Is This Normal? A Real 9-Month Sleep Case Study with a Nanny

Is This Normal? A Real 9-Month Sleep Case Study with a Nanny

Author: Sally Woods and Bec Maher December 8, 2025 Duration: 37:54

Sally's all-access sleep platform Snooze is LIVE! Sign up before December 31 and get the REST OF 2025 FREE


A nanny reached out with a question we hear all the time: is it normal to keep waking my baby from that first nap? Sally and Bec unpack a real 9-month-old case study, breaking down when to cap naps, why overnight feeds might actually be a scheduling issue, and what to do when a two-nap schedule isn't quite clicking.


This episode also covers the moment they realized Nap Trapped made it into Spotify Wrapped (top 5%!), Sally's new all-access sleep platform Snooze going live, and why sometimes the best fix is going back to three naps temporarily.


What You'll Learn:

- When to wake a sleeping baby (and when to let them snooze)

- Why two overnight feeds at 9 months might not be hunger-related

- The OG schedule vs short/long schedule for 9-month-olds

- How to bring back a third nap to reset overnight issues

- Why the last wake window before bed matters so much

- Signs your baby needs schedule tweaks vs sleep training

- How nannies and parents can stay on the same page


Chapters:

00:00 Intro & Spotify Wrapped celebration

06:37 Case study: 9-month-old nap and overnight questions

08:19 Is it normal to wake baby from nap 1?

11:22 Why nap refusal doesn't always mean schedule change

15:01 The OG schedule vs adjusting wake windows

17:26 When to bring back a third nap temporarily

19:55 Overnight feeds: hunger or habit?

23:29 The four-hour rule for overnight weaning

27:40 Final thoughts for nannies and caregivers

34:31 Wrap-up & Snooze platform announcement


ABOUT NAP TRAPPED

Sally Woods and Bec Maher are baby sleep consultants who believe exhausted parents deserve real answers, not judgment. Each episode of Nap Trapped breaks down one sleep challenge with evidence-based advice and a healthy dose of humor.


Links

Get updates + exclusive tools: Subscribe www.naptrappedpodcast.com


Follow Sally & Bec on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thesleepconcierge/

https://www.instagram.com/_thesleepcentre/


Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts


Ever found yourself stuck on the couch, scrolling in the quiet, while your little one finally sleeps? You're not alone, and that's exactly where Nap Trapped finds its groove. Hosted by Australian sleep consultants Sally Woods of The Sleep Concierge and Bec Maher from The Sleep Centre, this podcast meets you in that exhausted, sometimes isolating space. It’s a direct conversation between two experts who are also mums, blending solid, evidence-based strategies with the real-world chaos of family life. They break down the 'why' behind restless nights and short naps, moving beyond rigid rules to offer adaptable, practical solutions that actually fit your day. The tone is all solidarity and zero judgment, recognising that every family's sleep journey is different. You'll hear honest stories, debunk common myths, and get actionable advice that aims to bring more rest to your household, not just your baby. Tune into Nap Trapped for a genuinely helpful mix of professional insight and relatable commiseration, all delivered with a warm, Aussie sensibility. It's the kind of podcast you listen to while you're, well, nap trapped, and finish feeling equipped and understood.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 82

Nap Trapped
Podcast Episodes
Busting the Myths: Spaced Feeding vs On Demand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:15
Exclusive Nap Trapped caps have dropped! Is spaced feeding starving babies? Or does it actually create better sleep and calmer days? After seeing a viral TikTok about breastfeeding “on demand vs spaced,” Sally & Bec brea…
Sleep Detectives (Q&A): Rolling Babies, 2–1 Naps & 6-Month Myths [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:10
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comRolling babies stuck on their tummies, confusing wake windows in the 2–1 nap transition, and the never-ending question: does the 6-mont…
The Golden Rules of Weaning Night Feeds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:15
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comYour baby skips a feed they “always” woke for—what now? Do you feed them earlier the next night, or hold the boundary and resettle? In…
Sleep Detectives Q&A: Catnaps, Night Feeds & Naps on the Go [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:47
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comIs it too late to sleep train an 8-month-old? Should you resettle after a 30-minute nap—or just move on with your day? And what happens…
2-to-1 Nap Transition: When & How to Do It Right [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:22
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comThinking about dropping to one nap? Before you ditch that morning sleep, Sally & Bec explain why most 12–15 month olds still need a sho…
Sleep Detective Q&A: Weaning Feeds, Nap Schedules & Red Light Myths [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:23
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comFrom 12-month milk weaning to fixing 1am–3am toddler parties, this Sleep Detectives episode tackles the real questions keeping parents…
Why 6pm Bedtimes Backfire: A 14-Month Sleep Case Study [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:41
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comYour 14-month-old is up at 4:30am, you’re clinging to a 6pm bedtime and a 10pm bottle… and somehow everyone’s still wrecked. In this ca…
Sleep Detectives Q&A: Hawaii Jet Lag, Dummy Drama & Nap Fixes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:12
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comEver felt a 10-hour time-zone shift, a cot-standing protestor and 20 dummy-replugs a night were conspiring against your sleep? 😅 In thi…
Dream Feed Debate: Should You Do the 10:30 PM Top-Up? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:58
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comYour baby finally drifts off at 7 pm… and now you’re wondering if sneaking in with a bottle (or boob) at 10:30 will buy you a blissful…
Sleep Detective Q&A: Early Rising, 40-Min Naps & Night Feed Timing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:40
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comYour baby’s internal alarm clock is stuck on 5:40 am, naps stall at a neat 40 minutes, and night-feeds keep creeping forward—sound fami…