When did your kids stop napping? Not a debate :)

April - posted on 02/06/2012

Joy Benson, it's like you have a mirror into my life!! My son stopped napping in August of this year but really he was done by July. For a month, I tried everything in my power to get him to nap. He is 3 now but in August he was 30 months. Very similar to your son! He does lay down by himself without me asking. He gets so tired that he lays down on the floor and watches Disney from 3-5 . Then I feed him dinner, give him a bath, read him a story, and put him to bed. He is asleep between 7 and 7:30 for the night

Janice - posted on 02/05/2012

My daughter is 27 months and still naps every day we made it her routine over a year ago and now she knows that directly after lunch she goes to bed. Some days she plays in her crib, now toddler bed, for an hour before falling asleep. On rare occasions she will protest but if I lay down with her she will sleep. At night she is physically in bed from 8:30 - 7:00 but she is not asleep that whole time.



I worked in daycare for 5 years and I would say 98-99% didn't give up their nap till age 3 or later.



In talking with other moms, I have noticed that toddlers kept on a schedule tend to continue sleeping longer than those who are not on a schedule. Of course every child schedule or not is different. I'm very thankful that Kadence naps well.

Laura Zoey - posted on 02/05/2012

Eric has been expiramenting with not napping. He was about 28 months when he started not napping some days and when he did nap it was like 3,4,5pm! It was all over the place and some days he'd nap some days he wouldn't and I didn't know what to do so I just rolled with it as best I could. He went a ehile without napping at all and he would sleep about 11-12 hours a night and seemed fine. But then he started waking at 7 every morning but wouldn't go to bed before 10pm and then he needed naps. Now he's napping as I type and he has only been sleeping 8 hours every night! So I make sure he gets a nap as that's just not enough sleep for a toddler.

Soooo idk. It is so erratic and I have no idea what to do or not do except try to make sure he gets enough sleep in the day.

If he'd sleep 12 hours a night I'd be fine with him stopping naps but right now he's adamant about not sleeping more then 8 hours! And tis tough with Fierna to try to change schedules because she's been going to bed at 10for most of her life so Eric won't go to bed before her and it's just complicated.

MaryEllen - posted on 02/05/2012

Mine have never napped. If they sleep in the daytime, it's because they're sick.

Jenni - posted on 02/05/2012

My kids still take naps. :) Ben is 3.5 and Morgan is 20 months. Ben is hit or miss though. Sometimes he just plays in his room quietly for an hour before I give up and let him loose. He's about 50/50 and nearly grown out of them.



Kira (my SD) gave them up fairly early, before 2 years old. Mostly because my hubby couldn't be bothered trying to get her to nap. Her mom used to get pee'd off because he'd send her home miserable without a nap.

Jodi - posted on 02/05/2012

My daughter stopped napping at 20 months, the same week I had to wean her from breastfeeding due to pregnancy issues. We had a pretty "strict" routine before that. I never tried to force her to nap, but I did try to make her at least lay down...some days she would cuddle with me, others even that was a no go. She started falling asleep around 7 pm and waking up around 7-8 am, so I wasn't concerned about her not getting enough sleep.



We did start a new routine though, around what should be her nap time (which is now her sisters' nap time), she can watch some cartoons, read books, play puzzles or other "quiet" toys. It has worked out well, she occasionally gets cranky just before dinner, and some days she will take a nap if it was a really busy morning. But, otherwise I just kind of went with it.

Stifler's - posted on 02/04/2012

My son is 24 months and has always protested naps but then some days has a 4 hour nap.

Krista - posted on 02/04/2012

My son had always been a big napper. He started sleeping for about 3 hours at a time around 6 months old, and would have a 3 hour afternoon nap up until he was around 2...then we had to start waking him up after 2 hours or he was a pain to put to bed at night.



He had been having 2 hour naps until around his 3rd birthday, and then he came to the stage of not wanting to go to bed at night again. He turned 3 in November. He'll still nap, if I let him, and could sleep for hours, but now I have to keep him awake all day or it's 10 pm before he'll fall asleep at night.



