When do children stop taking naps during the day?

Quentilla - posted on 08/21/2009

It depends on the child, in my opinion. My daughter stopped taking naps just after she turned one. She's now two, and I miss the naptimes, but she's done just fine without them all this time. In her case tho, she has been a "night owl" since she was born, and she likes to stay up too late. When we cut the daytime nap, she began going to bed at a much more reasonable hour. She sort of power naps, so if she has a nap, she won't be ready for bed till 2 AM! Now the only time she has a nap is if she has played particularly hard that day or if she is sick. But as a general rule, NO NAPS! I would look at your child's behavior during the day...if he gets super fussy to the point where you can't do much to console him, he probably still needs at least a little bit of a nap. If he acts fine, maybe he's right and he doesn't need them anymore. You may find without them that he sleeps better at night too.

Haley - posted on 08/21/2009

Charli stopped taking naps around 3 as well, I guess it depends on the child and how much they are sleeping at night tho. She sleeps 12 hours at night! It is said that young children need 10-12 hours of sleep daily whether it all be at night or by including a nap during the day.

DAWN - posted on 08/21/2009

when they are ready they will stop. If it is 5 pm and your son is having an emotional melt down I would say he still needs a nap.

Stina - posted on 08/21/2009

I sooo wish they never gave up that last nap some days. My older two are nearly 5 and 3. Depending on the day, they still take naps sometimes. Unfortunately, rarely at the same time on the same day. I ask my oldest to just be quiet and look at books. After 30 minutes, I let him up. especially if the younger two are sleeping. I try yo give them opportunity to rest and hopefully fall asleep in the afternoon.

Rosie - posted on 08/21/2009

oh Im so glad that my daughter isnt the only one. she is now 4 and will not go down for a nap. Well she eventually does fall asleep but around 5 or 6 in the evening, and it's really hard to try to put her to bed at night. So i try not to get her to take a nap at all. I'll just put her to sleep early instead of letting her take a late nap. I think your son is old enough.

Carol - posted on 08/21/2009

I think it's relative to the child. My daughter napped right up until she went to pre-kindergarten, and when she came home from school sometimes. I think if he wants to stop napping 3 is a good age. At least when he starts school, he'll be ready and hopefully not fall asleep on the bus like mine did........lol

Nicola - posted on 08/21/2009

My 20mnth old wont go sleep in the day an if he does then he wakes up soo grumpy unless he's fallen asleep in the car coz he's soo tierd, just depends on the kinda day he's having.He goes to bed from 7-8pm depending on how tierd he is at the end of the day and he sleeps right through untill 8 or 9am the next day. If he has a nap then he wont go sleep in the night till 9 or 10pm!!!! He seems fine with with not having a nap.

Tempie - posted on 08/21/2009

my four year old don't give me any problems going to bed but the 7 year old does. and with school starting it is really hard.

Amie - posted on 08/21/2009

wow did not think of that, cuz he don't go to bed until nine, so ur saying eight? woo hoo..lol

Angie - posted on 08/21/2009

I have learned an earlier bed time helps when they stop taking naps...just a thought! good luck

Amie - posted on 08/21/2009

Thanks

Tempie - posted on 08/21/2009

My 4 year old still takes one at times. If they are tired then let them otherwise the more going they do all day the more they sleep at night

Amie - posted on 08/21/2009

Thanks, I feel like he is fine without one but my mom keeps tellin me different

Miranda - posted on 08/21/2009

Savanah stopped taking them at that age and she was fine, and actually when she started preschool she would get so crabby because they made her at least lay down, and by the time the nap was over she would be tired so she came home so pleasant,lLOL