Parenting, Sleep

Outgrowing naps — what’s normal as your baby grows?

As your little one gets older, their routine will naturally change. Longer stretches of night sleep usually mean they need less daytime sleep — and that’s completely normal.

Here’s a gentle guide — and I’ll say it again… ON AVERAGE. Every baby is different.

✨ Average daytime sleep by age:

• 0–3 months: ~5 hours over 4–5 naps
• 3–6 months: ~4–5 hours over 3–4 naps
• 6–9 months: ~3–4 hours over 3 naps
• 9–15 months: ~3 hours over 2 naps
Side note: From around 12 months, try not to let naps run past 3:30pm
• 15–18/24 months: 1 nap of about 2 hours
• 2–3 years: ~45–60 minutes, ideally in the middle of their day — not the clock’s

✨ Signs your baby may be ready to drop a nap:
• Taking longer to settle at night
• Becoming increasingly upset at nap time (especially later naps)
• Naps getting shorter and harder to achieve
• Refusing the last nap of the day

A gentle reminder — don’t rush dropping naps too early. Doing so can lead to overtiredness, more night waking, shorter naps and early morning starts.

When naps become tricky, your focus should be on adjusting the daytime routine, not pushing bedtime later. Night bedtime should stay consistent — it’s your anchor point.

Sleep needs evolve… and your little one will guide you as they grow

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