https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 25 May 2026 22:34:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dropping-the-4th-nap#post-811556 Mon, 27 May 2013 18:55:54 +0000 Andrea 811556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My baby dropped hers right before 4 months. She just stopped falling asleep. I moved her bedtime up by 30 min when she dropped the nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dropping-the-4th-nap#post-811460 Mon, 27 May 2013 16:53:39 +0000 Mrswonderwoman 811460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been wondering this too. dS has been doing the 4 nap thing, and it's been killer for me. I end up wearing him in my wrap for at least one nap a day, and usually that's his best one (can be almost 2 hrs!) his naps in his crib took a nosedive at 4 months, so we are building back up from every nap being 45 mins, to today where we've had a good 90 min and 2 hr nap already. I'm trying to slowly slowly extend his awake time so that we can ditch one nap by the time he's 5.5 months. We will see if it works! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dropping-the-4th-nap#post-737512 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:43:36 +0000 hilsy85 737512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At now 6 months, we are getting into a routine of 3 naps. From 3 months to 6 months, LO was doing 4 naps--usually around 45 minutes each. It was KILLER. Honestly, we didn't do anything to make it happen, except extend his awake time to an hour and half/45 minutes, which he wasn't really ready for until 5.5 months. But mainly, I think he grew out of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dropping-the-4th-nap#post-737350 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:01:35 +0000 twoofeverything 737350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are JUST now transitioning to 3 naps at almost 5 months!<br /> I tried to drop the 4th nap too soon. My best advice is to wait until they start REALLY fighting that nap and/or stop acting tired in the late afternoon. I also had to combine dropping the fourth nap with some (additional) nap training...they have been habitual catnappers who sleep 30 minutes or less. I was only able to drop the 4th nap once I trained them to sleep for 1+ hours. But it sounds like you have that part under control! Lucky :-)<br /> Other tips:<br /> -I extended the awake time by 10-15 minutes over the course of several days, with their longest stretches being in the afternoon, (I would usually try to have them go about 2-2.25 hrs right before bedtime). In our case, that means they are done napping by about 4:45. Sometimes it's pretty brutal, so we do a lot of dancing, singing, and shenanigans to keep them semi-happy when they were getting tired.<br /> -Bedtime came early when we first dropped that 4th nap. They used to go down between 7-7:30, but for the last couple of weeks after dropping the nap, it has been more like 6:30-7. That didn't seem to affect their morning wake up time, thankfully!<br /> - There are some days where we just don't make it. On those days, they take a catnap for 20-30 minutes around 5pm. I'll let them doze in the swing, or I'll put them in the stroller and take a walk just so they can hang on until bedtime ;-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dropping-the-4th-nap#post-737305 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:50:47 +0000 NovBaby1112 737305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO dropped from 4 to 3 naps around 4 months i believe? Her awake time started increasing, and we noticed her naps were getting shorter and shorter and she was fighting going down like crazy, so we kept her awake slightly longer and her naps lengthened. At 3 months, her awake time was 90 mins and stayed that way for awhile until we increased them. Now she is up 2 hours/2 1/2 hours between naps and 3 at the most before bed. she is 5.5 months old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dropping-the-4th-nap#post-737160 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:12:17 +0000 Mrs. Deer 737160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all!</p> <p>I'm wondering when you all found you could drop down to 3 naps? My baby just turned 4 months old, and our timing seems to keep getting off. Either we're going to bed late by taking a 4th nap, or it seems way too early for bed if we skip it. Her first 2 naps are usually 1.5 hours and the last 2 just 30 minutes. Any of you ladies have any tips? Thinking I could try and extend her wake time a bit and drop down to 3? We don't have a strict schedule, she usually stays awake an hour before her first nap in the morning and about an hour and fifteen minutes for the others, ending with a longer chunk at night.</p> <p>How you knew it was the right time to drop naps? </p> <p>Thanks! :) </p>