I soooo miss nap time! I had finally gotten my baby girl and him to sleep at the same time every afternoon and I would get an hour or two of "me time"...not anymore!

Rebecca - posted on 02/04/2012

My daughter in two and a half, she still naps, but has been way more fussy about it lately. Like you, I tell her to do quiet time and read her books if she doesn't want to sleep. Some days, she'll make a bunch of noise and protest then zonk out for an hour and a half. Other days, she'll stay awake and I'll got get her after 20 minutes or so.



For me, I think I'll always give her "quiet time" during the day, at least until she goes to kindergarten.



My husband says he always did this as a child and continued the tradition into his teen/adult life with an afternoon rest/lay down/relaxation. I think it is a healthy habit and I wish I could do it. I'm terrible with napping, even when I am super ill, recovering from birth/surgery...I just can't turn off my brain easily. I'd like it if my daughter didn't have my issues. Maybe getting her in the habit of having "quiet time" each day will help her with self care as she grows. Maybe not. I think it is worth a try.

Ania - posted on 02/04/2012

I feel that I will be exactly the same as you. I still remember about napping around 5 years of age myself. My son is 2 and still napping I'm super religious about it, but I have a feeling that he won't last long...He was never someone who needed a lot of sleep, which drives me crazy!!! because I need a lot of sleep ;)

Sherri - posted on 02/04/2012

2 out of my 3 kids napped until they were 5yrs old.

Jennifer - posted on 02/04/2012

Same here, exactly!

Jennifer - posted on 02/04/2012

Same here, exactly!

Peggy - posted on 01/19/2011

My oldest was around 12 months when she stopped napping at home. She would never fall asleep in her stroller if we were out and about but as soon as I got her strapped into her car seat she would be alseep before getting the car started. My 2nd child still took naps at 4 yrs old. We lived overseas and when she was almost 5 she started school in a British School... they dont do nap time and when she got home she was miserable.. she still needed a nap. Sometimes her teacher would play soft music while the kids had quiet time once a week and she would always fall asleep for the 30-45 minutes. We could always tell what day that was because she would come home in a much better mood..lol

Julianne - posted on 01/18/2011

Gabby's only awake for 8 hours a day...i dont feel lucky, im bored to death half the time waiting for her to get up for company..LOL good thing my courses start soon so i can have something to do while she sleeps all the time!!

Melissa - posted on 01/18/2011

my 30 month old still likes her 3-4 hour nap time I have to wake her after nap time and in the morning. Some day she doesnt sleep but if she does fall asleep shes very crankey with any less then 2.5-3 hours. I dont let her sleep past 4.30pm so if she takes too long to go to sleep then she suffers. Ive heard from friends with lots of kids that you always put them down for at least an hour rest time untl they go to school fo the parents as well so they have free time

April - posted on 01/18/2011

my son just turned 2 and naps pretty regularly. He doesn't sleep for 3 hours though. He never has unless you count when he was a newborn and all he did was sleep.

I would like for him to continue napping until he is at least 3, but i don't believe in forcing a child to nap either. I was the child that was forced and I hated it. It didn't make me sleep either.

Shannen - posted on 01/18/2011

My daughter was 3ish when she stopped regular naps. She still has them sometimes. But she must hae quiet time when her brother are having their naps.
My son is nearly 3 and looks as though his naps will continue for a while. He is the best sleeper. The only thing with his naps are we are making them later then what they used to be but it is not affecting his bedtime so it all good.
On a good day in my house i will get all the kids to have a sleep at the same time and then i join them but it's so very rare.

Bonnie - posted on 01/18/2011

For those who have children that nap 2-3 hours a day, you are very lucky. If I made my boys nap that long they would probably be up til 11pm or 12am. I'm sorry, but that's just not happening in my house lol.

ME - posted on 01/18/2011

Wow...I'm feeling unbelievably lucky...Miles is 1 month from his third birthday and still takes a 2-3 hour nap each day...if he's sick, or playing a lot, they can be even longer. Most days he asks to take a nap...Mayah just stopped her second daily nap, she's one month from her first birthday...but takes a 3-4 hour nap each morning :)

Wanda - posted on 01/18/2011

Jeffrey stopped napping a just before Christmas - he turned 3 yesterday. The only time he naps now is after our weekly playgroup.

