Welcome to The Sleep Edit, the podcast that helps tired kids and parents sleep better. Each week, Dr. Craig Canapari and sleep consultant Arielle Greenleaf break down evidence-based strategies you can actually use. Why are nap transitions so confusing—and why do they so often derail nights? In Part 2 of our napping series, Craig and Arielle dig into the real-world challenges families face when moving from 3→2 naps, 2→1 nap, and eventually dropping naps entirely. Using concrete examples, sleep-need math, and practical troubleshooting, this episode explains exactly what to look for and how to navigate every transition with less stress. You’ll learn • How to know when it’s time to drop a nap • The signs of a nap transition vs. a temporary “nap strike” • Why total 24-hour sleep matters more than wake-window charts • What typical daytime sleep looks like for infants and toddlers • The sleep math behind transitions (high vs. low sleep-need kids) • How daycare schedules can derail naps—and what parents can control • Strategies for capping naps, shifting schedules, and preventing bedtime battles • When early morning awakenings actually signal too much daytime sleep Chapters 00:00:01 — Welcome & Episode Setup 00:01:07 — The 3→2 Nap Transition: When It Starts 00:02:48 — Biology of Sleep Drive & Late Naps 00:03:43 — Why Late Bedtimes Are So Common Now 00:04:59 — How Total Sleep Needs Shape Nap Schedules 00:06:32 — Wake Windows vs. Real Sleep Need 00:07:52 — Consolidated Naps & Nap Length Targets 00:09:41 — How to Use the Third Nap as a Bridge 00:11:06 — Example: Designing a 13.5-hour Sleep Day 00:12:59 — Signs It’s Time to Drop From 3→2 Naps 00:14:45 — Why Transitions Are Messy (and Normal) 00:15:56 — The 2→1 Nap Transition: Age & Signs 00:17:46 — Developmental Milestones That Disrupt Naps 00:19:06 — Case Example: Drew (13 Months) 00:20:57 — How to Start the 2→1 Transition Step-by-Step 00:22:54 — Shifting Nap Timing & Early Bedtime Strategy 00:23:56 — Tracking Sleep: Apps vs. Diaries 00:24:53 — Why Smart Monitors Often Mislead Parents 00:26:50 — When Nights Get Worse Because of Nap Issues 00:27:59 — The 1→0 Transition: What Truly Signals Readiness 00:29:18 — Daycare Nap Challenges & Parent Options 00:31:56 — Capping Naps to Protect Nighttime Sleep 00:33:30 — Nap Strikes vs. True Transitions 00:36:06 — Early Morning Awakenings & Too Much Day Sleep 00:38:30 — Final Thoughts & The Greenleaf Windows Links Napping spectacular episode 1 CIO episode of the Sleep Edit Dr. Canapari’s article on Le Pause Sleep training Period of purple crying Dr. Canapari's article on napping Dr. Canapari's article on sleep needs in children Dr. Canapari articles on the science of why children stop napping Arielle's website References Paruthi, S., Brooks, L. J., D’Ambrosio, C., Hall, W. A., Kotagal, S., Lloyd, R. M., Malow, B. A., Maski, K., Nichols, C., Quan, S. F., Rosen, C. L., Troester, M. M., & Wise, M. S. (2016). Consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on the recommended amount of sleep for healthy children: methodology and discussion. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 12(11), 1549–1561. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6288 Spencer, R. M. C., & Riggins, T. (2022). Contributions of memory and brain development to the bioregulation of naps and nap transitions in early childhood. PNAS, 119(11), e2114326119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2114326119 Staton, S., et al. (2020). Many naps, one nap, none: A systematic review and meta-analysis of napping patterns in children 0–12 years. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 50, 101247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2019.101247 Galland, B. C., Taylor, B. J., Elder, D. E., & Herbison, P. (2012). Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: A systematic review of observational studies. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 16(3), 213–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2011.06.001 Horváth, K. (2018). Spotlight on daytime napping during early childhood. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1238. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01238 Wolke, D., Bilgin, A., & Samara, M. (2017). Systematic review and meta-analysis: Fussing and crying durations and prevalence of colic in infants. The Journal of Pediatrics, 185, 55–61.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.02.020 Lavner, J. A., et al. (2023). Sleep SAAF randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 6(3), e236276. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.6276 Paul, I. M., et al. (2016). INSIGHT Responsive Parenting Intervention and Infant Sleep. Pediatrics, 138(1), e20160762. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-0762