Nap Time - Clearwater, FL

3 1/2 is a little old for needing a nap at noon in my experience. Usually it is about age 3 or 3 1/2 that most kids get rid of the am/mid nap and may still take an afternoon nap, but MANY don't require a nap at all anymore at that age....that is unless they have done something really tiring for a morning activity, etc.

You really can't FORCE anyone to sleep that isn't tired. You can though get him in the routine of 'resting' or doing something quietly for 30-45 min each day while his brother naps. He can look at books, color, play play-doh, blocks, cars, watch a short show, etc... This will give him some down/rest time while you get a break too. It won't be the same as when they both napped together, but you didn't think that would last forever anyway right?

Keep in mind that the more activity, exercise, mental stimulation and play he has had all morning will have a HUGE direct impact on hiw well the 'quiet/rest' time goes.... he may even take a brief nap if he's had enough energy expended! Good luck and don't push him too hard....he is growing up and doesn't need that sleep time anymore!

Some kids need naps, others not so much. I would recommend that you put him in a different room for "quiet time" and give him some books or something similar or quiet and tell him he has to stay in there for a certain amount of time. This gives him time alone and you a break. Good Luck

Maybe put a gate up at the door so he can't come and go.

give him some color books or a doodle pad - he doesn't have to sleep but he does need to stay in his bed. Puzzles work too.

Sounds like he is done with naps. Both of my boys stopped napping at 2 1/2 yrs. You can try having him do quiet time instead, maybe in another room since they share a room. Give him some choices of things he can do during that time (look at books, watch tv, do puzzles, etc) and stick to a certain length of time so it becomes a routine. Believe me, I stay home with my two boys and I know what it is like to need a break!

My daughter is four and a half, my son's one and a half and I work at home, so naptime's really important for me. I would let your older son use your room if you can, so there's no issue with waking the little one. I give my daughter picture books to look at or little fairy action figures to play with--on the bed only. She knows the routine and is pretty good about it. When we've been sick or busy, she even falls asleep.

I think kids need quiet time, even if they're too old to sleep every day. She's always so much more cooperative if she gets it!

Hope that helps :-)

A lot of children do not require naps at that age. Have you tried doing a quiet time instead for him. Put a big pillow or bean bag on the living room floor. Give him some books to look at and tell him it is quiet time while his brother sleeps. I always let my oldest watch My Little Pony during her sisters nap and that worked out great. I would give her a small snack and put her on the big pillow in front of the tv. I got quiet time, her sister got her nap and we were all happy.

I have two girls the same ages as yours. My 3 1/2 year old also stopped taking naps. When I need time to myself I let the older one watch a show in my room. I know it won't win mother of the year for me, but I need some alone time even if 30 minutes.

I have two girls (2.5 years in between) and at different times we have had similar napping/resting issues. I definitely understand the need to have a break in the afternoon- for everyone's sanity! When we had similar problems we tried allowing each child to choose a resting spot; assigning completely different rooms for each; providing books to look at for the non napper; providing a really quiet activity, etc. I would say the success of each varied and sometimes one way would work for months and then we needed a new plan. I really encourage allowing the children to help solve the problem, so we talked about the problem and tried their solutions too.

Victoria

HI, I have a 2 year old that won't nap until 1:30 or 2... but waiting is good because he'll sleep 2-3 hours. If I put him down earlier it would be frustrating for both of us. Maybe you can put him down later & make naptime their 1:1 time with you (AND, depending on how long he naps the baby may go down for a 2nd nap during the end of his & you get some time alone? If not maybe change bedtimes so their naps match up better. Good luck!!

Sounds like the dreaded day has come when your son doesn't need his nap anymore. :) Switch it to "quiet time" where he spends an hour watching a movie, reading books, or playing quietly on his own where he's not allowed to bother you. You should still be able to have some peace, but he won't be lying awake bored.

C., your nap days may be over. Alot of 3 1/2 yr olds won't take a nap. Mine just turned 4 and will take a short nap once in a while unless I tire him out like crazy in the morning, then an hr!

Tell your son he doesn't have to sleep but he has to stay in bed in his room and look at a book or play quietly with a puzzle. Call it quiet time instead of nap time. Tell him the reward if he stays in his room for the hour and stays quiet. If he comes out of his room, take something away like tv time or a favorite toy. It will take a while. He might be too old to nap now but you are still entitled to your peace and quiet and you really need the rest. My son stopped napping around 2 1/2 so we had the same issue.

Your older son may have outgrown his midday nap. Maybe you could put him on a mat or blanket on the floor with a few quite toys/books and see if he will stay there any play quiet while the younger guy naps and you get some peace.

Hi C..

As all the moms here have said,
requiring a quiet/rest time is a great idea.

For some kids,
their own bedroom is too fun to rest in
when they arent tired.

I remember my mom's remedy for the issue.
When I was little,
and wasnt into napping (3 and 4 years old)
she sent me to lay on the big bed
(in my grandparents room,
where I respected the space and NEVER
would explore beyond the mattress).