Rosie - posted on 01/18/2011

grant was 4 ish, vinnie was around the age of 2 (sigh) and lucas still naps for me ALMOST everyday. he goes in spurts where he'll protest for a couple of days, but he'll still stay in the bed at least. oh and he's 3 1/2 :) hopefully he'll continue until he's 4 as well, lol!
i love naptime, it lets me play on the computer, and just veg.

vincent did have a strict routine like jacob did but he would have nothing to do with naps after age 2. he owuld fight, and fight, and get up and come out, and just be a little sneaky shit. i gave up finally. i still think he needs naps sometimes, and he's 6, lol!

Bonnie - posted on 01/18/2011

My older son pretty much stopped napping when he was 20 months. It was a struggle to get him to go for naps and I don't believe in forcing a child to. Besides the fact, I noticed if he did nap, it would be later in the day and then it would be a struggle to get him to bed at night. He is now 4 years old and the only time he MAY fall asleep is when his is in the car, other than that, never.
My other son stopped napping on a daily basis at around the age of 2. Some days he starts to get cranky by 4 or 5 and he may nod off, but it is usually just a cat nap the odd time. He is now just about 2.5 years old. I always followed a rountine with both my boys.

LaCi - posted on 01/18/2011

Mines 2.5 and his naps have been really scarce for a few months now. He will occasionally take a nap. But it's very rare. I think it has to do with my schedule though. From 1-2 I was getting up at 7am, now we've been sleeping in until 9 ish.

Jenn - posted on 01/18/2011

My son stopped napping a few months after his 3rd birthday. My girls still nap daily - they turned 2 last month. I napped every day until I was about 5!

Amanda - posted on 01/18/2011

1 years old, unless they had a really busy day, or were in the car (cars always made my kids nap).

Jackie - posted on 01/18/2011

both my kids napped during the day until they went to school, my son came home from kindergarten exhausted ready to take a nap many times.

♏*PHOENIX*♏ - posted on 01/18/2011

I stopped forcing my son around 4yr old…he’s almost 8 now and will only take a nap if he is grounded….and has nothing else to do in his room.

Becky - posted on 01/17/2011

Cole is 35 months old and his napping is sporadic. I think he still needs a nap, but he sure resists them most days! I think we're now at the point where he doesn't nap more often than he does. Most days when he's home with me, he won't. On weekends when Jeff is home, he makes him nap, unless we're out or have company during naptime. Some days I try to get him to have quiet time in his room. But generally, he plays up there and is not in the least bit quiet, until I finally give up on him falling asleep and go get him. He is tired and whiney by supper time and once in a while decides he doesn't want to eat and will go lie down on the couch and fall asleep and sleep through till morning! Actually, I don't mind that, more free time for me in the evening! :) But more often, he perks up after supper and is good to go until bedtime.
I'm ambivilant about dropping the naps. On the one hand, I still really want him to nap, because that's my break! And I do feel like he still needs them. On the other hand, when he naps, he's like the energizer bunny and won't go to sleep until close to 11 pm! Bedtime is definitely easier when he's napless!
These days, I try to encourage him to at least lie down on the couch for a while. If he's tired enough, he'll fall asleep. I like your idea of reading books for some quiet time, Joy. I think I'll try that.
Right now, bedtime is 9. I think when we drop naps altogether, we'll move it up a bit. Sadly, that probably means he'll get up earlier in the morning! (right now he sleeps till after 8 most mornings, which I love!)

Julianne - posted on 01/17/2011

Everyone needs a nap....i even nap in the afternoon.LOL

Meghan - posted on 01/17/2011

J is 27 months...he wont nap at home but has long naps at daycare. I think he misses me and wants to stay up and play and talk with me. I don't really push it because I enjoy it, but I do make him have quiet time

Good Day! - posted on 01/17/2011

Eliza will be three in May. Her naps have recently become much shorter. She still takes one everyday, but I have a horrible feeling that she'll be ready to give them up soon. Just as a new baby is coming...perfect timing right?

