When & How To Transition Your Baby From 3 to 2 Naps

In this video I'm sharing when you'll know it's time to make the change from 3 to 2 naps and exactly how to make the change! This is a tricky nap transition for your baby, but our goal is to help simplify each step so you feel confident and keep sleep a thing!
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[@kimberlycerrito7928]

My son (1st child) turned 6 months last week. He was sleeping wonderfully at night, and then the past couple of days, my husband and I have noticed a change. I think he's about ready to start this transition... I'm nervous to start, but this video has been very helpful. Thank you so much!!

[@hessaalswaidan9675]

that is so helpful, i will work on it for my 8 month old boy! thank you so much

[@carolhadley9268]

My favorite video on this so far! Thank you! Going to watch with my husband.

[@littlezsleep]

Thank you, Carol! So glad to hear this! ❤️

[@montymython754]

My almost 7 month old isn’t taking shorter naps or resisting naps but has had split nights the last 2 weeks where she is awake, babbling, For 1-2 hours in the middle of the night

[@emiliegottfridson6887]

Hi from Sweden! Thanks so much we have followed you since our babe was born! Does thus apply from 24 weeks or 6 months from due date?

[@orsolya6115]

Your videoes guide us through since 4 months of age and i really lobe them. About to start this transition. Still need yo implement your sleep training ( taking away the dummy) 😅.

[@littlezsleep]

So glad to hear this, Orso! Best of luck with the 3-2 nap transition! 💛

[@orsolya6115]

@@littlezsleep thank you! Yesterday we had to bridge the gap with a 20 minutes nap. We used to have her napping only 30 minutes but as of yesterday she seem to have managed an hour

[@kristinlaffrey]

I remember this transition so much with my second. It meant I no longer had that midday nap that aligned with my toddlers nap but the benefit was I got more 1:1 time with both of them 🥰 Loved this video, thanks Becca!

[@littlezsleep]

I love that!

[@saphiagegamyang1172]

Hello do you do phone consults ?

[@SimplyAnna]

Hi Becca! Thank you for this video!! Our little one is 10 months old and we had exactly this perfect nap schedule 3 months ago, but then traveled and ever since we've gone back to 3 naps. He sleeps about 11 hours at night (7pm-6am - THANKS TO YOUR GUIDE 🥳🥳🥳🥳), but we can't quiet get him back to his longer morning nap. How would you suggest adapting the wake windows with a 6am-7pm day? Again - Thank you so much!! 🥰

[@littlezsleep]

Hey Anna! With an 11 hour sleeper, you will want to spread that extra wake time through out the day. I would do wake windows of 2h50m/3h20m/3h50m

[@erinbell592]

Started this schedule today and it went beautifully with a 1 hour nap in the AM and 2 hour nap in the PM. I put him down 3.5 hours after 2nd nap and he was up 20 min later crying. Are false starts common when you go through this change and what do you do to stop these? Thank you!

[@emmaswords8354]

Thank you so much for this! My question is, when a nap hasn’t been as long as expected (just over an hour for example) do you still keep the nap times by the clock or by wake times? If we go by wake times it could make bedtime super early. What is best? Thanks!

[@littlezsleep]

Hey!!! Could you please email this into [e-mail] and we would love to offer more help and insight!! 💛Becca

[@riddhi-gh6qn]

Hi. Thank you so much for this video. It’s been very helpful. So my son is just turning 8 months. He’s been sleep trained and hence has been a great sleeper with 3 naps ever since he was 4months or so. But now I feel he’s ready to drop the 3rd nap. He’s generally up by 6-6.15 and takes 2 good naps. Though he’s done by nap 2 latest by 2-2.30pm and I will need to start pushing him to 7pm. At what time do to you recommend I do that during the last wake window. Just until he’s able to transition completely

[@littlezsleep]

Here is our 7-7 schedule for babies on 2 naps! 7AM out crib 2.5 hours awake 9:30-11AM Nap 1 (1.5 hours) 3 hours awake 2:00-3:30PM Nap 2 (1.5 hours) 3.25-3.5 hours awake 6:30PM bedtime routine (w/feed wide awake) 7PM in crib If you'd rather do a 6-6 schedule just shift the times according to the wake windows. If naps are short, we recommend a 15-30 minute early bedtime!

