I'm a pediatric sleep doctor, author, and in my day job I run the Yale Pediatric Sleep Center. I've been writing about pediatric sleep issues for tired parents since 2012. Join my newsletter to get the best information about sleep problems (and solutions) in children.
Why nap transitions feel impossible (and how to make them smoother)
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Hi everyone, Nap transitions are one of the most confusing parts of early childhood sleep. One week your baby is taking three predictable naps… and the next week everything is chaos. Naps get shorter, bedtimes get later, and suddenly you’re Googling “is my child dropping a nap??” at 3 AM. This week on The Sleep Edit, Arielle and I break down the messy reality of nap transitions — from 3→2 naps, 2→1 nap, and eventually the big one: dropping naps entirely. Using real cases, practical sleep math, and what we’ve learned from thousands of families, we explain:
If nap transitions feel like guesswork, this episode will give you a clearer path forward. 📺 Watch with timestamps on YouTube I think this two part series is the best work we've done so far on the podcast. If you like it, please share it with your friends. Thanks Craig Canapari MD |
Craig Canapari MD
I'm a pediatric sleep doctor, author, and in my day job I run the Yale Pediatric Sleep Center. I've been writing about pediatric sleep issues for tired parents since 2012. Join my newsletter to get the best information about sleep problems (and solutions) in children.
SUBJECT LINE: Quick update from last week: I sent you a quick note about holiday travel sleep survival and asked for your biggest worries. You responded—and wow, did you respond. Many of you shared your specific situations. Room-sharing chaos. Jet lag fears. The dreaded “driving home at bedtime” scenario. Disney trip panic. I read every single question and took representative examples and turned it into a comprehensive blog post. Your questions became the guide. Read the complete Holiday...
Here’s the truth about holiday travel and sleep: most of what you’re worrying about doesn’t matter. I get it. You’ve worked hard on your child’s sleep schedule. Maybe you just finished sleep training. Maybe you finally got consistent bedtimes working. And now you’re about to spend 3 days at Grandma’s house sharing a queen sized bed with a dog, a toddler, and a 14 month old who demands to exit the Pack N Play at 3am. You’re expecting disaster. But here’s what I’ve learned after 15 years of...
Hi everyone, Why do some toddlers nap like champs while others fight every rest? And how can parents tell when it’s time to drop a nap—or hang on to one a little longer? In this week’s episode of The Sleep Edit, Arielle and I kick off our Napping Spectacular (Part 1) by digging into the science of naps: How much total sleep kids really need at each age (AAP–AASM consensus) Why naps matter for mood, memory, and learning What brain development has to do with nap transitions When most children...