transitioning from 3 to 2 naps

LisaLisa1980

I started thinking why does my son sleep better at night on the weekends and it's because he doesn't nap like he does with me during the week. I know they say at this age they should have 3-4 hr naps in total a day, but for the past 2 days, I've tried either spacing out naps or not letting him nap when he wants (for example, I'd put him down for this regular 3 naps, but sometimes he'd take a quick 20 min snooze at 5pm) and surprisingly he has slept so well at night (only one wake up last night compared to the every 2 hours we've been dealing with!!!) Now, he did just finish a wonder week so it could be a coincidence, or he's gearing up for the 6 month growth spurt, but whatever, I'll take it!!  he's been in bed by 7pm for the past 2 days.

So, I'm wondering if I should eliminate the 2nd morning nap and just have him do first morning nap and then an afternoon nap. Is he too young for 2 naps? he'll be 6 months in 6 days. I realize it will be trial and error, but what are the signs that I should drop from 3 to 2 naps?

jannv11

In my experience with DD who is 7.5 months it depends on length of nap and night time sleep.  If she does a long morning nap I space out afternoon nap and put her to bed at 7pm and she sleeps great.  But on days her naps only last 30 mins I squeeze in a nap at 5pm and put her to bed later and she sleeps ok.  It's all trial and error and for me just when I figure her out she changes!.  Good luck! 

VPGIRL06

my DD has been on 2 naps since....idk like 4.5 months.  It just seemed to work out better for us, except for maybe a 2 week period around 6 months where she was teething/growth spurt/going through a mid baby crisis where we went back to 3 naps (2 ok ones then a quick cat nap in the stroller).  I think 6 months tend to be when they start to consolidate. It might be a coincidence OR it could be he wasn't quite tired enough for a full nap, but would take a quick one, then be tired enough for another quick one, etc and not getting the full rest that he needs. I do know when my DD wakes up in her morning nap and move around for 15 min before going back down for another sleep cycle, she's MUCH more tired than she is when she sleeps through that arousal period. 

i say try it out..if it works, it works! They change constantly, day to day, as you know

SLGILL1978

My daughter takes 1 hr nap in the mornings, 2-2.5 hour nap in the afternoons and sometimes at night she will take a 3rd nap. I only let her sleep for about 30 mins if she does that. If she tries to falls asleep after a certain time (i.e. 6:30 pm) then I keep her awake until at least 7pm. Then I feed her and put her to bed for the night. My daughter is 8 months and I was going to drop the 3rd nap when she turned 1. I agree with the above poster. I guess it depends on baby really.