Sleep Detectives: 3-Year Olds, Early Wakes & Nap Transitions

Sleep Detectives: 3-Year Olds, Early Wakes & Nap Transitions

Author: Sally Woods and Bec Maher November 6, 2025 Duration: 44:40

Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comYou've been sending questions and Sally and Bec are answering them all. This week's Sleep Detectives covers everything from sleep training older toddlers to fixing stubborn 5:30am wakes to figuring out if your baby actually needs medical tests. If you've been stuck on when to drop a nap or how to handle a baby who treats their cot like a playground, this one's packed with practical fixes.Sally and Bec tackle seven different parent questions with their usual mix of evidence and humor. They explain why extinction bursts happen with toddlers (not just babies), how to tell if early rising is a schedule problem or a behavior problem, and when iron or B12 tests are actually worth pursuing. Plus the definitive answer on when to drop to one nap and why your 7-month-old probably still needs three naps even if everyone says otherwise.What You'll Learn:• How to sleep train a 3-year-old (yes, it's still possible)• Why your toddler's extinction burst is different from a baby's• The fix for 10-month-olds standing in the cot during naps• How to treat 5:30am wakes like overnight wakings (delay, delay, delay)• When Sally and Bec refer families for iron or B12 testing• Why your 7-month-old on 2 naps probably needs 3 naps instead• The exact wake windows for 20-month-olds on one nap• When to actually drop to one nap (spoiler: later than you think)Chapters:00:00 Intro and welcome back01:27 Q1: Sleep training a 3-year-old who needs parents to settle05:52 Extinction bursts in toddlers vs babies09:12 Q2: 10-month-old standing in cot and refusing nap 213:32 How to handle new skills (sitting, standing) at nap time14:13 Q3: 7-month-old waking at 5:30am every morning18:55 Treating early rising as overnight wakings19:22 Q4: When to seek medical investigations (iron, B12, etc.)24:26 What Sally and Bec look for in consultations28:42 Q5: 7-month-old on 2 naps but needs 4-hourly feeds33:04 Why this baby needs to go back to 3 naps35:15 Q6: Wake windows for 20-month-old39:56 Bedtime fading technique for older children41:02 Q7: When to drop to one nap (15-18 months)44:06 Wrap-up and outro🎙️ ABOUT NAP TRAPPEDJoin sleep experts Sally Woods and Bec Maher as they tackle real parent sleep struggles with warmth, science, and zero BS. Nap Trapped makes baby sleep less mysterious and way more manageable.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
Is This Normal? A Real 9-Month Sleep Case Study with a Nanny [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
Starting Solids Without Fear: A Paramedic Mum's Practical Guide [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:05
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comYou've finally got your baby sleeping through the night, and now you're about to start solids. But suddenly you're lying awake at 3am G…
Advice We'd Give You If We Weren't Afraid of Hurting Your Feelings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:53
Look, we're people pleasers. Terrified of hurting feelings. But sometimes the most helpful thing we can do is rip the bandaid off and tell you what's actually getting in the way of better sleep. So today, we're following…
Sleep Detectives: Swaddles, Ferber & Dummy Debates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:09
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comYou know that moment when you've tried everything and you're left thinking: am I doing this wrong? This week's Sleep Detectives is for…
18 Month Sleep Regression: Boundary Testing & How to Handle It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:27
Your toddler's been a great sleeper for months. Then one night they start demanding more books, more cuddles, more everything. You're trapped in the room for two hours wondering what happened to your independent sleeper.…
Should You Cap the Morning Nap? Short/Long Naps Explained [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:33
Subscribers get a full breakdown of the schedules from this ep 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comWondering if you should cap that glorious morning nap? Sally and Bec break down the short/long nap schedule for 9-12 month olds, w…
7.5 Month Old Case Study: Drop the Dream Feed & Sleep Through [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:01
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comThat dream feed was supposed to help your baby sleep longer, but at 7.5 months it's holding you back from real progress. Sally and Bec…
Which Nap to Train First? Your Step-by-Step Guide To Baby's Naps [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:59
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comWondering where to even start with nap training? Sally and Bec break down their strategic approach to teaching naps without derailing y…