easier said than done with my kids! I really had to keep them busy and give them an earlier afternoon nap to get over the hump. However, dropping the morning nap allows more time for activities out of the home.

Really, it all depends on your schedule. For example, some families keep babies/toddlers up till 9 or 10 PM because one parent doesn't get home till 6 or 7 and otherwise would barely see the child. In that case, the child would probably still need a morning nap. Whatever works for your family and children is correct as long as the kids aren't sleep-deprived.

Answer 3

I think babies start dropping naps around one year of age - some might be earlier, some later. They might go through cycles where they don't nap or nap less, then all of sudden they are back to napping. It seems to me their bodies are just gearing up to drop their naps completely, which usually occurs around three years of age.

See if your baby baby is getting the right amount of total sleep (check out the sleep chart link below) and from there you should be able to figure out if you should encourage more or less naps.

It's hard when they start to give up naps - I think moms like naps more than babies! Unfortunately, there is little we can do if they are getting the right amount of total sleep.

Good luck!

Answer 4

My kids all dropped their morning nap around a year old. Then I just had to move the afternoon nap up a little earlier. It was a gradual thing...always took about 2 weeks to switch.

Answer 5

I have been in childcare for 10 years and the classes I have to take say you get them to talk one nap about 2 hours long. the age should be around 19 months. You child should go to bed about 8:00 and sleep through the night.

Answer 6

Yes. try to keep two for as long as you can. The baby will make it obvious when he needs only one afternoon nap. Mine dropped his morning nap at around 15 or 16 months.


P.S. That little one on Annie Hightower's avatar is cuuuute!

Answer 7

September issue of Parents mag says around 15 months they start dropping their morning naps. My daughter is trying to stop her morning nap and she is 14 months so that is about right I guess.

It depends on the child and how active they are and what their routine is like every day.

Answer 8

Weissbluth says by 8-10 months. Our 7-month-old twins still have their 3rd nap, but it's down to about 30 minutes from 2 hours. Yes, keep it as long as you can because they seem to be so fussy when they don't have that last nap.

Answer 9

I work at a daycare and have a 17 month old son who has gone there since he was 3 months old. They transitioned him from the infant room to the pre-toddler room at 1 year and that's when they cut all the kids back to one nap. This was a very easy change for him and he slept better at night. Hope this helps.

Answer 10

how old is your baby? My son took one nap a day until the age of 4.The first year, he slept all the time and more when he got sick. My oldest one never took naps after the age of 6 months.I think this is your child's call, really.You do want this child to sleep at night, right.If your child is crabby at 2pm,nap time for an hour.Unless your child is sick, this changes everything!!Use your maternal instinct, it really works,believe me I know after 14 years of having two kids at 7 years apart. GOOD LUCK!!