Our little ones change so quickly. You finally have naps down, you're in a great routine and schedule, and then a nap transition throws it all upside down and leaves you questioning everything.
Signs baby is ready to transition from 3 - 2 naps
The 3 - 2 nap transition generally happens around 7-9 months and will often be accompanied by the following signs:
Increased middle of the night wakings
Early morning wake-ups (before 6 AM)
Short naps
Taking a long time to fall asleep for first two naps
Consistently refusing the 3rd nap
Last nap of the day gets pushed too late in the day
How to transition from three to two naps
These signs can also be signs of a sleep regression tied to development, so we want to continue offering that 3rd nap for a minimum of 2 weeks before dropping it. Once baby has consistently refused the 3rd nap of the day for a minimum of 2 weeks, you can transition from 3 to 2 naps. To transition to 2 naps, slowly push naps in 15 min increments every two days until you're on your new 2 nap schedule.
Be sure to follow age-appropriate wake times when adjusting baby's schedule. See this post for help determining wake times
If you need help getting through a nap transition or have any sleep questions, set up a free 15-minute consultation with me to discuss!