Naps for 2 Year Old

My son is 4, and I remember very clearly the naps with him. He still to this day takes 2.5 hour naps and goes to bed easily between 8:30 and 9pm. He wakes up at 7 am. I lay him down between 12 and 1. I am not sure if that helps any! But he is very active, so that could be why it's so easy for him. Does your home provider take your girl outside to get rid of allll the energy 2 year olds have!!? HEHE Hope someones answers helped!!!

I have an almost 4 year old and we have went through the same thing you are going through. He has just in the past two weeks started going to bed at 8pm on a regular basis. This is only due to the fact that he is not napping in the day time. Ever since he was a baby he has been a night owl. I have tried cutting out his afternoon naps many times but it is hard on him and I both..the last 3-4 hours of the day are MISERABLE! I have always given him quite time during the day (same time everyday) and of course he falls asleep. If I wake him up after two hours he still stays up until 10-11pm! Not to mention trying to wake him up takes a good hour of nudging him, talking to him, trying to get him to move, etc. I finally gave up trying and as stated in the beginning he has finally started dropping his afternoon naps. It is so nice to have my evenings!! I don't have any advice other than it always seems to work out (at least for me it has). Many people have advised that I stick to a VERY strict schedule (you know do the exact same thing everyday, at the same time every day)but these are the same people who's kids can't handle the slightest change in their schedule with out breaking down. I am not interested in having a child like that. Both my kids are well adjusted,happy, and rested. I don't work which helps as even though he went to bed late he usually didn't wake up until 8:30 - 9:00am, which I realize would not work out if I had to work and take him some where. Anyway, things have worked out in the long run, I am betting things will work out for you and your daughter as well. Good luck!

my 2 and I am speaking from over 18 years ago had regular naps. My daughter has experienced this and wakes her boy up after 2 hours. Somtines he doesn't take naps but she still puts him down for 2 hours sometimes less. He still gets his own time and she gets her break. For some reason her husband has a very profound reaction to him. He isn't mean or yell nor spanks him but I think because he isn't the primary care taker he listens to him more. I hope this helps and well everyone responds differently so try any idea anyone throws ur way. Good luck....another is the famous Benedryl I had tried that a couple times sometimes it actually hypers the kids and this not the best nor am I suggesting this because then ur child could get acustom tothis and not be able to fall asleep on his own. Good luck!

My son is 19months and sleeps 1.5 hours for a nap. Goes to be at 7pm and wakes up at 6am.

Hi J.,

I have a 2yr old and he naps anywhere from 1-3hrs during the day. Some days like you said, we get busy, we go out and do something and he skips his nap and he's in bed earlier than usual.

I do have to make sure that he naps around noon so that he's not napping too late and then up until 9 or 10p. So, you might just try getting the preschool to only let her nap for 1 1/2-2hrs and then on the weekends kind of make it a rule that if she hasn't had her nap by around noon-1p then she stays up for the day...it takes some discipline, but it pays off...it's nice for them to nap as they are so active at this age, but it's not good for them to go to bed so late (or for you) as I've found they are just more tired the next day because they didn't get their good night of sleep.

I hope this helps.

C.
Mama to Amber (6) Aubrey (5) Aidan (2) Aren (1)

Hi J. - my son is 26 months and usually takes about an hour nap on the weekends. I'm not exactly sure how long he naps at daycare, but I know before he moved over to the "2 year old" room he would generally nap longer -I'd guess around 2 hours. If he doesn't nap, he gets really irritable, or sometimes by 4pm he will just give out and the nap will kick in. I'd suggest shorter naps might help your daughter. My son usually goes to bed around 8:30 - 9 and gets up around 6 - 6:30.

Good luck!
T.

J.,
I have worked in several Pinellas county daycares, and I do not think you will find much relief. Most schools nap for NO LESS than 2 hours, but generally closer to 3. I think the PCLB regulation is something like 2& 1/2 hours right now, but several schools put three hours on their schedule to allow for setting up cots, children falling asleep, and then the putting away of nap time things. Even if you ask the teacher to wake your child up early, you have to remember the negative effects this will have on the other children. Your child is 2 and will probably not sit patiently for 30-60 minutes daily. Since several children need long naps, you may have to resort to other options. Perhaphs waking up earlier, so that she is able to fall asleep easier and faster for her nap, and not have it effect her day as much, or putting her to bed early (around 8 as you had mentioned), and just making her deal with not liking it for the first week. She will adjust, as she is 2 and they are very flexible.... even when they do not seem like it. Hope this helps! Let us know what you do!!