When did your child transition to no naps?

Vicki - posted on 04/19/2011

My boy is nearly 2 and has the occasional day without a nap. Mind you he sleeps quite late, until 8.30am some days and is usually in bed by 8.30pm so it all evens out. I'm finding it very difficult to put him to sleep these days. He won't go to sleep on his bed, it either has to be in the stroller, car or back carrier. Today I swept the leaves with him on my back so he would sleep then lowered him to the bed once he was out.

I need him to keep napping as I work one night a week. I need that nap time to rest myself so I can stay awake all night! When he does eventually drop it I'll have to get a babysitter, costing me extra money of course.

Angela - posted on 04/19/2011

my eldest daughter who will be turning 3 soon stopped her day naps just b4 turning 2. She too at the beginning was really ratty by the time 5 o'clock came around but after a month, she became used to it and no longer showed any signs of being ratty. I do ask her to have 'quiet time' which is about 30mins-1hr of sitting/lying down and relaxing while watching tv or dvd. this enables me to relax as well and focus on my youngest little girl.

Ashley - posted on 04/18/2011

My son is almost 3, naps are hit or miss. I will usually know whether or not it's going to be a nap day by around 9-10am. But! Even on the days that he doesn't take a nap, I still make him have quiet time (and I use the term quiet VERY loosly) in his room for about an hour. It refreshes him, and gives me a break.

Gail - posted on 06/21/2009

instead of her daytime nap, just sit down and have quiet time with her, like reading a story together.
my 16 month old has a morning nap but in the afternoon i put her in her buggy and just let her relax for a bit, my 3 year old hasn't had a nap since she was 18 months old, all children are different, id say try just letting her have a rest but not sleeping and see if it works x

Lynlee - posted on 06/20/2009

Hi there, I don't really have an answer for you but just wanted to let you know you are not alone! Our son is 2 years and 8 months and has recently stopped having a day sleep. Some days he is fine but most of the time he gets grizzly and grumpy during the afternoon and even hysterical crying during dinner etc. I have tried to keep getting him to sleep as he is obviously tired but he won't sleep.

Julie - posted on 06/13/2009

It's been quite a battle for me too especially this week since my husband's been out of town. My son has only napped a few days and then has fallen asleep in the car around dinnertime while I was driving to meet my mom. He's gone to bed early between 8:15- 8:30 and often hasn't fallen asleep until after 9:30 not even after a bath! He's been up around 7-7:30. There's only been a few days that he's slept in so I catch up on sleep. He's only napped a couple of days this week. I've stuck to our normal thing of reading him stories and having this apart of wind down time. I'm hoping that as I'm on the computer now that I've put him in bed, He'll sleep! My husband is coming home today Thank God! I'm hoping that when he comes home, I can attempt our normal schedule again!

Mandy - posted on 06/12/2009

We have quiet time everyday even for my 5yo. My son has to stay in his room for an hour during the naptime of my other girls, 1 and 3. I just need that time to sometimes nap myself and get a little me time.

Amy - posted on 06/09/2009

My 3 year old has also tried to let go of napping. She also switched child care programs and she went from a full day program where she napped more times than not to a half day program. She doesn't nap at home anymore, sometimes in the car. But she gets about 11 hours of sleep at night. The doctors told me that their bodies know when they're tired so if my daughter does take a late nap I try to limit it to an hour.

Christina - posted on 06/09/2009

Quoting Sarah:

Christina, This has been such a battle for me with my 3 year old! I would think he is dropping his name because he'll go in his room and talk and sing for 2 HOURS! but he's cranky (as is your daughter) in the evening. He needs to nap. But I've had to let go a little. I can't make him sleep. What I've done (and he still naps some days and not others) is put him down at the same time every day. If he chooses not to nap he has to have quiet time to "regroup" for at least an hour. Then if he starts to flip out later I remind him that he made the choice not to nap. It's a struggle though...when is mommy supposed to nap?

Thanks so much for your relatable story. It helps to know that I'm not alone. I've tried the quiet time thing, but sometimes she doesn't even want that. How do you enforce quiet time? Any tips?

Tracy - posted on 06/09/2009

At 3 years old they need a total of 12 hours sleep per day. 10.5 at night time and 1.5 day time. If she is still getting worn out I would keep putting her down for a day time sleep; but if she starts sleeping for 12 hours during the night then she might not need to nap. Good luck

Sarah - posted on 06/09/2009

Christina, This has been such a battle for me with my 3 year old! I would think he is dropping his name because he'll go in his room and talk and sing for 2 HOURS! but he's cranky (as is your daughter) in the evening. He needs to nap. But I've had to let go a little. I can't make him sleep. What I've done (and he still naps some days and not others) is put him down at the same time every day. If he chooses not to nap he has to have quiet time to "regroup" for at least an hour. Then if he starts to flip out later I remind him that he made the choice not to nap. It's a struggle though...when is mommy supposed to nap?

Connie - posted on 06/09/2009

My oldest son after he turned 1 never took a nap. Instead he would wake up early and be in bed by eight or nine at the latest.

My middle son however is two and still will take a nap every once in a while. I really let the days activites decide if he needs a nap. He will usually get a nap around one in the afternoon. That way he still has time to play in the afternoon and run off any excess energy he may have.

If your daughter is taking naps later in the day let her only rest for 30 minutes before waking her otherwise bedtime will be a struggle. Best of luck.

Connie - posted on 06/09/2009

My oldest son after he turned 1 never took a nap. Instead he would wake up early and be in bed by eight or nine at the latest.

My middle son however is two and still will take a nap every once in a while. I really let the days activites decide if he needs a nap. He will usually get a nap around one in the afternoon. That way he still has time to play in the afternoon and run off any excess energy he may have.

If your daughter is taking naps later in the day let her only rest for 30 minutes before waking her otherwise bedtime will be a struggle. Best of luck.