The 2 to 1 Nap Transition
Updated
Quick answer: Most toddlers move from 2 naps to 1 between 13 and 18 months. A good sign is refusing one nap most days for 1–2 weeks. On 1 nap, the nap usually starts around 11:30 am–12:30 pm and lasts 1½–2½ hours, with an earlier bedtime during the switch.
Signs your toddler is ready
- Refusing the morning or afternoon nap most days for 1–2 weeks.
- Taking a long time to fall asleep for one of the naps.
- Short naps that used to be long.
- A bedtime pushed late by the second nap.
How to make the switch
- Push the morning nap 15–30 minutes later every few days until it starts around 11:30 am–noon.
- Cap the nap at about 2½–3 hours so bedtime doesn’t get pushed late.
- Use an earlier bedtime (6–6:30 pm) for the first couple of weeks.
- Expect the switch to take 2–6 weeks. Some days will still need 2 naps.
Sample schedules: before and after
Based on a 7:00 am wake-up.
2 naps (12–14 months)
| Time | Event | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Wake up | |
| 10:15 am – 11:15 am | Nap 1 | 1h (after 3h 15m awake) |
| 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Nap 2 | 1h (after 3h 45m awake) |
| 7:45 pm | Bedtime | after 3h 45m awake |
1 nap (12–14 months)
| Time | Event | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Wake up | |
| 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm | Nap 1 | 2h 30m (after 5h awake) |
| 7:15 pm | Bedtime | after 4h 45m awake |
Common questions
Is 12 months too early for 1 nap?
For most toddlers, yes. Nap refusal around the first birthday is common and often temporary — see the 12-month sleep regression.
What if daycare moves my child to 1 nap early?
Use an earlier bedtime on daycare days, and a 2-nap or longer-nap day at home if your child needs it.