How do you get a 4 year old to take a nap when he will not go to sleep? He still needs a nap.?

Question

My 4 year old stepson (who lives with us and is with me all day) started giving up his naps about 6 months ago. Problem is he desperately still needs them. He is cranky by 6 and sometimes falls asleep on the couch and will not wake up to eat dinner or get a bath. This happens especially if we have to go somewhere in the car in the evening. Then he misses dinner and his bath.

Answer 1

Sounds like he needs to be put on a stricter routine.
I used to work at a daycare center where breakfast is at 9, lunch is at 11:30 and naptime comes when the children have finished their meals. Since it's routine, the children have learned to accept this. Some of them fight sleep but it's awfully boring to lay there for a few hours with nothing better to do.
Lay him down and put on some classical music.
If he refuses to sleep and gets up to play with his toys or walk around, put him in time out until he realizes you are serious about the naptime routine.
Hope this helped.
He just needs to know who is boss. He may not take you seriously until you enforce this every single day.

Answer 2

My, my!! How rude people can be!! Goodness...

To answer your question...I've noticed a big change with my preschooler (turning 4 in May) when I changed his bedtime. If you want him to nap earlier in the day, put him to bed a little earlier and wake him up in the morning, so he gets the same amount of sleep he's getting now. At the first signs of sleepiness (rubbing eyes, yawning, crankiness) start whatever naptime routine you have, in order for him to downshift and get his mind set for sleeping. This might include a snack, reading a book, a certain video, a bath if it helps him sleep, etc. If you allow him to get overly tired, he'll pass over the nap completely until his body shuts down, and will be a fussbutt in the meantime.

Of course easier said than done. Don't make a drastic change, but rather a lot of little ones. Change bedtime by a half hour to start. If that's too much, use fifteen minute increments. Just be sure to adjust his wakeup time by the same amount so he's getting the same amount of sleep at night. If he refuses to wake up in the morning, pick him up, put him on the couch, take away pillows and blankets, and be as noisy as possible. He'll get the hint. ;) I hope this helps. Good Luck and Blessings...

Answer 3

My daughter is 2 1/2 and is starting to give up her nap, every once in a while she will also fall asleep in the car or get really cranky around 5 or 6pm.

I make sure that she lays down for at least 1/2 and hour in the afternoon for "quiet time". We read two books, then watch one 1/2 hour show. The idea is to give her and I a break and rest, and if she is tired that day - she will end up napping. If she does not nap, then at least she has rested and recharged a little bit.

Answer 4

He is old enough to understand that even though he may not be sleepy, he must still have a "quiet time". He can watch a children's program or video. Once he knows its a routine every day he will accept it easily knowing he doesn't have to go to sleep, just rest. My 4 year old grandson quite often will actually fall asleep while watching his programs.

Also, my grandsons TV and tape players are in his bedroom, or my bedroom at my house. He's allowed to have some books or toys to play with as well. He usually stays on the bed for at least an hour or so, quietly.

Answer 5

My 3 & 4yr olds don't like to nap either, so they have rest time which includes...a dark living room and a good movie..something you know will keep his attention. My rules are..LAY DOWN AND BE QUIET. I don't demand they go to sleep, but if you can get him to be still and quiet, more then likely he will fall asleep. If he doesn't, well than he has had a good rest that will help him stay up a little later.

Answer 6

Set a nap time that is the same each day. Every time the child comes out of the room redirect him to bed, repetitively and say "time for a nap". Within three days that child will have gotten used the daily routine of a nap.

Answer 7

I tell my four year old daughter that if she doesnt want to nap its ok (thus preventing a battle) but she must "rest". Basically she is allowed to lie in her bed with books or small toys that dont make noise. Nine times out of ten she falls asleep anyway. Sometimes she is allowed to watch a little tv but this is a bad routine to break and i dont recommend it.

Answer 8

You might try a dim and quiet room..a designated place to sleep..with soft music and no interuptions...make your stepson lay down everyday at a certain time and tell him he will lay there for the full time whether he sleeps or not...at first, he will through a fit, but you must be consistant...make him stay there the full hour, no toys, no tv.. and first thing you know your little one will be sound asleep...may take a while...but hang in there...

Answer 9

I know what you mean.I have a 4 year old who gave up his naps about 5 months ago.He started preschool and won't sleep there.On the weekends he naps at home,because when he sleeps i give him something that he really likes.But hang in there.As he gets older he will be able to handle it,i mean he'll get used to it.My son is 4 years and 8 months.He is starting to be able to controll himself.He used to get really cranky.It seems not so much lately.

Answer 10

You need to change his schedule . i am having problems with my kids cause i gotten lazy in my pregnatcy . Make him stay up as long as possible then wake him up early like at 7-8 in the morning so buy 3-4 he should take a name don't let him sleep past 6 then try to get him to bed by 10:30 do this consistantly and you should have him on a schdule within a week .