Toddler Napping?

Question

How old was your kids when they stopped taking naps? My son is 2 (will be 3 in July) and sometimes he fights his naps so bad but if he doesn't get one he is just impossible by 4pm.

Answer 1

I would try to get him to do a rest time, even if it means just going in his room for a specific length of time and reading books, or playing quietly. My middle child stopped napping at 1 1/2, and we tried everything to get her to sleep, but she just didn't want to miss anything going on during the day. So, she is in bed, sound asleep every night by 7:00pm. She gets a good 12 hours sleep, and is ready to go the next day! We still have her go in her room each day around 12:30 or so and play quietly. That gives her a little bit of rest during the day.

Answer 2

All kids are different of course; but I have three boys 5, 4, and 3, and all 3 of them stopped napping around age 3 - 3 1/2. They are on a pretty routine schedule, bed at 8:30 and up by 7. When my sons were fighting naptime, I started moving the bedtime back gradually so they got enough sleep at night. Then I just created "quiet time" in the afternoon where they can sit on the couch and read a book with their blanket or watch a movie.

Answer 3

My son will be 3 next month, and he fights his naps now to. Instead of making him get in bed for a nap, I send him to his room for an hour everyday and make him have some quiet time. He can play with his toys or watch a DVD, but he must stay in his room. Usually he passes out after a half an hour. Sometimes he doesn't sleep at all during that time, and he falls asleep before his bedtime on the couch. I found that quiet alone time in his room is just as good as a nap to me, because then I have time to get things done around the house and a few minutes to myself.

Answer 4

my son took a nap until he was about 2 and a half. I stopped it for a while to see how he did and it was OK. Occasionally, he falls asleep for a quick nap in the car but I could really tell when he was done when one day I let him sleep for 1 to 2:30 and then he didn't go to sleep until 9:45 at night. That was enough for me! I like that he will go to bed at 8 and wake up at 7 or 7:30. Some afternoons are a little tough but just make sure you can get some quiet time in if needed.

Answer 5

My daughter is two. She switched from 2 naps to a million at 365 days. on account that then her naps are from extraordinarily much 2 hours to 3 hours long. She is going to mattress approx 8-8:30, and wakes up around 7am. Naps from a million:30- approximately 3:30-4:00.

Answer 6

My oldest stopped taking naps as soon as I put him in a youth bed, age 2. The next two still took naps up to age 4. Every child is different........................
If you have problems with him around 4 then perhaps you should have some 'quiet time' with him right after lunch. This way he should fall asleep really fast and be in a much better mood by 4.

Answer 7

You need to make it clear to him that he needs a nap. If my son doesn't get a nap he is terrible, and he just turned four. He would fight naps at your son's age, but I would make the room dark, play lullibies on his monitor (or a cassette/cd player will do) and read to him. I would NEVER acknowledge his crying to get up, and just sit on the side of the bed and bounce him to sleep. Then I would kiss him and if he woke up, tell him night night and leave him with the music playing. Sometimes he would cry himself to sleep, but now he knows that nap-time and bed-time is the time for rest, no matter what! Children need their naps usually until Kindergarten. Good luck!

Answer 8

Some kids won't take naps. It's amazing to me how both of my children fought naps. They had amazing ways of keeping their very sleepy eyes open.

Have you tried taking your son for a long walk in his stroller. Sometimes my children would fall asleep this way. Or sometimes I would drive around so my children would nap and I could get a break as well.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Answer 9

I say around 5 right before they start Kindergarten is when I stoped giving my kids naps.your son is only 2 and half and he still needs naps.I know it is a pain to fight with them but it is much needed,I used to lay down with my son every day at 12:30 and that was his nap time.

Answer 10

I think all children should have nap time up until about five.
Even if it is only to relax you and them,try lying down on some cushions with some instrumental music in the back ground and read his favourite stories to him it may help.