at what age should i stop trying to get her to nap?

Joanie - posted on 10/16/2009

My daughter stopped taking naps a few months past her 3rd birthday. She was off and on before that. She always had quiet time but she wouldn't always fall asleep. I decided to do away with the naps when she was staying up until 10 every night because she just wasn't tired. Now she goes to bed at 7 pm and wakes up at after 7 am. It works for us.

Carolynne - posted on 10/15/2009

Hi there, I got this paper from the neurologist with the kids different ages on it, as I asked how much sleep my 3.5 year old should be getting at night. The total hours for her should be 11.5 hours. I was like whoa lol It shows on the paper by 4 naps are generally phased out--she might be at the point where she doesnt need them anymore. I know my daughter when she is at home from school, she doesnt take a nap and goes to bed without and issues. When she naps, she doesnt fall asleep as quickly and lays there at bedtime.



You can tell based on her behavior and how she acts. If she is getting cranky during the day, then she may need a short one. If she is okay and not cranky she may not need one.



There is a really good book called healthy sleep habits happy babies. Love the book. My kids have been sleeping through the night since 3 months (son had colic) so following the suggestions really worked. It also said a small portion of 3.5 year olds still require naps and most dont...



I had the misconception that by putting them to bed earlier they would wake earlier, but I followed the advice of the book (written by a Ped doctor). By putting them to bed early they were less overtired and slept through the night and woke at a normal time. When I would put them to bed later it would take longer for them to fall asleep because they were overtired and still woke up at the same time in the morning.



It was hard to stay on schedule or get a break when both of my kids stopped napping. =0) But, it did make for bedtime being much easier and still early bedtimes (and sleeping through the night). =0)

Melissa - posted on 10/14/2009

it depends on the child. my daughter stopped taking naps about 2-3 when it started interfering with her bedtime. if the child is falling asleep too early at night, give him a nap. if the child is awake all day and sleeps good at night, dont make him take a nap.

Heather - posted on 10/13/2009

My almost 3 year old doesn't take a nap on a regular basis. if he gets tired he will go lay down. Now on the other hand my almost 2 year old has a nap everyday. I can tell him(Kort) to go lay in his big boy bed and he will go. If u need that time try putting a movie in while the child sits on couch and watches it. Good luck

Michelle - posted on 10/13/2009

I told my 4 year old daughter to have quiet timelying down "in bed" for 15 minutes. I would check on her in 15 minutes. If she was asleep when I checked, she needed the nap...if not then she can have quiet time doing art or looking at books for the remaining hour or so. Hope this helps!

Casey - posted on 10/13/2009

Does your child have a bad day the rest of the day if she doesn't get a nap? You need to go with your gut....if it's not worth it to fight her, just let it go. My son is three and I still make him take a nap but I tell him that it helps to make him grow big and stronge. He usually doesn't argue, but sometimes he questions it and I have a fight. I also know a lot of freinds who's kids no longer nap at that age......just do what feels right for you and your daughter and don't stress out, you need your sanity! :)

Teresa - posted on 10/13/2009

When my girls were in preschool (3.5-4 years old, 5 hours of preschool, 5 days/week) their preschool had a 10 minute rest period. A couple of kids would fall asleep, but for most it was a nightmare to get them to be quiet for just that length of time. No naps in K (full day). I couldn't imagine trying to get a child who had been done w/ naps for 2 years to TAKE a nap.

Elke - posted on 10/13/2009

Oh my, The children are developing further so quickly and they change their sleeping needs too. Your boy just don´t need so much sleep anymore at daytime. The routine is for the children and not against them. Seems you have to look for a new routine ;-) I agree with Dialma and practise exactly the same at home. It is good for us but you must find your own good way. Good luck! Elke

Robin - posted on 10/13/2009

How do you take naps away at home if daycare or school require them to take naps or quiet time? My daughter is 3 and she is home with me on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and refuses to take a nap. I usually have her lie down and watch a movie instead of forcing her to take a nap however daycare has no problems with her.

