Naps... - Matthews,NC

My daugheter is 3 1/2 and still naps. There are some days where it's more difficult to get her into bed and asleep, but she knows that I'll give her quiet time regardless, even if she's not asleep she needs to be in her room quiet with no toys, this usually leads to her falling asleep anyway, so it works out. When she's at her grandparents, they give up much easier than I do, so there have been a couple of days with no nap, one day she took a nap at 5 when we got home, she was so tired. I've found lately that it's easier if I push the time back a little it was 2pm on the dot, now it's 2:30 or 3pm and it's much easier and she's happier later.

This is one of those things where every child is different. Mine stopped napping about 3 1/2, almost 4 once i took her out of daycare (where they were required to lay down and nap). When she had the nap at daycare, she was hard to get to bed before 9 pm (or later!). Once I had her at home and no more nap, her bed time went to a more normal 8pm like you are describing.

HOWEVER, we always kept afternoon "quiet time" even after nap was over. She could either lay on her bed and "read" books (look at the pics) or she could lay on the couch and watch a video. That is how we handled it. She still got her down time and I still got my time to get other things done.

Oh, yes, abut naps in school... when she started preschool at 4, they REQUIRED naps and it was really hard for her. We worked it out with teh teacher that she would place her nap mat next to the book rack in the corner and allow her to "read" books like she did at home. That helped. Most of hte other kids would fall asleep there, but not her - ever. That's why I really think it is jsut individual to the child.

Good luck!

Let me tell you...I was devestated when my 3 yr old started dropping naps. He dropped his morning nap when he was almost 1 and then started dropping his afternoon nap when he was 2 1/2. I came to the realization that some kids don't need as much sleep. He sleeps from 7 tp 6 the next morning. That is almost 12 hours. What I did was at 9 am (when my youngest is taking a nap) I put him in his room for AT time (Alexander time). He plays, reads, sings, listens to music...just time by himself. He is in there for about 45 minutes. Then at 1 pm he goes in his room for nap time. he does not have to nap, but he knows his brother is napping so he has to stay in his room. He will play and sing and all that stuff...I don't put his music on though. He usually ends up falling a sleep for about 45 minutes...he stays in his room from 1 t0 3:30. It just takes patience and adjustment to everyone's schedule. Good luck with the new phase you are entering.

We started doing "quiet time" when my daughter was 3 1/2 or so, but soon realized she still needed a nap. She was unbearable for the rest of the evening without one. But by the time she was 4 1/2 she was ready. Now we don't really have quiet time at all unless we have a big activity planned for the evening. She'll be 5 in a couple weeks.

That sounds pretty right...My 4 1/2 yr old gave up naps altogether when she was 2 1/2. It was a nightmare! But she always hit the hay between 7:30-8 pm and slept until 7:30, so at least that was a guarntee. Now she is 4 1/2 and in pre-K. She takes a nap right along with all the other kids, but if she is home with me and or it's the weekend..no naps, never.
Sorry mom. Try to move your schedule around (as I did) to dosome of the things you did during her naptime to after she goes to bed. Also, ask hubby to help out after the kids are in bed! I know he works during the day, but so do you he should help! You will need to ask him and tell him specifically what you want him to do...he won't just figure it out on his own.

I think my oldest was 4-5 because he also "had" to take a nap at school. My other son was just about school age, but then got back into it for school because (again) it was required. I would encourage a quiet time because their school may require it and it's hard for them to get back into that routine. I would make not taking a nap boring for them or lay down with them to get them to take a nap. Just a suggestion, good luck.

Hello,

I am a stay at home mom of one 3 1/2 year old boy and he stopped taking naps around his 3rd Birthday. He will take one if I lay down and make him, but if I dont he won't. But he goes down to sleep at night around 8:00.

Each child is so different. My oldest gave them up completely at 2 unless it was a long car ride (over 45 min.) and my youngest started tapering them off when he was 4. My oldest to this day does not need as much sleep as the younger one.

My 3-y/o will fall asleep during the day if I can get him still long enough (car rides, "come snuggle with me"), but if he stays active, he will usually stay awake. I think he still needs a nap sometimes even when he doesn't take one (gets pretty crabby, or falls asleep at the supper table), but he's been *not* napping more than he has been napping at least since he was two and a half, and probably more. I think he ought to take a nap every other day or every third day, but sometimes that doesn't happen. However, he usually sleeps extra at night to make up for it.