Jocelyn - posted on 01/17/2011

Conner still naps and he just turned 4. Brooklynn still naps too, but she's only 1 ^_^

Teresa - posted on 01/17/2011

The girls were 2.5 when they quit napping on a regular basis (would still occasionally fall asleep in the car) and that was only after I drove them to sleep for a nap every single day for 6 months.

My son will be 3 at the end of March and still naps most days. He will skip it on occasion, but will also nap over 2 hours on some days. He will only fall asleep for a nap in the car or on the boob.... so I'm in NO hurry to wean. ;)

Joanna - posted on 01/17/2011

Ugh, I've been fighting this lately... Paige is 3 y 4 months old and in the last week stopped taking her 3 hour nap, which was my saving grace since my 3 month old would nap at the same time and it was how I got my best sleep.

I never stopped taking naps. I would nap after school until dinner most days, and would try and nap for an hour between school and work as a teen.

Joy - posted on 01/17/2011

Thanks girls :) It was like a brick to the head, the day I realized about naps (and a lot of other parenting things) that it was ok to go by my son's cues. I don't know why, but for awhile (a few months) after he started resisting naps, I sorta had this attitude of "You're GOING to nap and THAT'S THAT" lol I think it was partly that I relished my own mid-day break and didn't want to give it up. But I also think it was sort of programmed into me that "children nap and that's just the way it is". When he first started giving me a struggle at nap time, I thought it was because of so many changes in his life at that time. And I'm sure that's part of it too. We had just moved from Florida to NY so....new environment, new climate, new everything. But after we got settled into our own home (we were at the in-law's for about 2 months), I figured he'd settle back into his Florida routine as soon as IIIIIII settled him back into it. Nope. I can count on one hand how many true naps he's had in almost the past year. I guess I just needed to hear that it's normal and that it's ok and also I'm curious to see what the norm is. I mean, he's MY kid, so it goes without saying that he'll be "abnormal" on a great deal of things lol

Liz - posted on 01/17/2011

My oldest quit napping just after she turned 2, my 5 year old boy still naps quite often, my 6 year old quit napping at 4. I'm not much for routines but nap time stayed consistent, some kids just don't need them as long as others.

Krista - posted on 01/17/2011

Brayden is 3 and he JUST stopped taking naps maybe a month or two ago. It was really sudden, as well. One day he wanted naps and BAM! The next, he didn't. He gets grumpy some days. Other days he'll just fall asleep in the car if we go out and continues to sleep in full winter gear when we get back inside, but most often he doesn't nap.
I'm okay with it as long as he's not a crankified mess. Usually he isn't.

Erin - posted on 01/17/2011

Wyatt just recently in the last few months has stopped napping. He's 3.......I have noticed though that when it's bedtime (around 9pm) he goes right to sleep and usually sleeps a good 11 to 12 hours. He isn't cranky throughout the day so it's not really a big deal that he doesn't nap anymore. Our routine was somewhat strict before......he would always go down right after lunch for at least 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Even if he didn't sleep, he was made to "rest" for a half hour.

Charlie - posted on 01/17/2011

Cooper still naps but he is only just over 2 , at our centre we had sleep time and majority of 5 year olds slept there , I think if they are tired enough to fall asleep then let them but if not just encourage some peaceful down time , I have no routine I read their cues .

Jodi - posted on 01/17/2011

Jayden didn't stop until he was almost 5, and even at 13, he still likes his sleep, LOL. Taylah is a totally different creature. She seems to not need as much sleep. She stopped her naps at about 2, perhaps even a little less......I wasn't really all that happy about that!!! Sometimes, if she had a big day, she would fall asleep in the lounge, but not as a general rule :) In fact, bedtime became a struggle if she napped in the afternoon, so that's why I gave up on insisting on a nap. She just doesn't seem to need loads of sleep. I did, however, enforce "quiet time", probably more for my benefit than hers, LOL.