Why Is My Baby Fighting the Last Nap of the Day?

Jan 28, 2026

If your baby naps well earlier in the day but completely resists the last nap, you’re not doing anything wrong.

This is one of the most common baby sleep problems, and it’s usually caused by sleep timing and biology, not bad habits or “poor sleep associations.”

Let’s look at why this happens and what actually helps from a baby sleep training and pediatric sleep consultant perspective.

The Last Nap Is the Most Fragile Nap

The last nap (often a short catnap) happens when:

Sleep pressure is high
Overtiredness may already be building
Stimulation from the day is at its peak

That combination makes this nap the easiest to fight and the hardest to protect, especially for babies already struggling with naps or bedtime sleep.

1. Your Baby Is Already Overtired

This is the number one reason babies fight the last nap.

When earlier wake windows are just a little too long, babies become overstimulated and stressed. Instead of looking sleepy, they may look:

Fussy
Hyper
Cry-y the moment you try to settle them

An overtired baby often needs this nap the most but fights it the hardest. This is a very common pattern seen in babies who later develop short naps, bedtime resistance, or frequent night wakings.

2. The Nap Is Becoming Developmentally Tricky

As babies grow, the last nap becomes:

Shorter
Harder to time
Easier to disrupt

This is especially common around 4–5 months, 7–9 months, and during major nap transitions.

Your baby may still need the nap but only if the timing is spot on, which is why this phase often triggers confusion around whether to keep or drop the nap.

3. Evening Stimulation Is Too High

By evening:

Lights are brighter
The house is louder
Baby is more aware of their surroundings

Unlike morning naps, the last nap often needs:

A darker room
A calmer wind-down
Fewer interactions

Without this, babies struggle to disengage and settle even when they are tired.

4. Your Baby Isn’t Tired Enough Yet

Less common, but possible.

If daytime naps are long or wake windows are too short, your baby may:

Play in the crib
Babble happily
Take a long time to fall asleep

In this case, the issue is undertiredness, not resistance and cutting the nap prematurely can backfire.

Should You Skip the Last Nap?

Many parents try skipping the last nap, hoping for better night sleep.

Often, this backfires.

Skipping the last nap too early can lead to:

Bedtime meltdowns
False starts
More night wakings
Early morning wake-ups

Until your baby is developmentally ready, this nap acts as a bridge to bedtime, protecting night sleep rather than ruining it.

What Actually Helps

✔ Fix the Earlier Part of the Day

Last nap struggles often start with earlier wake windows being too long.

Small adjustments earlier in the day can dramatically improve how evenings unfold.

✔ Keep the Last Nap Short and Flexible

This nap doesn’t need to be perfect.

20–30 minutes is enough
Assisted naps (carrier, stroller, rocking) are okay
Focus on function, not independence

This is not the nap to “train.”

✔ Protect Bedtime

If the last nap doesn’t happen:

Move bedtime earlier
Keep evenings calm
Avoid overstimulation

An early bedtime is a protective sleep strategy, not a step backwards in sleep training.

When the Last Nap Truly Needs to Go

Your baby may be ready to drop it if:

They consistently refuse it
Bedtime becomes easier without it
Night sleep improves
Early mornings resolve

This transition should be gradual and supported, not forced.

Final Thought

If your baby is fighting the last nap, it’s usually a timing issue, not a behaviour problem.

With the right sleep adjustments often guided through gentle baby sleep training this phase becomes far less stressful and often resolves quickly.

1:1 Baby Sleep Training Support

Not sure whether to keep or drop the last nap?

1:1 personalised support helps you make the right call for your baby.

Rinie’s 1:1 Baby Sleep Training Program considers:

Your baby’s age and temperament
Nap transitions
Day–night balance
Your family’s routine

👉 Explore 1:1 baby sleep training here:

References (APA 7th Edition)

Blunden, S., & Galland, B. (2014). The complexities of defining optimal sleep: Empirical and theoretical considerations. Nature and Science of Sleep, 6, 129–140. https://doi.org/10.2147/NSS.S45707

Mindell, J. A., & Owens, J. A. (2015). A clinical guide to pediatric sleep: Diagnosis and management of sleep problems (3rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Sadeh, A. (2004). A brief screening questionnaire for infant sleep problems: Validation and findings for an Internet sample. Pediatrics, 113(6), e570–e577. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.113.6.e570