My older son (almost 5) will occasionally fall asleep and/or need a nap still. He was probably nearly four and a half before he stopped taking regular naps. That was actually the problem with my younger son stopping his naps -- I'd put them both down for a nap at the same time (they share a room), and they'd take a nap; then my older son got to where he didn't *need* a nap, and they started playing too much instead of sleeping, which got my younger son used to the idea of no naps. They're close enough in age that they do most stuff together anyway, so it has been very difficult for me to get my younger son to take a nap without his older brother in bed with him.

My sister's youngest son gave up naps around the time he turned two. But he normally would sleep 13 hours or more at night, so he didn't necessarily *need* a nap either. All kids are different!

Most 3 year old will nap off and on until they are 4 and even 5. Right now my 4 year old is 'off' his naps. Regardless, we ALWAYS have afternoon quiet time. Right now that means he looks at his books and listens to a book on cd magic tree house). We have an hour of quiet time (his little brother tends to sleep at the same time). He will still come out and ask me questions, but I just send him back until the time is up. He is 4 1/2 and will still sleep 50% of the time.

I have 3 sons, now all teens and young adults. My first son was a good napper. Even when he was 5 he wanted to lay down and rest in the afternoon. He would still go to bed and sleep all night.

My second son, even when he was an infant would only sleep 45 minutes at a time. By the time he was 18 mos. old he stopped napping all together. He would sleep well at night.

My third slept normal as an infant then by 18 mos. he would only take one 30-45 nap in the afternoon. At the dinner table he would usually fall asleep and sleep until the morning.

I would either take my shower early before everyone else got up or after everyone went to bed.

I am an early riser, usually, and if I needed to unwind my husband would take over with the kids when he came home and let me have some time to myself. I also did a lot of crockpot meals that I could put together in the morning and not have to mess with during the day to much.

I can't remember the age my kids stopped - but I do remember feeling the same way....I needed "my time" during the day. When they started fighting the nap I turned it to quite time. They had to go to their room and sit on their bed. They could read, play with a toy, etc - but it had to be sitting still quite time. Sometimes they'd fall asleep anyway. Occassionally I'd let them watch a movie - but I don't suggest this because then they would always ask for a movie and that hadn't been my intention.

I have an 8 yr old that STILL naps (never gave it up) and a 2 yr old that never wants to - 1 hr is typical when she does go down now. I think it's just different for each child....Sorry! Sounds like she's over it.

Why not try keeping her up all day for a day or two to see if she can go to bedtime without becoming horrible cranky-pants or if you think she still needs it.... That should give you your answer.

Good luck!

Both of my kids stopped taking naps around 2. I could still get them to go to sleep to take a nap, but I couldn't get them to go to bed at a decent time at night. So neither of them takes a nap, but both of them are ready for bed by 7:30 or 8:00. However, I also need a bit of time to "recharge my batteries," so my kids have a minimum of 30 minutes of "quiet time" each day when they are to play by themselves in their own rooms. (I know some parents who do it for an hour.) I always let them pick a couple stories to read before we have quiet time, so that gives them something they look forward to first.

my 5 year old still takes naps and if she doesnt she has to have quiet time or she gets really mean lol

Feel blessed you have made it this long. My little one began giving them up at 18 months. He is now 2 and desperately needs them, but will not sleep. He does lay down and rest for 30 minutes each day.

Why shoudl she nap when she has "play time". That is what she is looking forward too. If she doesnt get cranky, let her help you do the things you do. That could be private time for her, and something you could cherish for a long time!! Good luck and God bless.

My son napped until over 4 and then we took it away b/c he was going to start K and I wanted him to get used to a full day at school w/ no nap. We did have quiet time though b/c I too needed 'me time'. Our daughter is almost 4 and still sleeps two hours. I have friends whose kids gave it up at 2 1/2 and 3 yrs old though. It is different each child but they for sure need down time. If my daughter skips a nap I make her lay down and watch a movie while I shower. That is the only way I can trust her not to get into anything! She stays put if the tv is on, otherwise she is into everything. Try to put her down earlier, maybe you are missing her window. Their schedules do change as they age and according to what time they get up. I would say if she gets up at 8:00, I would put her down by 1pm and wake her after an hour. If she just isn't tired, make her have quiet time looking at books, puzzles, etc and if you shower, have her watch a movie.

Just before he turned 3- good-bye downtime!

My daughter turns 3 on October and she stopped napping, on her own, 2 weeks ago. She was having a hard time falling asleep at night, sometimes staying up until close to 10 PM. She now goes to sleep between 7:30 and 8:00. It takes time to adjust to the new routine/schedule, but I guess it's just another phase :)