Hi Nappers!
Your nights are finally sorted. Baby's self-settling like a champ. And now you're staring down nap time thinking: where on earth do I even start?
This week Sally and Bec break down their exact system for nap training. Not the all-at-once chaos approach. The strategic, staggered method that protects your hard-won nights while building daytime skills one nap at a time.
You'll learn:
Which nap to train first for 3-nap vs 2-nap babies
Why starting with nap 2 (not nap 1) protects your nights
The rescue plan when things go sideways
Why nap 3 stays fully assisted until the very end
What to do when baby falls asleep in the last 10 minutes
Catch the full ep video here:
Or Listen now, and give yourself permission to keep that third nap fully assisted. That's the plan.
Nap Trapped subscribers get a breakdown of the full Nap Training Protocols we cover in the episode below 👇
💤 Subscriber Bonus: The Nap Training Protocols
The 3-Nap Strategic Order:
Start with nap 2, not nap 1. If the first nap fails, your whole day collapses—feeds shift early, subsequent naps get choppy, and you're forced into an early bedtime that threatens your nights. Instead:
Nap 1: Fully assist (rock, feed, whatever gets it done)
Nap 2: Active training using your bedtime technique
Nap 3: Your rescue plan—always fully assist
The Two-Step Progression:
Step 1 is falling asleep independently (even if just one sleep cycle). Use a 5-minute wind-down, then treat it exactly like bedtime. This usually clicks within 1-2 days.
Step 2 is linking the sleep cycle. When baby wakes at 45 minutes, continue your technique. They may fuss for 20-40 minutes initially before falling back asleep. This takes 3-5 days to consolidate.
The Capping Rule (This Feels Brutal But Is Essential):
Scenario: Baby fusses through nap 2, finally falls back asleep at 2:07pm. Your scheduled end time is 2:15pm.
You still wake them at 2:15pm.
Why? If they sleep until 3:20pm, nap 3 timing becomes impossible. You'd be looking at a 5:50pm third nap, 6:20pm wake up, and 8:20pm bedtime. Your schedule derails and nights suffer.
By capping at 2:15pm, you protect nap 3 timing and bedtime consistency. Tomorrow's nap 2 will be better because baby has more sleep pressure built up.
For 2-Nap Babies (9-12 months):
Start with nap 1 instead. It's easier (residual overnight sleep pressure) and the 90-minute window (9:30-11:00am) provides buffer. Even if baby takes 45 minutes to settle, you still get 45 minutes of sleep and can maintain your 3-hour wake window to nap 2.
Your Action Steps:
For 3-nap babies:
Fully assist nap 1 for now
Begin nap training nap 2 (wind down + bedtime technique)
Keep nap 3 as your rescue—fully assisted always
Once nap 2 falls asleep reliably (2-3 days), work on cycle linking
When nap 2 consolidates, transfer to nap 1
For 2-nap babies:
Start with nap 1 (easier win)
Fully assist nap 2 until nap 1 consolidates
Then apply same approach to nap 2
Key reminder: Give it a month to truly lock in. Naps take longer than nights, and that's completely normal.
With you in the trenches,
Sally + Bec 💤