Amy - posted on 10/13/2009

I might not have the popular response, but I enforce the naps--if my 1 (almost 2) or 2 (almost 3) year olds aren't tired or make a fuss, they still will have quiet/rest time. If they DON'T get the naps, they are very cranky later on...and, if they stopped taking naps, I'd go crazy because I need that time. BTW, daycare centers, preschools, and even kindergarden classrooms stress the importance of a nap/quiet time. Feel empowered and know you're in charge of the schedule. Good luck :)

Dialma - posted on 10/12/2009

My twins still take naps and they just turned 4 about three weeks ago. I started calling it quiet time when they where two and a half, and that seem to take away the fighting over taking a nap or not. We tell them they are allow to read or play with their bed toys quietly, and they cannot get out of bed for at least 45 minutes, not even to visit each other beds. So far, works like a charm, usually after 15 minutes they do zone out, and I still get my so much needed quiet time to get things done around the house, or to nap myself. But maybe she is done with napping, you will know if after a couple days of trying not to make her take a nap she is not irritable, fuzzy,ornery or just acting plain tired. Every child is different, but I do understand your trying to stick to a routine, routine is what has got me through four years with my girls. Good luck !!!!

Christi - posted on 10/12/2009

Every child is different and has different needs. If she is fighting you that much, she probably is outgrowing naps and doesn't need them. Instead of "naps", you can do "quiet time" which is reading a book or watching a movie or something on those lines.

Bernita - posted on 10/12/2009

She's done with the naps. Normally by the age of 2-2.5. Good luck. I think that you will find that she goes to bed at 7-8pm and sleeps thru the night.

Arwen - posted on 10/12/2009

6 years. By law in this state, kindergartners still have to have naps daily when they are in school. If your child is getting 12-13 hours a night, though, I wouldn't worry with naps at all. They have imposed naps in school because not all parents make sure their kids get rest.

Jessica - posted on 10/11/2009

I still make my son take naps just b/c he starts to have mental break downs around dinner time where every little thing you tell him to do he breaks down. My son is 3.5 and he is in better spirits if I make him take a nap. Most of the time he does fight to take a nap but there are days he's more than ready to take one.

Lindsay - posted on 10/11/2009

My son turned 3 in August and has recently quit napping routinely. If he does get tired, he'll go climb up in his bed and fall asleep on his own. I wouldn't force it, though because it will wind up being more of a struggle than it's worth.

Mel - posted on 10/11/2009

I wouldn't be forcing her to take naps. My near 3 year old takes naps when she tells me most the time. I also judge it by her eyes and yawning, all tell tale signs. Some days she naps and some days she just doesn't. Would never force her to nap, but you will know when she needs one. Eventually they wont nap at all. Take her cues though :)

Lacey - posted on 10/10/2009

My son is 3 1/2 and has been done with naps for about five or six months. I was not ready for him to quit taking afternoon naps and would still put him to bed, but he would not sleep. I think they know how tired they are, and if they need a nap or not so if your daughter won't nap, don't force it. She's just growing up! Good luck!

Emilie - posted on 10/10/2009

My son gave up a nap when he was 11/2, my daughter just recently started giving them up, she is almost 3, she has a nap every now and then, but if she feels like she doesn't need one I don't force her. I would rather her sleep good at night than to get a nap during the day. Each child is different. Some kids continue to take naps until they are 6 or 7.

Amanda - posted on 10/10/2009

My daughter has been not taking a nap since she was one and a half. She choose to stop taking them, but when I felt she needed it, I'd rock her to sleep and she went to sleep, fine. But by two, she just didn't want to take them so she'd put up a fight and didn't want to be rocked and she wanted to play. Sometimes she falls asleep playing and sometimes she falls asleep talking, but if she's tired enough she'll go to sleep when she needs to or when you want her to. So I say let her do it her way, it's okay to let them do what they want, as long as it isn't hurting them or anyone else, right?

Teresa - posted on 10/10/2009

My twins would've stopped napping right when they turned 2. I resorted to driving them to sleep every day for 6 months before it was more a waste of gas than it was worth. So, they quit napping on a regular basis when they were 2.5... My 2.5 year old nephew hasn't napped on a regular basis in a couple of months.



I don't think it's worth the stress. Maybe just try upping bedtime a bit.

Laura - posted on 10/10/2009

If she is doing well without the naps, like not getting fussy later in the day due to no nap, I wouldn't worry about it. If she is sleepy she will go to sleep! I am having to take my son off of naps and he is almost 3! If he sleeps during the day he will stay up real late. And I have found out that it works pretty good this way, and he doesnt get fussy til around 8:30, just in time for bed! I hope this helps! Good Luck!

Nina - posted on 10/10/2009

My son stopped taking his nap at around two, if he was tired he'd still nap, but if he wasn't I just let him be, he'd go to bed at night fine, little earlier and got a good night sleep. Had lots of energy so I figured he wasn't missing on anything, he still gets 12-13 hrs sleeps. If you don't have to wake them up extra early in the morning, I'd let her be

Jael - posted on 10/10/2009

they suggest 5 years is the soonest to stop naps