What Experts Say About When Do Babies Drop Morning Nap – Fun Facts That You Need To Know
In some of my research, experts are saying that there are signs when to drop the morning nap. But, the age of the baby may vary, depending on her resistance and energy during the day.
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Benefits Of Morning Nap
Brain development happens in the early childhood. When babies go to sleep in the morning, they experience REM sleep or having more dreams. More REM sleep means better cognitive development for the children.
A study by the Psych Central shows that babies with regular shuteye have more advanced emotional abilities than those who skip naps. Children deprived of sleep experience a decrease in their positive emotional responses and become cranky and more stressed. Moreover, overtired babies do not quickly go to sleep when night comes because of a drop in their temperament level.
Reasons Why Some Babies Resist Morning Naps
Despite the need to take a nap, there are times when your baby will resist the urge to sleep. She does not want to sleep because there are still many interesting things around her that she would rather do than shut her eyes.
There are also instances Morning naps are a challenge. When my baby was almost one year old, she was always resisting whenever it is time for her morning nap. The fight continues until the time for her nap is over and she did not sleep at all.
I tried getting her to sleep earlier or shortening her naps so she can have two in a day, but it was still the same battle for us. I was then wondering about when do babies drop morning nap.
Her room is not conducive for a short nap. The room temperature may not be comfortable, the crib beddings may be too rough, or it is too noisy around. Babies cannot easily fall to sleep in this atmosphere.
For some babies, having no mood to sleep is one reason to resist. Your child may say, “I’m not tired!” or “I’m not sleepy!” hence they choose to wake up rather than go to sleep.
Signs That Your Baby Still Needs Two Naps
The average transition period for children to have one nap is between 15-18 months old. However, there are still signs that your baby is not yet ready to change and would rather stick to two naps.
Before making the switch, observe the behavior of your child first. One of the signs that she is not yet ready is when she always falls asleep anywhere. Children can end up falling asleep after playing or talking and sleep for more than hour.
When babies are cranky and frustrated because of a missed nap, they are also not ready to drop a nap. If they become sleepy in the afternoon despite the long morning nap, they still need that extra dose of sleep.
When To Drop The Morning Nap
The standard schedule of nap dropping depends on the age of the child. Children 3 to 6 months can settle for 3 to 4 naps per day. Children 6 months to 1 year, they can already drop their naps to 2 to 3 naps a day.
A sign that your child is ready to drop a nap is when she does not fall asleep quickly when riding a car early in the day. Even if she misses a nap, she continues to have an active and happy mood until the next sleep.
When it is time for a morning nap, your child may take a longer time to sleep. She also resists sleeping and does not go to bed at all. There are times when she may sleep in the morning but fail to close her eyes during the afternoon.
When bedtime comes, she can sleep for a longer and uninterrupted time until the morning. The usual number of sleeping hours for children is 11 hours. There are also times when she refuses to take another nap when she slept for a longer time in the morning.
But, before you decide to switch after seeing the signs that your baby is ready, give it a few weeks observation. If there is a consistency in the signs, you can start dropping of the other nap.
Surviving The Big Change
Once your child is ready to drop a sleeping schedule, take it slow. There are adjustments that your child needs to go through and to rush things up will overwhelm your child emotionally and even physically.
Transitioning does not mean strictly having reduced sleep time starting from day 1. Be open to changes such as allowing her to sleep more than once even if she only needs one nap.
During the transitional time, here are some tips you can follow
- Shorten the morning nap. You can adjust the nap schedule a little later than the usual, so there is reduced time in sleeping.
- Make bedtime early. It will lessen the time interval between the nap and bedtime, so your child does not get too tired in between.
- Allow quiet resting time in the afternoon or the morning. Instead of a full sleep, you can encourage your baby to lay down the crib and rest quietly. She does not need to sleep but only to relax her body from play.
- Sleep with your baby. Snuggling and getting close can help soothe the emotional adjustment your child is going through. Your touch can give him comfort as he tries to sleep.
- Be patient and never get angry. The change in her sleeping habits will make her do a lot of wacky things. You need to be patient and understanding from day 1 to help her get through successfully.
- Read to her a story. Your baby will relax during story time and will keep her quiet. Add soft music to the background for a more peaceful atmosphere.
Conclusion
It was a challenge for me to change the sleeping habits of my baby. I tried several times to switch, but there are instances when my child refuses or gets overtired. After knowing the facts and understanding its benefits to my baby, I was motivated to follow through.
Observe your child’s sleeping habits as well as emotional responses and evaluate if she is ready for the change. Be mindful of your child’s condition first despite what the general timeline tells you.
How was your experience the first time you tried to drop the morning nap? Tell me your stories in the comments below.