is my 4 year old (he will be 5 in about 2 weeks) to old to take an afternoon nap?

Question

My 4 year old will turn 5 on April 4th. He is off from school for spring break so i have him taking a nap from 1-3 with the younger to. He hates it, of course and really fights it, but he gets really irritable and cranky just before dinner and especially at around 6 if i dont make him sleep. Is he to old to take a nap?

Answer 1

If he's not taking naps at school, then I would skip it and shoot for "quiet time" where he sits on his bed, or atleast in his room and plays quietly with books or action figures or something. Calling it quiet time and telling him he does not have to sleep but needs to be quiet may help, since he might just be having a control issue with the whole thing. He may end up playing and then falling asleep whether he means to or not.
If he usually takes one at school, and you're seeing that he needs it, yes, he oughta take one. Stay with his schedule.
I taught preschool for ten years, and by the time the kids were his age, lots of them were done with naps unless they had to get up really early in the morning.

Answer 2

Does he normally take naps? If not then maybe you could find some kind of activity that he could do quietly while the younger one is sleeping. Maybe even helping you out a little bit, making him feel like a big helper. A 2 hour nap does sound a bit long for an almost 5 yr old. I have a 5 yr old myself and he never naps unless hes not feeling good. Whenever he gets super cranky just have him lay down and rest.. and with any luck he will take a nap. best of luck

Answer 3

Yes . I never make my children take a nap at a certain time with the exception of the only one I can physically place in her crib the 10 month old. My boys are 2 and 4 and can hold their own of when they nap. Sure they can get really cranky but that can even happen with a nap in my house. They usually fall asleep doing something in the play room or watching tv. I try not to make a big deal out of 'nap' time and it just works out. Don;t get me wrong I'd love 2 hours to myself but it just doesnt ever seem to happen.

Answer 4

I have a 5 year old (6 in June) that is the same way. At school they have rest time where they lay down and listen to quiet music. I don't think he sleeps but the rest does him good. On the weekends both of my children (the other is 3) Lay down in the afternoon. If they fall asleep that is great if they don't as long as they are quiet that is fine with me. (the little one sleeps most of the time) If they don't sleep and get cranky shortly after they get up, they know they are going to lay down again. My 5yo also likes to look at books when his brother is sleeping. It is something that is quiet and sometimes puts him to sleep.

I also think our routine helps my children with naps and going to bed. Going to the sitters, school, and work we get up about 6:30 during the week. Nap at the sitters is about 12:30 and we come home about 4:00 and supper is at 6:00 or 6:30. We get to play, watch TV, games, whatever until 7:45 when it is PJ's then book and bed time at 8:00. Before we had this routine my kids would not sleep in the afternoons but then fall asleep just before supper and not want to go to bed until late and of course not want to get up in the morning (ahh the never ending cycle)
Now we still have crabby nights but it is much better than fighting with the kids all the time.

Good luck

Answer 5

No one is too old to take an afternoon nap. It's a question as to whether or not you want to deal with the crankiness later on. My son is 3 and we have the same sort of thing. If we force him to take a nap in the afternoon, he'll cry for at least an hour and then sleep till 6 at least. Then we're putting him to bed at 10 or later. So, we just put up with a little crankiness and he goes to bed earlier. It's up to you as to what you want to deal with.

Answer 6

It all depends on the child. Maybe if he didn't have to sleep, just to lay down and rest, look at a few books or something. Somedays he might fall asleep others he wont.

If he hasn't had a nap and he is getting nasty around dinner, just remind him that he didnt have his rest(dont call it a nap, babies take naps) and he needs a small rest before dinner and he can go rest in his room until dinner is ready.

Good luck

Answer 7

Every child or even adults need to take a nap. My daughter will soon be 8 years old and I still make her take a nap at 3- 5p.m. Because life is a very challenging and once she gets out of school I give her a snack and she is down for the nap beside me. At your child's age it is important that your child takes a nap or you will be out of your mind until bath and bed time.

Answer 8

Does you child normally take naps..Because i have a 5 year old niece and she still takes naps around noon she no i deffinatelly dont think hes too old.i took naps till i was 6 and i slept through the night i think that kinda a long time too remember.well gtg if u ever need some one too talk 2 im here at [e-mail] ttyl

Answer 9

I quit giving my kids naps when they started school. Mind you then we had to put bedtime 1/2 hr early but between school and activities there was just no time for naps. It was hard at first but they got used to it.

Answer 10

No. He is not too old for naps. My 6 1/2yr old sister is still taking naps. If you want to know about too old, I watched a show and a 2yr old was still breast-feeding.