Are you in the beginning stages of noticing your little one is in need of getting rid of their… LAST & FINAL nap?

Or maybe, you’re way PAST that stage, but ever since dropping the nap… your little ones nighttime sleep has been, awful!

Let’s Chat!

Dropping any nap can be difficult, but the transition to no nap can be one of the hardest stages a little one needs to conquer.

Learning to stay AWAKE for 11-12 hours straight, without any nap, is hard! So, lots of grace and dedicated time is needed!

Here we will discuss when it’s time to drop the nap!

WHEN TO DROP NAP

Typically, many parents, around the age of two begin to think their kids need to drop their nap, but… we want to see that we at least try and keep the nap until right before three, or age three! They still need 11-12 hours at night and 1-3 during the day!

So, when should you drop the nap?

Your little one begins to protest their nap
Your little one is taking great naps, but then, protesting bedtime.
Your little one naps, falls asleep at night, but wakes early.
Your little one has multiple night wakings, and this is new.

These above scenarios can happen at a regression, but if you see that they’re consistently happening and you’re little one is close to age three then, it’s probably time to start making the transition.

I say to keep a chart for 8-14 days and if nothing is changing… let’s begin to drop the nap!

HOW TO DROP THE NAP?

Keep a consistent wake up.
- Make sure to wake your little one up at the same time each day, but also, don’t allow them to get out of their bed until their designated wake time.
Get Outside & Baths.
- Playing outside, even in little burst of time, will help them stay awake during the day. Avoiding car seats and strollers during the afternoon hours, to ensure they’re not getting drowsy.
- Baths at any point of the day is a great change and encourages them to wake-up!
Early bedtime.
- Getting them in bed 1 hour earlier, than normal, helps them adjust easier to the BIG change. If they’re typically on a 7-7 schedule their bedtime will probably be 5:45-6pm for 2-3 weeks and getting closer to 7 by 4 weeks in.

Lastly, be sure to offer a quiet-time in their schedule to offer them time to lessen the overstimulation and still receive a mid-day break!