Parents please?

Question

At what age did your child stop needing their afternoon nap?

Answer 1

Hi Daisy -

My daughter transitioned from two naps (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) at about 24 months, and then started giving up her afternoon nap at 34 months, so that by the time she was 3 she had completely given up naps.

From talks with other parents, it seems that our daughter gave up her naps a little later than a lot of other children. What is important to know, however, is that your child will begin to give up his nap when he is ready. Just go with the flow and only insist on a nap if he is extra cranky or sick. The good thing about the end of the afternoon nap is that your child will start to go to bed earlier, leaving you time in the evening for yourself or yourself and your partner!

Good luck!

Answer 2

My daughter is approaching three and is slowly weaning out of having an afternoon nap but she is now tiring at around 5pm and going to bed an hour earlier at 6pm (she used go bed at 7pm)......
All kiddies are different and i know that my four year old nephew cant do without a half hour nap in the day, your child will either nap or not when the time is right for them

Answer 3

My first child stopped napping soon after she turned 3 yrs old. THe little one I have now is close to turning 3 so we shall see but I have decided that I will still make her go to lay on her bed for an hour a day.. with books if she wants.. for quiet time. I am making this change from experience because when my oldest went to Kindergarten she had a hard time adjusting to nap time.. and struggled against it.

Answer 4

I made my children stop in the year before they started the 'big school', that is at four. I knew days would be longer and they would have no nap there, so I slowly started to make them used to a new system. I also wanted them to go to bed earlier and sleep all night without waking up and removing the afternoon nap helped me to achieve that.

Answer 5

I think the best thing is to stop daytime naps when it starts affecting bedtime at night, this happens at different time for each child, my eldest 2 were both over 2 by this stage but my youngest daughter stopped her nap at about 19 months as I was struggling to get her into bed at night. As a Mum you know your child best and will know when the time is right.

Answer 6

My oldest who is now 12, stopped taking a nap at 1 yrs old... My middle who is now 6, still takes a nap on weekends (she doesn't have nap time in school, my youngest who is now 5 and in pre-k takes naps all week in school but not at home...

Answer 7

My son stopped when we went to Europe at 4 1/2. Only because we were too busy to put him down but occasionally on weekends he still has a nap ( he is now 5 1/2). I think while they r growing they never stop NEEDING their naps....we just find it easier not to give it to them.

Answer 8

First one took a nap all through kindergarten, he only had half days,(he was 51/2) second stopped at 5 (the summer before he started kindergarten) and my third stopped at 2 1/2.

Answer 9

Its different for all children my son would nap right up till he was a nursery then he kind of grew out of it. But hey come on I still need an afternoon nap sometimes and im 33yrs old. Don't to to quick to get your little one out of the habit.

Answer 10

My oldest child was 3, my second child was 18 mo., and my third child was 2 1/2. Each one is different and their sleep needs reflect this.
Sometimes I still force them all to lay down and rest in the afternoon if the evening is going to force a late bedtime. They are 11, 8 and 3 yrs old.