Hi Nappers!
Quick question: should you wake your baby from that glorious long morning nap?
It depends.
This week Sally and Bec break down the short/long nap schedule—when capping the first nap actually fixes things (second nap refusal, early rising, bedtime chaos) and when it just creates new problems.
You'll learn:
Why they always start with two equal naps (the OG schedule)
How to tell if your baby needs a short/long instead
The formula: 45-60 minutes for nap 1, not 30 minutes
Why redistributing sleep pressure protects bedtime and overnight
How to handle daycare when naps go sideways
Listen now, and forward this to the parent who's been trying to force two long naps for three months straight:
Listen Here or join us on YouTube:
SUBSCRIBER BONUS: The Schedule Breakdown 👇
As promised, here are the exact timings Sally and Bec discussed:
The OG Schedule (9-12 months - Start Here)
Nap 1: 9:30am - 11:00am (1.5 hours)
Nap 2: 2:00pm - 3:30pm (1.5 hours)
Bedtime: 7:00pm
Total daytime sleep: 3 hours
Short/Long Variation 1 (when you need to trim slightly)
Nap 1: 9:30am - 10:30am (1 hour - capped)
Nap 2: 1:30pm - 3:30pm (2 hours)
Bedtime: 7:00pm
Wake windows: 3 hours to nap 2, then 3.5 hours to bed
Short/Long Variation 2 (when you need maximum pressure for nap 2)
Nap 1: 9:30am - 10:15am (45 minutes - capped)
Nap 2: 1:15pm - 3:15pm (2 hours)
Bedtime: 6:45pm
Wake windows: 3 hours to nap 2, then 3.5 hours to bed
Key reminder: Start with the OG. Only move to short/long if your baby consistently refuses to take a decent second nap despite good sleep pressure and skills.
With you in the trenches,
Sally + Bec 💤