Nap Dropping

These are averages. Every baby is unique and will drop their nap at a time that suits them. 

  • From 4 to 3 naps happens at around 5-7 months (Often the short, late afternoon nap is the first to go.) 
  • From 3 to 2 naps happens at around 8-10 months (Usually when the morning and midday naps consolidate, and the third nap becomes a battle.) 
  • From 2 to 1 nap happens at around 13–18 months (Often triggered by bedtime becoming too late or refusal of one nap.) 
  • From 1 to no naps happens at anywhere from 20 months to 3.5 years (Some toddlers drop naps earlier if they're sleeping well overnight, while others hand on to them longer.)

Parent Tip: 

There’s a huge range of normal. If your toddler suddenly starts fighting naps or bedtime feels impossible, it might be time to tweak nap timing, or transition altogether. But it’s also okay to wait and see. Nap transitions aren’t always linear! 

If your baby is within the above age brackets, the next step is to assess the bullet points below to see if there are any signs your baby is ready to drop a nap: 

  • Consistently refusing a nap (especially the last nap of the day) for 5+ days in a row 
  • Bedtime is getting later and later, or becoming a nightly battle 
  • Waking earlier in the morning than usual and struggling to go back to sleep 
  • Naps are getting shorter or more fragmented 
  • Taking a long time to fall asleep at nap or bedtime, despite being tired 
  • Overnight sleep is disrupted - e.g. split nights, long wake-ups, or restless sleep 
  • They’re still happy and coping well even if they skip a nap (a big clue!) 
  • Nap timing is getting harder to fit into your day without impacting night sleep 

Parent Tip: 

Nap transitions are a process, not a one-day switch. Watch for a pattern over a week or two, and trial changes gently, like capping a nap or pushing the first one later, before dropping it altogether. 

Sleep in the first three years is rarely linear. It’s full of growth, shifts, regressions, leaps, and surprises. And while the world may try to hand you rigid rules and “one-size-fits-all” solutions, the truth is: your baby is not a formula. They’re a whole human with their own temperament, nervous system, and evolving needs, and so are you. 

The beautiful thing is, you can absolutely adjust what’s not working, experiment with new rhythms, and support your baby to sleep better, in a way that aligns your parenting values. 

The key to success with sleep isn’t perfection, it’s knowledge and the ability to critically think about what does and doesn’t work for your child. Understanding the “why” behind your baby’s sleep can give you the clarity and confidence to navigate challenges in a way that feels grounded, flexible, and sustainable. 

You’ve got this.