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Top parenting stories this week
Changing from Two Naps to One
Is your child ready to drop his morning nap? Here’s how to make the transition from two naps to one.
by: Elizabeth Pantley
In This Article
Dropping a Nap
- Most children switch to one nap between ages 12 and 24 months.
- Your baby’s temperament can be affected by dropping a nap too soon.
- If he naps well for one of his naps, but totally resists the other, he may be ready to switch to one a day.
- Choose a single naptime that is later than the usual morning nap, but not as late as the afternoon nap.
- Keep your child active until about 30 minutes before the naptime you have chosen.
ost children switch from two naps to one between ages 12 and 24 months. Here’s how to tell if your child is ready to drop his morning nap:
Why babies need two naps
The question of two naps versus one is about biological needs. Naps at different times of the day serve different purposes in brain development as babies age. Morning naps involve more dreaming, or REM sleep, making them crucial for infants and young babies. Younger babies require more REM sleep than older babies and toddlers because of the type of brain development that occurs in the early months. The younger the baby, the more important the morning nap.
Your baby’s temperament can also be affected by dropping a nap too soon. The older your child is, the longer he can go between sleep breaks without getting cranky, but it’s important to monitor his behavior to make sure he is really ready to transition to one nap a day.