[@lauracampillo]

Same question here! Should I give her a 15 min nap between after she wakes at 3pm?

[@hannahs1823]

My little one has just turned 9 months old and has started showing 2 of the signs you mention…she has changed from sleeping 11.5 hours at night to 10.5 hours at night so she was waking up 6.30-7.00am and now is at 5.30am. How do you get out of this vicious early morning waking. She was on a 3 nap day totalling 3 hours 1.5 hour in morning 1 hour in afternoon and 30 mins at 4.00pm / 4.30pm

[@ritukazi3308]

Hello Becca, my 7 month old is showing all signs that he is ready to move from 3 to 2 naps, however I am wondering if adjusting those wake windows will get him overtired as he is currently used to 2 to 2.5 hours wake windows throughout the day. Should I gradually increase 10-15 mins each wake window or go cold turkey? How can I avoid him getting overtired?

[@littlezsleep]

Hey Ritu!! this is a great question and one we are asked many times! You will actually want to just jump right into the new awake windows. Know that it will be a few rocky days as everyone adjusts and as best you can use sunshine, music, toys and more to reach the awake windows! You're doing great!

[@lindsayjolivet]

Any tips for when short naps happen and the distance to bedtime is more than 3.5 hours? We have tried putting our 7 month old to bed as early as 6:30 but he can’t make it 12 hours until morning. On some days we end up with an awkward schedule with too much awake time for 2 naps, but a late bedtime (8-8:30) if we do 3 naps…

[@littlezsleep]

Hey Lindsay! A few things I would check into: is the room 100% dark, is baby falling asleep independently for naps, are you using wake windows of 2.5-3.5 hours throughout the day. We want to make sure that wake windows are long enough so that baby is tired enough for a long nap

[@chelisa427]

Thank you--so helpful! But what do you recommend if, say, both the first and second naps are short, like only 45 minutes? With the wake windows you suggested, baby wakes up from second nap at 2:00. I often end up in this strange period around 5:30 where baby's very ready for sleep, but it's too late for a nap and too early for bed.

[@littlezsleep]

Great question! In that situation I would look into the nap environment and how baby is falling asleep! Is the room 100% dark, even a little bit of light can affect naps. How is baby falling asleep? If baby is relying on a prop (rocking, drowsiness, paci...) they will wake up looking for that thing to put them back to sleep.

[@chelisa427]

@@littlezsleep Thanks! In this case, though, would you recommend putting down for a third nap and extending bedtime a bit later, or keeping awake and going to bed much earlier?

[@Meg-eq2md]

​@@chelisa427 this is what my little one is doing most of the time. What did you find worked out the best? FTM here and clueless in which is best 😅

[@reebavarghese614]

Hi ,I am also at that stage . did you find any solution for this ?

[@LifeofAllysen]

I have a 5 month old who has been FIGHTING the last nap for at least a month now and her naps are ridiculously shortened compared to how they used to be. Currently she is wide awake when she should be asleep for her last nap and I’ve been debating if going to 2 naps now would be too early but at this point with the constant battle, I’m thinking we are just going to go for it

[@littlezsleep]

Every baby is different when it comes to nap transitions! We recommend making the 3-2 nap transition between 6-8 months of age! If your little one is a week or so out from turning 6 months old, I'd say go for it!

