3 to 2 Nap Transition
Most babies drop from 3 naps to 2 between 6 and 8 months. The third, late-afternoon catnap is usually the one to go, and wake windows stretch to about 2½–3½ hours. Expect a week or two of earlier bedtimes while your baby adjusts.
- Usually happens
- 6–8 months
- Naps
- 3 → 2
- Wake windows after
- 2½–3½ hours
Reviewed by Pediatric sleep consultant (TBC) · Updated 2026-09-25
Plan a 2-nap day
Next nap
9:30 am
after 2 h 30 min awake · typical 2½–3½ hours
See the whole day
- 7:00 am Morning wake-up
- 9:30 am Nap 1 · until 11:00 am
- 2:00 pm Nap 2 · until 3:30 pm
- 7:00 pm Bedtime
Get a reminder before 9:30 am. The Wake Windows app pings you when the window is closing and re-plans the day when naps run short.
When do babies drop to 2 naps?
Most babies are ready for the 3 to 2 nap transition at 6–8 months. Age is only a guide: watch for the signs below, and wait until you have seen them most days for a week or two.
Signs your baby is ready
- Refusing the third nap for a week or more.
- Bedtime getting pushed past 8 pm.
- Early morning waking, before 6 am.
- Fighting the first nap because the morning wake window is now too short.
How to make the switch
- Lengthen wake windows gradually, by 15 minutes every few days, toward 2½–3 hours.
- Aim for nap 1 around 9:30 am and nap 2 around 2 pm for a 7 am wake-up.
- Move bedtime earlier during the switch, to around 6:30 pm.
- On rough days, offer a short third catnap. Alternating 2- and 3-nap days is normal.
Common mistakes
- Switching before your baby can handle 2½-hour wake windows.
- Letting the second nap run late, which pushes bedtime back.
Before and after
Sample schedules for a 7 am wake-up
Before: 3 naps
Typical at 6 months · wake windows 2–3 hours
- 7:00 am Morning wake-up
- 9:00 am Nap 1 · until 10:00 am
- 12:20 pm Nap 2 · until 1:20 pm
- 4:00 pm Nap 3 · until 4:40 pm
- 7:40 pm Bedtime
After: 2 naps
Typical at 8 months · wake windows 2½–3½ hours
- 7:00 am Morning wake-up
- 9:30 am Nap 1 · until 11:00 am
- 2:00 pm Nap 2 · until 3:30 pm
- 7:00 pm Bedtime
During the switch, move bedtime 30–60 minutes earlier than the "after" schedule until your baby adjusts.
3 to 2 Nap Transition questions
When do babies drop to 2 naps?
Usually between 6 and 8 months.
How long does the 3 to 2 nap transition take?
Typically 1 to 3 weeks.
What does a 2 nap schedule look like?
For a 7 am wake-up: nap 1 around 9:30 am, nap 2 around 2 pm, bedtime around 7 pm.
What if my baby only naps 30 minutes on 2 naps?
Try adjusting wake windows by 10–15 minutes and use an earlier bedtime. Short naps often lengthen once the new rhythm settles.