Bedtime Shift
What changes
Three naps from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm leave awake stretches of 2 hr, 2 hr 10 min, 2 hr 20 min, 2 hr 30 min. Two naps from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm leave 2 hr 45 min, 3 hr, 3 hr 15 min: about an hour longer each.
Usually 5 to 8 months
The 3 to 2 nap transition, side by side
Most babies drop from three naps to two between about 5 and 8 months. On two naps each awake stretch grows from about 2 hours to about 3, the naps lengthen from about an hour to about 1¼ hours, and bedtime often moves earlier for a while: from 7:00 am, naps at 9:45 am and 2:00 pm and bed at 6:30 pm.
Your child’s day
The calendar file gives you two weeks of nap and bedtime reminders, 30 minutes ahead.
General information, not medical advice. Ask your pediatrician about your child's sleep.
| Child | Wake | Naps | Bedtime | Awake between sleeps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three naps | 7:00 am | 9:00 am to 10:00 am, 12:10 pm to 1:10 pm, 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm | 7:00 pm | 2 hr, 2 hr 10 min, 2 hr 20 min, 2 hr 30 min |
| Two naps | 7:00 am | 9:45 am to 11:00 am, 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm | 6:30 pm | 2 hr 45 min, 3 hr, 3 hr 15 min |
An earlier bedtime for a while
Without the late-afternoon nap, the last awake stretch runs long. A 6:30 pm bedtime keeps it to about 3¼ hours; type a later bedtime above to see how the day changes.
Make it yours
Change either sentence above: the age, the wake-up or the bedtime. Each lane refits its naps on its own, so you can try a day before committing to it.
Questions parents ask next
When do babies go from 3 naps to 2?
Usually between about 5 and 8 months. The planner uses three naps up to 6 months and two from 7 months.
What does a two-nap schedule look like?
From a 7:00 am start: a nap at 9:45 am, another at 2:00 pm, and bed at 6:30 pm, about 3 hours awake between sleeps.
Should bedtime move during the transition?
Often earlier for a while, so the last awake stretch is not too long. Try 6:30 pm in the second sentence and compare.
Can I print both days?
Yes. Print for the fridge prints both lanes, with every nap time.