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When Do Babies Transition to One Nap — and How To Do It?





Image Credits: Unsplash


In this article, I will be sharing when your baby drop to one nap and how can you help him to have one nap a day and how to switch to one nap daily.


As a new parent, you might worry about your baby’s developmental milestones.


If your baby is gaining a healthy weight, when will he begin taking his first baby steps or say his first words, what is normal and what is not is ultimately what the paediatrician recommends for your baby.


Your baby might sleep for less than 12 hours at a stretch, take fewer naps throughout the day, or go for a longer stretch of sleep at night.


It is important to plan your baby’s nap well as it impacts your schedules.


Your baby will drop cues when he needs to be transitioned.


Depending on the situation you are dealing with, you could decide to drop to one nap or not.


Here are some pointers to look out for.


Sleep less than 10 hours at night.


Have difficulty sleeping for about 2 hours at night several times in a single week.


Sleep past 9 pm.


Skip scheduled naps in morning or afternoon more than 4 times a week.

The length of daily naps is infrequent and relatively short.


Early waking or waking up in the middle of the night without an apparent reason.


You may not see all of these signs, probably one or two.



How do you make switch to a single nap without causing discomfort?


Plan to bring in this new routine.


It is important to understand that nap transition can be bumpy, and it usually takes about 2-3 weeks.


Try to group this switch to a 3-day cycle.


It might be hard to start initially.


If your baby expresses some issue with the sleep transition, it is a sign that you need to adjust.



Here are a few tips on how you can make a smooth switch to one nap.



Delay the morning nap by at least 30 minutes and push the mealtime along with it.


Even if your baby wakes up early, stick to this routine.


Let your baby stay in bed for 2 or more hours after he wakes up so that his nap time lengthens.


If your baby has a shorter nap time below two hours, you can push the bedtime early.


For example, 7.30 pm and 8.00 pm.


This helps to stop your baby from waking up early too.


Let your baby have two naps a day once a week if he is tiresome every day.


You can alternate the schedules so that the transition is smooth.


Once your baby is adapted to the one nap-a-day schedule, he sleeps for 11 or 12 hours at a stretch at night and 2 or 3 hours in the daytime.


You should wake your baby up early, so he has 3 or 4 hours of eating time and settle down early before the night time sleep.



Stay patient for this transition to happen, as it is not an easy process.


Avoid the rush, or this may cause your baby to be exhausted and remain sleepy for the whole day.



I hope all these pointers will help your baby to have one nap a day.





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Located alongside our childcare in Tampines is our Nurture Infant House. If you are looking for Tampines infant care or infant care in Tampines, do visit Nurture Infant House. It is for infants aged 2 months to 18 months old. You can learn more about our infant care Tampines here.


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Genesis Childcare 1989 (Playgroup to Kindergarten 2)

Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-63/65 S(520433)



Nurture Infant House (2 to 18 months Infants)

Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-61 S(520433)



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