Summary

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