How many naps does a 6 month old take?

Around 6 months, most babies take about 3 naps per day, often starting to transition toward 2 naps as they approach 8 to 9 months.

When do babies drop to one nap?

Many toddlers transition from two naps to one sometime between about 15 and 18 months, though the timing varies from child to child.

Sleep basics

How Many Naps Does a Baby Need by Age?

A simple age-by-age guide — updated for 2026

One of the most reassuring things to understand about baby sleep is that naps follow a fairly predictable arc. Babies start out napping many times a day in short bursts, and over the first couple of years they gradually consolidate down to a single afternoon nap before eventually dropping naps altogether. Knowing roughly where your baby sits on that arc takes a lot of the mystery out of the day.

The numbers below are commonly cited general guidance, drawn from widely published pediatric-sleep resources. Every baby is different, so treat them as a map of the typical journey rather than targets to hit exactly.

The short version

NewbornMany short naps

3–4 months~3–4 naps

6 months~3 naps

8–9 monthsDrops to 2 naps

15–18 monthsDrops to 1 nap

Nap chart by age

Age	Naps per day	What's happening
0–2 months	Many (irregular)	Sleep comes in short bursts around the clock; no real schedule yet
3–4 months	~3–4	A rough rhythm starts to emerge; short naps are common
5–6 months	~3	Naps grow more predictable; the late nap starts to wobble
8–9 months	2	The third (late-afternoon) nap is usually dropped
9–12 months	2	Two fairly predictable naps, morning and early afternoon
15–18 months	1	Morning nap is dropped in favor of one midday nap
3–4 years	0–1	Many children gradually stop napping altogether

How the transitions tend to go

Nap transitions rarely happen overnight. They usually show up as your baby resisting a nap that used to go smoothly — refusing the third nap at 8–9 months, or fighting the morning nap around 15–18 months. A few bumpy days or weeks while the new rhythm settles is normal.

3 to 2 naps (around 8–9 months): the late-afternoon catnap is the first to go
2 to 1 nap (around 15–18 months): the morning nap merges into a single, longer midday nap
Dropping naps (often 3–4 years): naps fade out, sometimes replaced by quiet rest time

Wondering how long your baby should be awake between these naps? See our guide on wake windows by age.

This information is educational and not medical advice. Nap counts are general guidance and vary widely between babies. If you have concerns about your baby's sleep, talk with your pediatrician.

Signs your baby is ready to drop a nap

Consistently refusing or fighting one of their naps
Taking much longer to fall asleep at nap time or bedtime
A late nap pushing bedtime too late
Early-morning waking that wasn't there before

A single off day isn't a transition — look for a pattern over one to two weeks before changing the schedule.

The easiest way to see your baby's nap pattern

Whether your baby is "ready to drop a nap" is much clearer when you can see the last week at a glance rather than relying on memory. Logging naps makes the trend obvious — and takes the guesswork out of timing the next one.

Track naps without the mental load

Bubba logs every nap and shows your baby's daily total and pattern, with guidance tailored to their age — so nap transitions are far less of a guessing game.

Coming soon to the App Store →

Sources

Nap-count ranges reflect general guidance commonly published by pediatric-sleep resources and are presented as approximate. Total sleep context: American Academy of Sleep Medicine, "Recommended Amount of Sleep for Pediatric Populations" (endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics).