Is it okay to drop the nap at 18 months?
If you’re asking the question: “Is it okay to drop the nap at 18 months?” You have probably been debating the idea for a while but some odd aunt in your life just keeps gasping and telling you it’s too early. Accurate, right? 🤪
Despite what every opinionated person in your life has to say, YOU know your baby best. It can be hard to remember that. Western culture would have us believe otherwise !! You’re even here reading this post hoping someone outside of you will be able to give you a straightforward answer. Sorry sis…. your intuition is king (ahem. Queen.). But don’t worry. While I can’t tell you exactly what your child needs right now (unless of course you booked a consultation), I can absolutely offer some guidance for the burning question:
Is 18 months too early to drop a nap?
Let’s get into it!
If you’re wondering when babies drop naps in general, you can check out this post. But all generalities require a huge disclaimer: EVERY CHILD/ADULT HAS UNIQUE SLEEP NEEDS & TEMPERAMENT. Anyone who makes you feel like your baby is sleeping too little or too much is simply….trying to sell you something. No actually. I’ve had countless conversations with moms who look back and realize their sleep “problems” got started when they stumbled upon an unamed blog with rigid ideas of a baby dressed up very friendly. IYKYK. They got convinced their child was not sleeping enough and chronically overtired (but actually just super annoyed they were being forced to sleep. And so it began. This was literally our story back before I became a certified BLSWS, but alas, that’s a story for another day.
Okay back to it. Just like there is a general amount of sleep adults need to thrive, there are always outliers. For example, that corporate guy who only needed 5 hours of sleep (low sleep needs), or that barista who genuinely needs 11 hours of sleep (high sleep needs). No one is telling them that they better follow the group or else (no one knows exactly what).
Same applies to babies and toddlers. But how do sleep “experts” make money if not by convincing you something must be wrong and they have the answer. It’s a 10 billion dollar industry. I literally make money by helping people undo that ideology and get to the root if a genuine sleep red flag is present. It’s insane !!! But I digress.
POINT IS: Your child is a strong beautiful individual with their own unique sleep needs. You’ve been paying attention. What are you noticing?
Signs your 18, 19, 20, etc month old might be ready to drop their nap:
Fighting sleep? They’ll take a two hour nap once you convince them to sleep but it’s the same circus at night
Split nights? Their daytime sleep is taking the place of some nightime sleep and they don’t have enough sleep pressure for a continuous night.
Early rising? Sleep pressure…
False starts? Sleep pressure…
Restless sleep? Sleep pressure…
No longer showing tired signs? Sleep pressure…
They can make it through the day happy (with expected hard emotional moments still)
You’ve been consciously or unconsciously anticipating a drop. Moms are ninjas.
You’re both ready to fight when it’s time for rest because they’re not tired and you aren’t ready to lose your only alone time in the day. Trust me. I GET it.
If that last point is speaking to you, hope for a peaceful hour is not lost. You know what’s coming so before you scoff at me - Quiet time isn’t going to start off strongly. I know this! Start with 5 minutes. Play an audiobook, make a cozy corner, bring tea & snacks, lay out a couple book options, use a visual timer if you’d like. I don’t recommend art supplies unless you are supervising or using magic markers. You can increase the time as you feel they are ready. Asking a toddler of any age to sit still for long periods of time is not what we are aiming for. Offer stretches they can try or other forms of restful movement.
If you are unfamiliar with the term “quiet time” It just means down/restful time for your little and you. It’s totally not required but can be a helpful tool for an afternoon reset.
How are you feeling? Initial reactions? Listen to those. It’s your intuition talking. If you think it’s time, check out my post on supporting nap transitions. Still unsure? It may take some trial and error. Big emotional developmental leaps are happening at 18 months. They may just need some time to adjust. They may even drop the nap for a few days and then come back to it. That’s okay!
If you are suspecting they are ready because they are still experiencing night wakes, I wouldn’t make a move to drop the nap. Night wakes are normal throughout all of toddlerhood. & beyond if we are being honest. Bad dreams happen, we need drinks of water, we heard a noise, a bug crawled on the bed. There are a million reasons adults wake at night. Toddlers have even more reason to.
Wanting to dive in deeper? I’ve got a toolkit for ya!
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Navigating Early Rising Guide – Learn why early wakeups happen and how to gently adjust your baby’s rhythm.
Transition from Bed-Sharing to Independent Sleep Space – Respectful strategies to support your little one through this big change.
From Mom to Bassinet — elaborating on the transition strategies.
Walking Through Nap Transitions – Navigate the tricky stages of dropping naps with ease and confidence.
Cat Napper Guide – A practical approach to handle short naps while staying connected with your baby.
Make Changes Without Sleep Training – Gentle solutions to improve sleep without cry-it-out methods.
Sleep Red Flags Guide – Identify signs of potential concerns in your baby’s sleep habits.
Involving Your Partner Guide – Tips and tools to bring your partner into the sleep and care routines.
Rhythm vs Schedule Guide – Understand the difference between following a rigid schedule and embracing natural rhythms.
Surviving Daylight Savings Guide – Ensure smooth transitions during time changes.
Matchmaking Child Care Guide – Find the perfect caregiver while preserving your child’s attachment and routines.
Calming the Sensory Seeker Guide – Strategies to support a sensory-seeking child in regulating their environment.
Sensory Seeking or Avoiding? – Identify your baby’s sensory needs and adapt your approach.
Easy Going Baby Guide
Strong-Willed Baby Guide – Tailored strategies for parenting babies with different temperaments.
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