[@SannaKarlin]

Hi! Our baby is 7,5 months old and still takes 4 naps a day at about 4 hours total sleeptime. Is it best to get him down to 3 naps of 3 total hours of daytime sleep or should I do the 2 naps straight away? He is usually only able to be up for 2 hours before wanting a nap and his bedtime is usually late so he can somewhat sleep thruogh the night, going to bed at 9-10 pm and waking up at 6-8 am. Any advice? 😊

[@littlezsleep]

Hey there! I would recommend my Baby Course! Through this step by step plan you can jump right into the two nap schedule and 11-12 hours of night sleep. It will take a few days for him to adjust to these wake windows, but it will allow him to have more restorative, consolidated sleep! littlezsleep.com/baby

[@yeinmyrangel2217]

Hi Becca! Thank you for this video!! I think my 7 months is ready for this transition as he's been waking up around 4:40am since over a week ago. Usually I wait for him to fall back asleep but he doesn't, so when I come to check he has had wet himself (this is the last 4 nights), so need to change clothes, after which it might be nearly 5am, I put him on the breast trying him to snooze back but he doesn't. So basically he's awake since 4:40am until nap time that at the most is by 7:30am. Today he only managed to arrive to 7 and as you said, only slept 30 min. My question is, how I do to get him back asleep at 4:40am (when he wakes up naturally or after being changed from the wet clothes) so he can sleep up to at least 6am??

[@littlezsleep]

Hey there! First, I would recommend using overnight diapers or diaper inserts, so that your little one doesn't wake up wet and can make it the whole night 11-12 hours without feeling wet! If your little one sleeps independently, you could do a simple diaper change before 4AM, and then put him/her back down to sleep for the remainder of the night! Early morning wakings can be a sign that it's time to drop a nap, especially if your little one is sleeping prop free. At 7 months we recommend the 2 nap schedule with 3 hours of total daytime sleep! If your little one isn't sleeping independently, prop-free, then those early mornings may still happen after the nap transition, so I recommend looking into our Baby Program! 💛 www.littlezsleep.com/baby

[@leahboemerman978]

My child only sleeps 11 hours at night. The last wake window would end up being 4.5 hours. How do I adjust for a 6 am - 7pm schedule?

[@littlezsleep]

Hey Leah! You can add 20 minutes to each wake window

[@michellersd]

Hi, I love your videos. I been watching them since my baby had 4 months old. Now have 8 months everything have been great, she is starting to give signs that can be 3 hours awake. My doubt is if she sleeps in the car during the 3 hours awake period, what I have to do? Start counting the 3 hours period after she wake up or something else?

[@littlezsleep]

Hey, Michelle! If your little one falls asleep and takes a short cat nap (5-10) minutes in the car, you can wake her up once you are home and plan to offer her nap 30-45 minutes later!

[@darlingrondine8]

Maybe stupid question? If we offer a 3rd quick 15 minute nap to ge them through till bedtime - does that mean the 3.5 hr WW starts after that nap or if not, how long of a WW till bedtime? TIA!!!!!! This has been most helpful!!!

[@taramacphee9093]

I wondered this as well.

[@littlezsleep]

If you offer a 15 minute cat nap to bridge the gap during the first few days of the transition (we only recommend doing this days 1-3), we suggest offering it around 3-4pm and then doing a full 2-2.5 hour wake window after the cat nap before bedtime! Each child responds differently so it's not a hard and fast rule. Generally we suggest offering an early bedtime instead of a cat nap, if nap 2 is short!

[@Emilyplek06]

My son is 7,5 months and is been on 2 nap schedule (2,5/3/3,5 but adjusted depending on his wake up time) from almost 6 months of age, so almost 2 months now. He was doing great just until 5 days ago when he started to refuse the second nap,i mean not wanting to nap at all,just screaming in the crib. I tried to rock,breastfeed, nothing worked. Yesterday i just let him cry for about one hour hoping he will eventually sleep but nothing. He is an independent sleeper, the environment is dark,with white noise,right temperature. The first nap is so far like always, meaning 1h10 up until 2 hours when i usually have to wake him up. We usuaIly go by wake windows, he is a 11 hours night sleeper ,and his wake up time is in the 6:15-6:45 interval. I dont know what could be causing it and how to resolve it. And also , I read the comments..is it better to go by specific hours for naps ( like 9:30 and 14 pm) or by wake windows? Because my son does not nap for 1,5 hours exactly for each nap,it may be different lenghts each day.

