Hi Nappers!
You sent in the questions. Sally and Bec answered every single one — live, no notes, no prep.
This week's Sleep Detectives episode is a five-question sprint through some of the most common nap dilemmas we hear right now. Here's what's covered.
Can nap two be three hours after nap one instead of two and a half? Short answer: yes, if it's working. But the reason we default to two and a half hours is that a 20-minute nap one isn't a full sleep cycle. Go in too rested and nap two can actually get harder, not easier. There's also a clever reason the one-to-three window exists — it sets up the two-to-one nap transition so the body clock barely has to shift.
Second nap struggles at nine months Really common. Sometimes it's timing. Sometimes it's a preference for a long morning nap that bleeds into the afternoon. Either way, a bit of nap training is normal and expected — it doesn't mean you've done anything wrong.
Childcare naps maxing out at 20–30 minutes This one stings. Sally and Bec talk through what to ask the centre, what environmental tweaks can help (hello, singlet and warmer bag), and when the milk run power snooze on the way home is the right call. Early to bed is your friend on those days.
Lunchtime event clashing with nap time at five months Don't try to restructure the whole day. Use the pram, carrier or car and take the nap on the go. Five months is portable. And here's the thing — a baby on a consistent schedule is more adaptable than you think. Their body clock is doing a lot of the work even when the environment changes.
What to dress baby in for a 20-degree room with a 3.5 tog bag Singlet plus long-sleeve long-leg onesie is the starting point. Whether you use a 2.5 or 3.5 tog bag at 20 degrees is largely interchangeable if the room is temperature controlled. But monitor readings can run two degrees warm, and 4am is the coldest part of the night — so that third layer is often worth it. If the room dips below 16–17 degrees, it's merino wool time.
One extra layer really can change your whole night. Don't underestimate the singlet!
Sally and Bec x