When do you stop afternoon naps for toddlers?

Question

My little boy is 2yrs and 3months, he goes to bed 7pm every night but I am finding it harder and harder to get him to bed at this time if he sleeps in the day, if I try to keep him awake he becomes very bad tempered and snappy.
Afternoon naps can range from 20mins to an hour. I never let him sleep more than 1 hour in the day and this seems to brighten him up nicely and he goes back to being a happy boy but then bed time comes and he is wide awake until about 8:30 (he is in his bed but not asleep) Should I stop the naps and put up with the afternoon grumbles? or bite the bullet and put his bed time back? I am a first time mum so need a little guidence on this please?
thanks.

Answer 1

I still like them and I am considerably older than a toddler
Let him nap as long as he is happy to go down
You need a rest too

Answer 2

My daughter is three and she only takes a nap if she really needs it. When she was two I still made her take naps, but only short ones. Now, it's sort of naps on demand. If I'm extremely tired from being up all night with the baby I'll have my three year old take a nap with me or if she has had a very eventful day I'll make her take a nap. I think it all depends on the child. If you find that he isn't sleeping well at night because of naps then adjust them. Going to bed at 7:00 pm is too early in my opinion. My child always went to bed around 8:30 pm when she was two. Now, she is on mine and her dad's schedual and goes to bed around 10 or 11. So, I don't know if this helps but I know that each child is different. Some kids need naps to be happy and keep going and some children can breeze right through the day without a nap. Go with you gut and do what you feel is right for your little one. As long as he is getting 10 to 12 hours at night, your're golden!

Answer 3

In my opinion, I think you need to look at the total sleep your child gets in a 24-hour period. Typically, kids that age need around 13 hours of sleep every 24 hours, but this an average and can vary from child to child. My daughter is 2 yrs 4 mos and that's about how much she sleeps. Her's is organized differently, though. She usually sleeps about 10 or 10-1/2 hrs overnight and 2-3 hrs for her nap. This works well for us because my husband and I both work. So by her taking a longer nap in the afternoon, we get to spend more time with her. But if you're a SAHM, maybe it's preferable for you to have him take a shorter nap during the day so that he goes to sleep earlier, giving you more downtime in the evening. Some of it is in your control, and some of it is the kid's own rhythms, but you can strongly influence that by implementing a consistent routine. Basically, just make sure he gets enough sleep every 24 hours, that should go a long way towards minimizing the crankiness.

One caveat - there is a transition time, just like when kids go from 2 naps down to just one, where getting the nap results in too much sleep and not getting the nap results in not getting enough sleep. Just something to think about, you may have to deal with some days that have naps and other days that don't for a while. Maintain a routine, but adjust the routine accordingly to enable your child to get enough sleep if things don't always go as planned.

Answer 4

I'm in the same dilemma but I find that napping is a good thing. Think about it once 3 or 4:00 rolls around you have to fight off his drowsiness, that means no watching TV cause he'll fall asleep, no car rides cause he'll fall asleep and that last thing you want is him falling asleep at 5:30 so that he'll be up til 10:00!
Wake him up at 6:30-7:00, nap him for an hour at 12:00 or 1:00 and he'll fall asleep around 8:00. Something's gotta give somewhere and I think it is going to have to be a later bedtime, 7:00 is awfully early, how do you manage to make it home by that time every night. I would find it quite restrictive.

Answer 5

Each child is different but my kids grew out of there naps by the time there were 2yrs 6mths. I didn't stop their naps they just did not want them anymore.

Go with the flow, let him have his naps so he's not snappy. If he's in bed but still awake he will still be resting. You could comprimise let him have his nap and put him to bed around 7.30-8pm and give him a book to look at. This works wonders with my kids they look the pictures, stay in bed and fall asleep when there ready.

If he's like mine he'll probably let you know when he's ready to stop his naps anyway.

At the end of the day it's what suits you and child.

Answer 6

I gave mine naps as long as I could, they are 5 now (twins) and they still take a nap at pre-k ... however at home I would stongly suggest an afternoon nap if not he will become very cranky in the afternoon from being tired and will fall asleep early and then wake up and stay up very late.... just try with the nap same time and possible let him stay up a little longer at night maybe till 8pm or so. I have read that their body still needs a nap at the age your child is... however each child is different.

Answer 7

My 1st was out his day sleep by 18 months, the 2nd I can't remember!! and the 3rd was about 16 months. I treated them all the same as far as day time and bedtime routine went so every child is very different and so there is a big variety of when the right time is.

If you are still putting your child to bed at the same time but he lying awake then that is fine. I believe that bed time routine is the most important thing and if you start now with letting them run a round later and later then it will become more of a problem in the future. My eldset is 7 and they are all in bed by 8pm, the oldest gets to read for abit, but they are all tucked up! If he is fed, safe and dry then there is nothing wrong with letting him lie quietly in bed till he falls asleep. My 1st ended up with having naps that lasted till 5pm but he was still put to bed at 7pm and he never gave me any problems.

Since it is still summer could you perhaps take him out and about more so that he can be more easily distracted and the fresh air will help make him more tired? Once he gets into a habit the he might come out of his sleeps. Obviously try and walk if you can as a buggy or car will be the ideal sleep ground for him!

Could his day nap be brought forward? Could you try just lying him down sooner in the day and leaving him, even if he does object to start with? If he is fed and dry then he will be safe in his cot. I did this with my 3rd and he soon fell asleep sooner. It wasn't long after that he started to come out his sleep and now he still goes down about 7-7.30pm and sleeps through for about 12-13 hours.

There are guidelines on how much the various ages should sleep in 24, but they are the same as adults at this stage - everyone's needs are different.


PS I have just read through some more of the other answers and I can't believe how many think 7pm is too early! I'd go crazy if my kids were still running around after 10pm! Routine routine routine!!! I am quite sure if some of those mothers could get them to bed earlier and have time to get the housework done and still have a couple of hours to relax then they'd jump at the chance!! My youngest was 2 in May so the same age as yours so it does work!! He knows his routine - he has supper then he knows to go to the bathroom for a last pee and to brush his teeth, then he takes himself around eveyone for a kiss then makes for the stairs. Absolutely NO problems! Even when I know he isn't quite ready, there is no more play or stimulation. Bed time is bedtime and he knows it!!

Answer 8

Most little ones go on napping in the afternoon until they are 4 or so, maybe lighten up a little on this but try not to let them sleep after 3pm, 7pm is a bit early for bed in my book, a toddler who is not tired will not sleep that's just common sense

Answer 9

There are no hard & fast rules. Let's face it, different books will often say different things, but I think it is well established that boys, especially, benefit from set rules & times

You are the person who knows him best, so trust your instincts.
I am raising two boys, and each was quite different from birth. My eldest needed more sleep than my youngest at that age - he (my youngest) would be up by 7:30 no matter when he went to bed! I think just making sure he knows when bed time is coming & a little routine (brushing teeth, story, etc.) each night is my best advice. You could try gradulally shortening his naps to see how it goes, and there's no harm in speeking to the staff at your local nursery.

Another place for advice is ParentLine (0808 800 2222).

Answer 10

At his age it is very common for him to take a hour nap around 12:30 and bed at 8:00 pm. Naps are needed until your child starts school.

Answer 11

The earlier he gets his nap, the better, so straight after lunch let him have half an hour or so...then wake him up with some soft music and a hug. A good walk and play at the park should leave him tired enough for bed at 7. Bless!