2 1/2 Year Old and Naps

As the other moms said,"It is prob time to end naps". My three year old ended naps around two and a half. She sleeps better at night also. She goes to bed at 8pm, and wakes around 7am. Make it work with your schedule adjust wise.

J.,
Sadly, it may be time to say goodbye to the "naps" as you know them. Let her play quietly with her toys and use that as her quiet relaxation time. OR maybe the novelty will wear off and she will begin to nap again! You could try doing reward stickers for naps each day.

Hi J.. Wow, you are braver than I ever was! I never encouraged my girls to play in their rooms and with three with a total split of 5 years I did have those "little pieces" floating around the house. We decided it was easier to have the "little pieces" played with durring the younger nap time or up on the dinning table instead. I think that it has paid off in the long run for us. Our girls are 16,14 & 11 now and they don't "hang out" in their rooms...which is nice in a "sneaky mom" kind of way. Our girls and their friends are always hanging out in the main area's of our house so we always know what's going on without even trying. Which makes me feel more secure about their friends, their choices and all that fun scary stuff that happens in high school. So all I can recommend is take the stuff out of her room, teach her how to play with her "big girl" toys so that the baby can't get to them and have her front and center! Bedrooms are for sleeping...plus she may be ready to give up those naps so try just quiet time in a chair with a book. Best wishes!

J.,
If she isn't having any sleep issues at night then maybe the napping is over. My neighbors granddaughter is 2 1/2 and she has stopped napping. Maybe try to explain to her that it is quiet time to rest and no toys at least for an hour. Put the toys in the closet or away where she can't see them. If that doesn't work then I hate to say it maybe nap time is done.
Good luck!
Christina

I have to agree with the other moms, she may be over naps. I do agree with quiet time for the sanity of us mommies :-)

Hi J., man have I been where you are. And this response is going to be quite different from the other's you've had, I think.

Now it's not easy, but at that age for my daughter I insisted on a nap. I have to say I had to really put my head into it too. But I knew she really needed it, has always needed some scheduled down time because she is very bright and very active. And at 5 she still takes some needed down time without much of an argument. for my sanity and hers. So here's what I did, and still do, and it may work well for you.

From about 30 months, I organized our day into various "times" that had names. we had "room time" which she could play quietly in her room and could have the blinds up, lights on, and "play" music on. we had "nap time" in which the blinds were closed and she was asked to close her eyes and lay still. For a while I did "sleepy music" then to mark the difference between room time and play time. I gave her a digital clock and a write on wipe off board with the time she could get up. She liked to match numbers, so this worked. For example, 3:00 written on the white board next to her clock. She'd be put in for just 10 mintues at first and was so excited when the numbers matched and she could get up on her own. (If she got up in less than the time, I consistently replaced her in her bed, at first for the 10 mintues .Then when I knew she understood but was testing me, I would add time and she didn't like that and didn't do it too much after that). So, once she had it I gradually increased the time. She often got drowsy waiting for her numbers to match, and would fall asleep. Bingo- nap is back in place. Other "times" of our day were "together time" dinner time, tv time, etc. For my daughter, as well as for me raising and managaing a couple different developmental levels in the house, the routine, the labels of what was expected of her at the time, the praise, the independence, were the right ticket for her. Good luck.

there is a really good chance that she is just done with naps - now at the same time - what i did with BOTH of my kids was to have "quiet"time each day - in place of nap time - they knew that they had to stay in bed - before they went into bed they were allowed to pick toys/books etc to play with but they couldnt get out until "x" amount of time had elapsed - i also got a tote/basket that was a little bigger than the plastic shoe bins and told them that they could "fill" that basket with "quiet time toys" before it was time for the quiet time - that way they learned that it was their chioce what to play with but it was "mommys" decision when you could be done - this way they always rested - sometimes they slept - but it also encouraged independent behaviour and play. if they chose to get out of bed before the time scheduled then they had a consequence (earlier bed time; longer quiet time the next day; smaller quiet time basket of toys next day etc) at 2.5 she is old enough to get this type thing -

also- this lasted until about 3 for my kids - just so you know

hope this helps - and if you need more suggestions - feel free to email me personally: ____@____.com

S. w.