[@littlezsleep]

Hey Mama! We would love to dig in deeper with you to get things back on track! Would you mind emailing in to us at littlezsleep.com and we would love to help! Thanks!! 💛 Becca

[@DiiMiii]

Hi Becca, my daughter is now 7 months old and we are in that 3 to 2 naps transition. She can actually manage those wake windows quite well during the day. I put her at 7/7:30 pm to sleep but she wakes up about 6-7 times at night (she has never been the best sleeper) and i have to say that i nurse her to sleep so i guess thats the problem. The last week she wakes up in the middle of the night and has a very hard time to be put down to sleep sometimes it takes 1-2 hours to put her back down to sleep and i have no idea why. In 24 hours she sleeps about 12 hours, so could it be that she‘s not tired enough during the night?

[@littlezsleep]

Hey Mama! It sounds like your little one is ready to learn how to self soothe through the night all on her own! Please check out our Baby Sleep Course at littlezsleep.com/baby and then don't hesitate to reach out to us at [e-mail] if you have any questions at all! We are here to help make sleep a thing for your little one and family!! 💛 Becca

[@thewisehobbit]

what is your baby habitually has 1 longer nap and then a short one? If the short one is the 2nd nap, do you still keep them up a long time and keep them from the third nap?

[@littlezsleep]

Hey, Christina! If your little one takes a short nap 2, you may need to offer a short cat nap on the go before bedtime! Otherwise, we recommend offering a 15-30 minute early bedtime to offset any overtiredness from the short nap!

[@deleishi6425]

What about if he had a shorter nap for the first nap? Should I stretch him to nap at 2pm for the second anyways?

[@littlezsleep]

Hey there! If you are transitioning to 2 naps, then you will follow wake windows. If it has been a while you have been on this schedule, you can keep the second nap at 2!

[@Saltuwai16]

Hi Becca! I have twins and they are 8 months now and showing all the signs.. they sleep independently the room is 100% dark I’m worried that I won’t be able to keep them on the same schedule if one of them has a shorter nap or one of them wouldn’t go to sleep😕 Also, what about feeding schedule? They are used to having their bottles every 3 hrs but if their wake window is three hrs how will I fit it in their schedule Thanks

[@littlezsleep]

Hey there, Sarah! Thank you so much for watching this video and reaching out! These are great questions and we'd love to help you and your sweet twins in greater detail. Could you please copy/paste your comment above and email it to [e-mail]? 💛 Thank you!!!

[@CrzyNia]

I’m starting to see this transition with my 5 month old. But I’ve seen the 2 3 4 method and he’s refused the third nap 😴 and we couldn’t even get him to lay down but did get like 20 minutes or so of sleep. If he wakes up at 6 am or 6:30am do you need to lay him down for bed at the time they rise in the morning?

[@littlezsleep]

Hey there, Shania! Generally, bedtime will be 11-12 hours after their AM rise time! So if he wakes at 6:00AM, then he will likely be ready to go down for the night between 6-7PM!

[@havamushayev4644]

Hi! My baby is 7.5 mo now and we had started doing the transition from 3 to 2. However, sometimes he takes a two hour naps which result at total of4 hour day sleep. Then, he up earlier in the morning since he slept too much during the day. Any tips ?

[@littlezsleep]

Hey there! We would want to cap your little one's naps to 3 hours max! This could look like a 2 hour morning nap and a 1 hour afternoon nap or 1.5 hours for each! You might have to wake him up and that is okay! If you would like to dig in deeper about this, you can always email into us at [e-mail] and we would love to help! 💛 Becca

[@brandyboahn7319]

Is it normal for babies sleep to get worst during this transition at least in the start?

[@alisapastushkov449]

Hello Becca, will you post a 4-3 naps transition video? Trying to get my 5 monthly old to do 3 naps instead of 4. Thank you!

