Sleep Detectives Q&A: 18-Month Regression, Toddler Naps & Crying in Cot

Sleep Detectives Q&A: 18-Month Regression, Toddler Naps & Crying in Cot

Author: Sally Woods and Bec Maher September 4, 2025 Duration: 24:46

Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.com

In this week’s Sleep Detectives, Sally & Bec tackle three big questions from parents:
1️⃣ What’s really behind the so-called 18-month regression?
2️⃣ How do you manage naps when you’ve got a baby on two naps and a toddler on one?
3️⃣ What should you do if your 5-month-old screams the second they hit the cot?

Along the way, they dig into separation anxiety vs “regression,” short–long nap timing, and why overtired and undertired can look confusingly the same.


What You’ll Learn:
• Why the 18-month stage feels like a regression (and what’s really happening)
• How to survive juggling sibling naps without losing your mind
• The key difference between protesting and “crying that does not stop” in the cot
• Practical tweaks for schedules at 11–13 months
• The role of feeds when dropping bottles alongside nap transitions


Chapters:
00:00 Intro – why Sleep Detectives is unscripted
03:37 Q1: Is the 18-month sleep regression real?
16:22 Q2: Baby on 2 naps, toddler on 1 – how do I cope?
19:49 Q3: 5-month-old cries in the cot and does not stop
23:07 Wrap-up


🎙️ ABOUT NAP TRAPPED
Hosted by sleep consultants Sally Woods (The Sleep Concierge) and Bec Maher (The Sleep Centre), Nap Trapped helps tired parents solve baby-sleep challenges with warmth, evidence, and zero judgement. Every week we turn your questions into practical solutions—with a side of Aldi chocolate.

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
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…
Sleep Detectives: Room Sharing, Night Resets & When to Sleep Train [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:44
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comRoom sharing with siblings? Resettling overnight without feeding? Tried sleep training but still stuck? This week Sally & Bec tackle yo…
Troubleshooting Nap Transitions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:23
Struggling with nap transitions? Get free bonus resources:www.naptrappedpodcast.comMade the schedule change but your baby is only taking short naps? You're not alone. Sally and Bec break down the real troubleshooting tha…
Bridging Naps for Early Rising & Short Naps: When & How [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:47
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comWondering if bridging naps are the answer to your baby's early rising or short afternoon naps? Sally & Bec break down exactly when thes…
The Extinction Burst: What To Do When Good Sleep Training Goes Wobbly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:33
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comNight three of sleep training and suddenly everything's gone pear-shaped? Before you panic or give up, Sally & Bec explain the extincti…
Contact Naps: Sleep Tool or Junk Sleep? Sally & Bec Settle the Debate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:23
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comContact naps divide the sleep world—but Sally & Bec are here to settle the debate once and for all. Spoiler: they're team contact nap.I…