When do toddlers stop taking naps during the day, and they start to only sleep at night?

Answer 1

Most children need to take at least one nap a day until they start school. Yes, my daughter will stay up all day without one, and not be cranky, but she does get tired and needs the nap. I have to make her go to bed and she usually throws a fit for a half hour or so. Then she goes to bed at 9pm with our 5-year-old.

I don't see any reason for a child over 1 to go to bed before 8, that is what naps are for. To re-energize the child so they can stay up the rest of the day. It makes life pretty hard when you have to conform your schedule to your child's sleeping pattern.

Answer 2

They are all different.

My oldest son (now 14) took naps up until he was in Kindergarten...and would still take naps every day if he could. (but doesn't sleep well at night)

My middle son took naps until he was about 4, but never gave a problem going to bed by 8, and would sleep until 7 the next morning.

My youngest (now 3) will only take a nap every so often (maybe once a month). But that boy can fall asleep at 6pm and sleep until 7am.

If YOU need that "nap time" break (as I sometimes do), put your child down for a nap, but make sure he has books/safe toys so that you can get a little quiet time too.

Answer 3

It's different for different kids. Once he's about 2 or 3, start shortening the naps. Don't let him nap for more than an hour or hour and half. I think the kindergarten classes still do a quiet time after lunch where the little ones put their heads down and nap for about 20-30 minutes. I don't know if the first graders do this anymore (they did when I was in school, but that was a very long time ago).

Answer 4

I think it all depends on the child. My son just turned 2 and he takes a much needed 2 hour nap every afternoon. I don't have a problem putting him down at night .. He usually goes down around 9 pm and will sleep until 8 am. My daughter, who is 4, is forced to nap at preschool. She never naps at home. This mandatory nap at preschool makes it quite difficult to put her to bed at night. She usually lays in bed awake until 11 pm or later on the days she is forced to nap. For this reason napping depends on the child. Some 4 year olds take to naps well and some don't. Go by how the child responds to a nap and not an age guide line. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Theres not suddenly a magic age when a child no longer needs a nap during the day. I know 18month olds who dont need to nap. My daughter is nearly 3 and if she doesnt take a 2hour nap in the afternoon shes EVIL. She also sleeps 12hours at night. It all depends on when your child is ready to stop naps

Answer 6

It's different for all kids. My 2 year old now rarely naps, but when he does it's for a solid two hours. My older son napped up until he was about 4.

It's really hard to say, but usually around 2 they still nap, just not as long as before.

If your toddler isn't sleeping through the night try cutting his/her nap back by 15 minutes to a half hour each week. But depending on how old s/he is, you may not want to eliminate naps altogether just yet. I'd say leave at least a half hour nap in place until they are at least 4 years old. You don't want an over tired cranky "baby" on your hands.

Answer 7

It depends on the kid. Mine stopped napping at 2. Some kids still need naps at 5 or 6.

If your child resists going to sleep at naptime, and can make it to about 7pm without dozing off or getting too cranky, he's probably ready to skip naps. You can usually go to an earlier bedtime once they stop napping.

Answer 8

It depends on the child. my almost 3 year old still naps. If she misses her nap she is crabby and uncooperative for the rest of the day.

Now my 5.5 year old when she was younger stopped her naps at 2. She was fine without one. She just started kindergarten and they nap for 30 minutes there and now she isn't sleeping at night.

Answer 9

Lgirl is right about the process of change BUT some kids continue needing naps up into kindergarten. My oldest did not like it, but it helped him to be easier to deal with in the evenings, if he napped. My middle one quit needing them by the time he was 4, and my youngest still likes to take them on the weekends once in a while and he is 8. Of course, my oldest and youngest do have ADHD, so maybe the naps help them to have more control over themselves.

Answer 10

I hope never! My son is almost 2 and that 2-3 hour nap he takes is a blessing to me. I'm hoping it lasts until he goes to school! But... my other son stopped before he turned 3- so I guess I just enjoy while it lasts!