When did your toddler give up his or her nap?

Question

My eighteen month old is down to one nap a day, for about two hours. I dread the day that she won't nap. Do you still have quiet time anyways even though the nap is gone?

Answer 1

I have two girls who are 3 and 5. They both take naps still. The 3 year old takes a nap after lunch at 1:30, she sleeps till 3. At 2:30 my 5 year old comes home from school. She then has a nap ,or quiet time as we call it because she thinks naps are for babies, at 3 till 4:30. On weekends they both have a nap time from 1:30 till 3. On both week ends and days my 3 year old goes to bed at 8 and then my 5 year old goes to bed at 8:30.

Answer 2

My son just turned three and I would say he has been resisting naps for about a month now. He still needs them, but it's nearly impossible to get him to take one.

Fortunately, after my son turned two, I decided to go back to work and found a great daycare for him. It was a very hard choice for me to make and I thought I would regret it. But it was the best decision I ever made. He loves school and has learned so much (more than I think I could have taught him in that time). He gets constant interaction with kids his age and he comes home excited and happy and full of new things he learned.

As far as my own personal benefits from this arrangement, I get a long four hour lunch in the middle of the day which I use as my quiet time (or more accurately, my nap time since I haven't been able to give them up quite as easily as he has).

Answer 3

When naps become a struggle, that is when I encourage my children to watch TV!
They can sit (or lay) on the couch with a blanket for 30-60mins and relax. This gives them just enough "quiet-time" to be refreshed and pleasant again! lol
Lots of times, being on the couch induces sleep anyway.

As for when the naps stop-------of course, all children are different. My son is 18mths and always takes a nap at 1pm.
My 3yo daughter stopped taking naps a little before 18mths, but never took regular naps anyway.

Answer 4

My daughter gave up her nap at 18 months and it was great because she was consistently in bed for the night by 8:00p and slept until 8 or 9a. I didn't get alone time during the day but did have a chance to at least take a shower by myself when she would watch a show on TV.

My son was 3 in September and he just gave up his nap 5 days ago. I now have no alone time what so ever. I tried to put his favorite show on and take a shower (he wouldn't even look at me when I called his name because his show was on), I was in the shower 5 minutes and when I came out he had emptied the bottom shelf of the fridge and was sitting in it eating an apple with one hand and cracking eggs with the other.

I now have no quiet time. But the regular nights sleep that I am getting is worth it.

Answer 5

Mine is about to be 5 in January. And although I don't put her down for a nap everyday. She usually falls asleep on her own everyday around 1 or 2. So your little one is still going to need a nap for a long time. I'd say atleast another 3 years.

Answer 6

My daughter stopped napping during the day just after she was 2 years old....much to my dismay! You can still plan quiet activities that don't take much of your energy though...reading to her or watching a movie together.

Answer 7

my son took naps til he was 3 . my daughter on the other hand had her last nap at 18 months. hasnt napped since.

Answer 8

Mine gave it up when she was 3. I have friends who's kids gave it up at 2. I think it all depends on the child. Yes, we have quiet time. After lunch, we read books in her room and then she plays quietly on her bed while I read in the recliner. It's usually for about a half hour. It was hard when she gave it up, less alone time for me!

Answer 9

My niece gave a nap about when she was four but sometimes she gets grumpy later hope this helps

Answer 10

this is normal, so quit calling it naptime. change the name to "quiet time" and keep the house subdued for an hour and play a quiet movie or soft music.