She'd keep me there for one hour,
then I'd get up,
have a snack,
and spend time with her.

She let me have the radio on, quietly, too.
(you might use certain
mellow music JUST for chill time... no other time to listen to it)

Perhaps, if he respects your space,
you could put him in your room,
(if it's safe there, of course),
which would reduce the likelihood
of awakening his brother
while giving him some own time
and YOU some time to recharge.

No matter what you do
I assure you, this too shall pass.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but 3 1/2 is a very typical time to give up naps. Switch to and hour of 'quiet time.' Use a specific space and set up parameters. Books, puzzles, blocks, etc. He can play, but must be quiet and not interrupt mommy until a designated time. Use a timer if you want.

Hi C.,
What do you think of making his nap time into "quiet Time"? You could set up an area in amother room that will be just for his quiet time. Outfit it for whatever is quiet that he is interedteds in. If he is into coloring or Art then outfit it w/ those supplies. Male it something he enjoys and make it a no no any time but during his quiet time.(to get him to look forward to it w/ anticipation)
Tell him that if he does not work at ____(whatever u 2 choose) then he will have to go back to nap time. Enforce that he can not come & get you unless an emergency.

S.

C., you might have to forgo your own time for a little while until you get your son trained, but in the long run, you'll gain so much more time to yourself. When my daugher was doing the same thing, I pulled a beanbag chair into my girls' room and parked it inside their door. Whenever my daughter would get up, I would take her back to her bed and tell her it was nap time. Then when she was being obedient while I was in her room, I moved the chair outside the door. Of course, she then tried to get up again, but there I was, and she would go back to bed. She eventually realized that her mom was more stubborn than her and started napping or playing quietly. It took me three days of sitting in, and out of, the room (and napping myself on and off -- that's why I put the chair right in front of the door, so she couldn't get out while I slept)before she stopped trying. And then periodically she would try getting up again, but the testing time took much less time.

I also put a childproof doorknob inside the girls' room, the kind you can buy at Lowe's or Home Depot, so, if your child does try to get out he can't -- but you can get in and out easily enough.

Good luck, :-)

J.

My boys are the exact same age! They were both born in February. My baby is the one who rarely naps though (has always wanted me holding or touching him to sleep and only recently started sleeping through the night.

My 3-1/2 yr old isn't sleepy at noon which is his nap time at preschool (2days) so he's grumpy those evenings b/c he only rests. He still needs a nap. I wait 'til at least after 1 and he gladly naps. I reccomend waiting to put him down for a nap even though it's a pain when you have 2.

My little girl just turned 3 and has stopped taking her afternoon naps. It is driving me insane too. I finally broke down and just let her lay on the couch and watch Sesame Street for an hour in the afternoon so I can have some peace. I figure at least she is laying down and is leaving me alone for a bit.

My daughter does the same thing on weekends (she's in preschool during the day, and she almost always naps there). She doesn't share a room with her little brother, so I'm not sure how this would work for you...but in order to get some time alone, I let her not sleep. But, she has to stay in her room and play quietly. She looks at books, draws, plays with dolls, whatever she chooses that is quiet. Sometimes, she falls asleep, sometimes she doesn't, but she always stays in her room for at least an hour.

Good luck!
A.

C., it sounds like he's done with naps. Most kids are done somewhere between 2 and 3. We have 2 1/2 yr old twins who we also need a break from during the day, so we put them down for a nap, but put our gate up in front of their door so they can't get out. If they don't nap, fine, but at least we get a break :) My sister has her 4yr old play quietly by himself or watch a dvd quietly while his brothers sleep so she can get a break too. Hope this helps!

I feel your pain. My 3 year old recently quit napping, and it was really hard on me. I make her lay down either in my bedroom or on the couch and watch a movie. She doesn't have to go to sleep, but she does have to lay down and rest for the whole movie.

Sounds to me like he's outgrown his nap. You'll have to try 'quiet time' instead. My daughter did the same thing but at 2 1/2 and I was pregnant. Consider yourself lucky it lasted this long!
One good thing is that he'll be able to go to bed earlier.

I have two boys the same age distance as your two. At about the same age I had problems like you and understand the need for your own sanity. I read several articles that said that "quiet time" is just as good for children as naps. As long as they sit and are quiet then they have rested. So, with that said I started allowing my oldest to sit on the couch and watch a movie. When the movie was over, that still did not mean quiet time was over unless his younger brother was awake. If the youngest was still sleeping, then it was still quiet time.

This worked for me because I could either sit with him and watch the movie or I could do what ever needed to be done around the house. Most times my oldest would fall a sleep, but he eventually grew out of the sleep part. They are now 3 1/2 and almost 6. I still make the oldest do "quiet time" while my yongest is sleeping. Sometimes I will allow him to play a video game instead of watching a movie, but that depends on his behavior and whether or not I feel he needs rest - including the resting of the mind.

Try it - I think you will find it works for everyone!

Good Luck!
Sam