[@littlezsleep]

Hey Alisa!! I have a video on 4 months and 5 month schedules so that’s exactly what you’ll need to gain the understanding of increasing their awake windows! 👏🏻

[@lydiasmith3060]

So what if my baby always wakes around 6 am and only naps for 2.5 hours nap 1 and 2 together. It would be a 4 hour wake window before nap which is (for the transition) way too long. What I’ve done before is have him nap for 15 min after 3 hours at 5pm and then put him down at 7. but not sure how to stop that cycle. WW1 is 2.5 hours, WW2 is 3 hours. Can’t really handle more than that at this point.

[@littlezsleep]

Hey, Lydia! If you are struggling with short naps, I highly recommend my short naps video kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJu4q5efYpyYosU. A nap transition, especially the 3-2 nap transition, typically takes 4-6 weeks to iron out! If your little one takes two, shorter naps while she is adjusting, I recommend offering a 15-30 minute early bedtime to offset any overtiredness! 😴

[@christiannalewis6514]

You mentioned that there may be some short naps during the transition period. How do you handle that? Give them 20 min to try to fall back asleep, then start the clock for next wake window?

[@littlezsleep]

Exactly!

[@christiannalewis6514]

Your explanation of using brief drowsiness outside the crib to help with the nap transition blew my mind 🤯 genius!

[@Meg-eq2md]

How did your little one react to the leaving them for 20mins with no checks after they woke up from a short nap? I have tried multiple times but my daughter gets so upset that the rest of the day is utter cranky chaos until bedtime. She is normally very happy and easy going :(

[@christiannalewis6514]

@Meg-eq2md at first she cried almost the full 20 minutes. Fell back asleep after about 19 minutes and 30 seconds! Sometimes she fell asleep literally as I was walking down the hall to go get her up. But she did usually fall back asleep. There were a couple times she didn't, and we had to do a 3rd catnap to bridge the gap, like it says

[@agritaprazdnicane2750]

Hello! Thank you so much for this video. Started today. Well..First nap went not too bad. But the second nap...Tried after 3 hours.. screamed like for 30 minutes...Than stopped..and she is awake now for 4 hours.. waiting for that 2nd nap to happen. Is it also something normal? Thank you

[@littlezsleep]

Hey there, Agrita! Our support team would love to troubleshoot naps with you! Could you please copy and paste this to them? [e-mail] 💛 Thank you!!

[@agritaprazdnicane2750]

Thank you!

[@riddhi-gh6qn]

Hey. So my baby just shifted to this nap schedule. He almost months. Though the naps have become short & broken. He can’t stay asleep for the whole 1.5hours without our help. Will that eventually settle ?

[@littlezsleep]

Hey! This transition does take a good 4-6 weeks for their little bodies to full adjust so hang in there! If you would like more guidance or insight on this, feel free to email in to us at [e-mail] and we would love to help!! 💛 Becca

[@jaceeloufit5831]

So my baby got woken up after 30 minutes and is awake but super grumpy. Not the first time this has happened during our transition. What is the best way to combat that for the next 3 hours? We try to get him back to sleep but once he is awake, he is awake!

[@Meg-eq2md]

Going through this now! Did you manage to find something that helped? Any tips 🙈

[@user-pc3vl1ts1y]

My 8 month old wakes up 6 am… how do I put her on the 2 nap schedule ? I keep her up to 9:30 am for morning nap and it’s SO hard she is exhausted :(

[@littlezsleep]

Hey Mama! Would you mind emailing into us at [e-mail]? We would love to dig in and help with these early morning wakes! 💛 Becca

[@lydiaohlman3518]

This might be a silly question.... Is my baby still supposed to be eating during the night at 6-7 months?

[@littlezsleep]

Hey Lydia, great question! We recommend dropping all night feedings by 6 months of age if your little one is on track with weight and taking full feedings every 2-3 hours during the day, unless it's recommended by your pediatrician to keep it!