My almost 3 year old refuses to nap?

Question

My son has napped every day, at the same time, in his room since he was 6 months old. (Next month he will be 3 years old.) Up until about a week ago, he would sleep almost 3 hours during the day in one nap session. (He goes to bed around 8- 8:30pm and wakes up between 7:30 and 8:00am.) Now, he just lays up in his room, talking to himself (lol)- but not sleeping. It's quiet downstairs, but he'll stay up there, awake, for up to 3-4 hours until I go get him. Any ideas on how to get him to start napping again? Do some kids stop napping this soon??

He gets very cranky when he doesn't nap, so around dinner time, he starts whining, and you can't even look at him the wrong way!!

Answer 1

He does not need the sleep anymore. Be glad he takes the quiet time.

Answer 2

I have almost the identical situation with my now 3 year old. I have had to work at his sleeping skills at an early age and thought that it was under control until recently. He threw me a curve ball and spontaneously stopped napping like he used to and would just sit up in his bed and sing or chat to himself (same thing at daycare). While not distrurbing anyone, he clearly needed his nap as his coping skills when stressed were not great. I had to rewrite my child's sleep routine. When possible we try to get some exercise (preferably outside) to work off some energy, eat at noon, after lunch begin 15-30 minutes of quiet time like reading a book or singing soft songs. By 1pm he is in bed in a slightly darkened room with teddy listening to a quiet cd on repeat. While he used to sleep between 2-3hrs at 2 yrs, he's sleeping 1.5 - 2 hours which is normal for a 3 year old. I now send him to daycare with a teddy to have some continuity and it seems to have helped.

Answer 3

My daughter, who will be 4 next week, did the same thing. She too would get very crabby without a nap, but I could hear her in there "reading" to her stuffed animals. I think the down-time is all she needed. She hasn't napped for quite sometime now, but now my 1 year old does. Because I love a little quite time in the afternoon, we still call it nappy time. I don't try to get her to sleep and she usually hangs out with me reading or doing puzzles. She knows it's quite time. I love it. I am thankful that she understands quiet time...looks like you're pretty lucky too.

Answer 4

I am afraid cant tell you when or if he will start sleeping again but I am in almost the same boat. My son will be 3 in august.. he also napped 3 hours at a time (sometimes 4) bit lately he has been awake in bed for about 2 hours, just talking .. but he eventually does fall asleep for a little while. I end up having to wake him so he will go to sleep at bedtime though.

I figure that their schedule changes... it sounds like your son gets the hours he needs for his age at night, so maybe he is ready to skip naps alltogether

Answer 5

i've got 3 with the exact same sleeping patterns. my first stopped napping at about 3 and a half. the second is still napping at 4. The last naps at 2 and a half but sometimes skips a nap.

don't worry about it. keep him downstairs for a day. chances are he'll nap the next day. Every baby is different.

Answer 6

Yes - welcome to my world LOL.

My daughter did the same thing at about the same age. My son younger! My mom tells me I did this at 18 mo.!

Let him be in his room for quiet time. That's wonderful that he does that. My daughter won't even to that anymore.

And it will take him awhile for his body clock to reset itself - so expect some cranky evenings for a while. But it will get better soon. And if he naps later, don't let him sleep or he'll be up all night.

And every few days or so she'll take a nap in the car, or fall asleep in the afternoon. And that seems to be enough to catch her up.

Answer 7

My children quit napping at age 1 , You have to find something to keep them occupied, I do not mean put them in front of the television..if yours is ready to be awake ,and alert all day long find him constructive things to do instead of leaving him in his room ((,boring)) occupy his mind, find him something constructive to do during this time ...then by bedtime he has had a full day ,and will enjoy a good night sleep mine go to bed at 9:00 pm and are awakened at 6:00 am ...there is such a thing as too much sleep , if he goes to bed at 8 and gets up around 8 that is 12 hours No wonder he can not sleep at nap time... cut a few hours off sleep and eliminate nap time keep him active ..it will start him on the road to a better active ,healthy lifestyle .

Answer 8

WOW.....i wish mine would just lay in their room and talk for 3 hours. Strong-willed doesn't even begin to describe mine. I would just keep putting him down as long has he laying and talking. Both of mine stopped taking naps about that time. You could try getting him up an hour earlier or putting him to bed an hour later. Its just an adjustment and it will pass. Also, both of mine would have sleep pattern changes when they were "mastering" a new skill - as in talking, walking, potty training, learning letters/numbers, ect....

Answer 9

You are the luckiest person ever!!!

I don't know any 3 year olds that nap for 3 hours a day. In fact, I don't know any three year olds that still nap.

The fact that he will stay up in his room for 3-4 hours without an incident, is just mind boggling!!

Whatever you did... good job, but I think your lucky streak just ended.

Answer 10

It appears he's getting plenty of 'night time' sleep.
Not ALL children take 'day time' naps. My oldest stopped when he was 2; his younger sister and brother took naps up until they turned 4.
Switch his 'quiet' time to before lunch but do NOT get upset if he does not sleep.