In the first few months of their lives, babies do only two things – eat and sleep. In between these two activities, they do some other stuff too. And because they’re still developing, they need a lot of good nutrients. But as you will attest to, a well-rested baby is a happy baby.
However, for your baby’s body to function normally, you need to get them acquainted early with a sleeping and eating routine. As your little one grows older, you will notice that they sleep twice a day – once in the morning and once in the afternoon. With time, you would have to transition them into a one-nap sleep routine.
We know this can be a challenge, especially for new mothers. That’s why we’ve created this post to guide you through the process.
When Do Babies Shift To One Nap?
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As stated earlier, babies sleep twice. However, at around 12 and 24 months old, their sleep pattern begins to change to a one-nap schedule. This change can occur in different ways.
Most babies stop sleeping in the morning even though they need it. This lack of enough sleep can cause them to become grumpy and make them cry a little more than usual. Your situation might differ though, and your baby might transition without much difficulty.
Signs To Look For When Transitioning From A Two-Nap To A One-Nap Schedule
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Babies show some signs to indicate a transition in their sleep patterns. These signs show up between 12 to 24 months of age.
- Two-Week Timeline
You would notice that your baby doesn’t sleep in the afternoon anymore. Before you conclude this is a sign of transition, it must happen continuously for at least two weeks. Only then can you adequately evaluate the sleep pattern.
- Staying Up
Instead of sleeping, you will notice your baby staying up for hours, usually four. They can either stay awake quietly or not. This is a sign your baby is ready to make the transition.
- One Nap Refusal
When your baby begins to transition, they will refuse to sleep at one of their usual nap times. This could be any one of the morning or afternoon naps.
- One Nap Paradox
In this case, your baby might not be refusing to sleep despite your efforts to switch them to a one-nap schedule. This could be a sign of regression.
- Varied Lengths Of Naps
You will notice the amount of time your baby spends sleeping has changed. They can sleep longer in the afternoon and shorter in the morning, or vice versa.
To understand your baby’s sleep schedule transition, you need to look for these signs and monitor them for a few weeks.
Transitioning Your Child To A One-Nap Schedule
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The process of changing your baby’s sleeping pattern can be challenging. But once you get it right, your baby will fit comfortably into the new sleep routine.
In the early stages of the transition, your baby will go back and forth between taking one nap and two naps a day. You can ease this process by replacing the morning nap time with rest time.
During rest time, you can read to them, play white noise, or give a massage. The goal of these activities is to ensure they notice the difference between napping and resting. So, when they complete their transition, they will sleep longer in the afternoon.
When To Avoid Changing Your Babies Nap Routine
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Just like there are signs your baby is ready for the transition to a one-nap sleep schedule, there are also signs your baby isn’t ready for the transition. You should know the signs your baby isn’t ready, so you don’t force them into something they can’t handle.
- If your baby is between 11 and 13 months old, nap time transitioning might be a bit too early.
- If you make your baby take one nap a day, and you notice your baby didn’t sleep much at night or woke up early in the morning, it’s a sign your baby isn’t ready.
- If your baby just started to walk or talk, you should consider returning them to a 2-nap sleep routine. When babies’ cross new developmental hurdles, it alternates their sleep pattern for a while.
- If switching your baby’s nap time causes tantrums, crankiness, and fatigue, you should quit trying to change their sleep pattern.
The most important thing to note when changing your baby’s sleep pattern is to completely understand your baby’s needs. These guidelines will help you with the transition. For them to be effective, you would have to apply them as per your baby’s traits.
