Stopping Naps on PURPOSE?

I would change nap time for quiet play, this way if they really do need it and happen to fall asleep they get the rest. Also if you do continue naps don't give into the clingy,crabby attitude. This is the time for getting them in fresh air and playing something active with them. Go outside right after quiet time or nap time and kick a ball or do large motor skills with climbing at a local playground or a game of chase. It will give you a L. active time and the sun(okay sometimes clouds) will help you and them with seratonin boosts. Yes even when it's cold out this "wakeup call:" of going outside will help.

I'd try just giving them a late morning nap and then putting them to sleep at 7:00 at night and see how it works.
C.

Well, I think that dinner time "witching hour is tough with or without the nap.

I would try moving the nap earlier so they're UP by 3:00ish. Never let them sleep too close to dinnertime!

Well I'm not sure what advice I can give but I can tell you that if I ever personally fall asleep in the middle of the day for more than a few minutes (which is rare, lol!) I do NOT wake up refreshed. Instead I wake up groggy, cranky and I feel out of sorts for the rest of the afternoon/evening. Maybe your kids are feeling the same way? It may be worth a shot skipping the naps for a week or so and see how it goes. My own kids dropped their naps at age two with no issues (though we still had quiet/rest time.)

My daughter started dropping her naps at 18 months, and was totally done by 26. She slept better at night, and save for a few months of it being a L. rough around dinner, it wasn't too bad. I also let my kids snack on cheerios while I cook. It seems to make them more content.

My son will be 2 next month and is still sleeping like a champ.

I'd try dropping the naps and pushing bed time earlier.

My kids are night and day about this issue!! My son gave up his nap at 26mo and hasn't taken one since (he just turned 5). Occasionally, he'll fall asleep in the car, but he sleeps 11-12 hours at night.

My daughter, on the other hand, will be 2 next week and still seems to need her nap.

I think a lot has to do with your child's personality. Try cutting out the nap for the older one, but keep it for the younger one and see what happens. It also depends on how many hours they sleep at night. 11-13 hours is recommended (according to Elizabeth Pantley, whose book worked for us!!), so if they're sleeping 12 hours at night and still taking a 2 hour nap, they may be getting too much sleep.

If the nap is eliminated, I definitely recommend either the quiet time each day or a time when you practice the art of ignoring your kids :) Have them play by themselves or set up a small quiet activity for them.

And God bless you for having 2 kids so close together!! I could never do it :)

I would drop the morning nap and maybe adjust the timing of the afternoon nap. By 2-3 both of my kids had long before dropped the early nap and were ready to not nap at all. Hopefully you find something that works for all of you.

My son who is 2.5 sleeps from 9pm-8am every day. Somedays he wants to nap, however, when I do let him nap, he doesnt fall asleep until 11pm and still wakes up at 8am. So, I cut the nap on purpose. Everyone is happier when he is in bed by 9 as opposed to 11.

I just gave up on my 4 year old son's naps on purpose for the same reason. He was grumpy every time he woke up and to me and those around him, it's not worth it. He's really tired by 6:30/7pm, so his bedtime is around 7:15-7:30 and he goes down without any problems. I'd be more inclined to keep trying with your 2 year old than the 3.5 year old, but usually the second child follows the older kid's schedule anyway. Just make sure they get to bed early - even if that means dinner at 5pm and bed at 6:30! Good luck! It's tough.

I stopped naps because if my kids napped they didnt want to go to bed at night.. but my kids were 4 and 5. I kept trying to give them a short nap.. like 1 hour.. but they were bears to get up.. cranky and miserable. so we just moved bedtime earlier.. like in bed lights out asleep at 7 pm.

NOTE>. .they still need the same number of hours of sleep with or without a nap.. so if you drop a 2 hour nap move bedtime at least a full hour earlier.. so you might be putting them to bed at 630 ..

Also .. if you have something to do in the evening.. they need to stay up later.. give them a nap.. my kids still nap on occassion... maybe once or twice a week.

I really don't have advice, but just so you know, you're not alone. My son dropped his nap on his own just after 2, but we still have quiet time for about 90 minutes in the afternoon. My daughter just turned 2, and she is the same way as yours - she wakes just CRANKY!! We are considering dropping her nap too. I will be curious to hear what kind of responses you get!
Good Luck!

My son never napped ... but many of my friend's kids dropped naps anywhere from 1.5 to 3 and almost all of them were nap free by 4. Many only napped from 3-4 on an as needed basis.

I would try skipping the naps ans see how it goes. It depends on the kid. My son gave up naps at 3 and my daughter between 2 and 2.5. They will nap occasionally when overtired. My daughter is almost 3 now and if she naps she is up until after 10 so putting both kids to bed around 8 to 8:30 works better for us (my older one is in K now).

I would not do that. I have a just turned 5 yr old who still naps. Daddy gets home at 7:00 and if he didn't nap, he would be in bed before he got home. Also, children that age need sleep for their health and well being. I would look up on an educational website. You would be surprised how much sleep children of your age need. Hope this helps.

If that's the case, then ditching naps may not be a bad idea. I had a couple of non-nappers and they did fine. They wouldn't nap although they were so tired by dinner. They would go to bed early and sleep for 13 hours at night. Good luck!

My son stopped napping right around when he turned 2. He's 3 1/2 now and has a 10 month old sister. When I put baby down for a nap, I usually make him have quiet time. He has to lay on the couch and relax and I'll let him watch tv or a movie. I'll give him a blanket to snuggle with. Maybe just try quiet time with them and have them just sit and relax.

I'd try it and just move up their bedtime. I have done super early (like 6 pm) bedtimes when needed if we don't have naps. That LONG evening is a lovely thing! Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child is the book that gave me the idea to try having them go to bed so early - best sleep advice ever.