"Should I drop a nap?" - the signs it's time (and what to try first)

Ah, the nap puzzle.

One day your baby naps like clockwork.

The next day, they treat the cot like it’s lava and bedtime’s a battle for the ages.

So you start to wonder: Are they dropping a nap? Or is this just a phase? Or is something wrong?

The truth about dropping naps? It’s rarely a clean switch.

Nap transitions are messy, age-dependent, and often come with false starts.

Here’s how to spot the signs it’s really time and what to try before you pull the plug on that precious nap.

First, why nap transitions matter

Sleep pressure builds through the day, and naps help release that pressure gradually, making nights easier and meltdowns less dramatic.

Drop a nap too soon?

You get overtired chaos.

Hold on too long?

You might end up with bedtime resistance, split nights, or those 4:30am “why is my child awake and cheerful?” mornings.

Timing it well can save your sanity (and theirs).

3 to 2 naps: usually around 6–9 months

Common signs it’s time:

• That third nap is getting later and messing with bedtime

• Baby resists the third nap altogether, but still sleeps well at night

• Middle nap becomes longer and more restorative

Try this first:

• Cap the third nap to 20–30 mins

• Gradually stretch awake windows before Nap 1 and 2

• Trial a two-nap day every other day to see how they handle it

  
  

💡 Don’t drop the third nap just because the internet says so. Some babies hang on to it happily until 9–10 months without it adversely impacting night sleep.

2 to 1 nap: usually around 13–18 months

Common signs it’s time:

• Baby starts skipping one of the naps (often the second) several days a week

• Bedtime is becoming a fight

• Night wakes creep in and feel linked to too much daytime sleep

• They take ages to fall asleep, even when clearly tired

Try this first:

• Cap one of the naps (usually the morning one) to 30–45 mins

• Alternate one-nap and two-nap days

• Move lunch a bit earlier on one-nap days and offer an early bedtime

  
  

💡 This transition often takes weeks and they may flip back and forth. That’s okay. It’s a process, not a switch.

1 to none (nooooo!): usually 2.5–3.5 years

Common signs it’s time:

• Your toddler takes the nap but stays up late at night

• They skip the nap and still survive the day (just)

• They start waking earlier in the morning on nap days

• Nap refusal becomes a regular event, not a one-off

Try this first:

• Introduce “quiet time” instead of a nap

• Keep the nap 2–3 times a week and adjust bedtime as needed

• Shift bedtime earlier on no-nap days to avoid overtired chaos

💡 Many kids still need a nap even if they don’t want one. Don’t rush to remove it completely unless nights are truly suffering.

How to know if it was the right move

Good signs:

• Bedtime gets smoother

• Nights improve or early wakes reduce

• Mood stabilises (relatively speaking, they’re still a toddler)

Signs it might’ve been too soon:

• Cranky afternoons

• Frequent wake-ups overnight (read: not enough sleep pressure)

• They conk out randomly in the car or stroller

Let Yawn take the guesswork out

Trying to nap-math your way through a transition is exhausting.

Yawn looks at your child’s age, sleep history, temperament, and routine, and helps you know when to stretch a window, cap a nap, or ride it out.

Because nap transitions aren’t just about timing.

They’re about context.

And Yawn is built for that.