Naps - San Antonio,TX

i have to wake my son (3) up at 7:00 to get him to take a nap by 12:30 or so. then he'll go to bed around 8 and sleep through the night.

if i mess with this, it all goes haywire. he is a really, really, really active little boy. he loves routine, and his mama is just now learning what a routine is.

little children need sleep. i've had to fight him REALLY hard on this. and i'm a pretty laid back mom. I'VE had to change to help him get the sleep he needs.

good luck

I think every child is different. My oldest stopped napping around 19 months, and the youngest around 12 months. I dont mind as long as they are not so tired they whine! We just have "rest time". They must sit quietly and watch a movie, or play quietly in their own rooms(not together). They do go to bed around 6 or 7 pm!

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth

This book was the best gift given to me after my daughter was born. It was right one with her growth changes. It helps you to understand children's sleep patterns and what to expect.

Best of luck,

T. C

I have a 10 yr. Old & a 6 yr. Old and they still do naps here and there, especially on weekend afternoons, after a busy am !!....- 2-1/2 definetly should still be taking naps ! My sister has a 3 yr. Old and he naps every afternoon 1-2 hrs. ! Take your daughter to the park, maybe she needs more activities ! ......good luck ! ~

Hi B.: My daughter who is 4 1/2 quit taking naps at 1 1/2. It was VERY hard. She climbed out of her crib and that was the end to my quite life. I now and especially back then would always make sure that she has some down-time. I usually lay down with her and we watch a movie or read, just so that she would get some rest. Jessica was in a mothers-day-out program and really hated nap-time because she would not sleep. Good luck to you. J.

My son is three years old and has been for some time resisting taking a nap. Our rule is that he doesn't have to go to sleep, but he needs to lay down and rest.

I think it's usually around this time that they decide that they don't need naps any longer.

I have always heard not to let them give up "quiet time" till at earliest 3 years old. My son is 2 and also goes through his napless weeks. He still has to go to his bed and stay there for his usual nap time. I can't make him sleep, but I can make him stay in his room for some down time! I also try to read his bedtime story at nap time and play his lullabye CD that he uses at night, which seems to help calm him down. Sometimes he will fall asleep, other times I hear him chatting to himself the whole time. Rarely does he actually cry to come out for longer than a couple of minutes.

I am also a firm believer in naps...sometimes I even need one...ha! I think naps have just sort of worked for us...fortunately my 4-year old is under the impression that everyone in the world takes naps every day...
Just wanted to add something...since I read your addition of what you were trying. When I put cartoons on or something my daughter wants to watch...she NEVER naps. I started putting on the science channel or HGTV...or something most toddlers would feel is boring. I tell her she does not have to sleep but she has to have quiet time...and because it is not a show that gets her mind engaged with bright colors and sounds she is usually out within 10 minutes. The funny part is sometimes she will wake up and tell me about something she learned before she feel asleep!

I have an 11 yr old who would nap everyday if he could, and a 3 yr old who quit consistently napping when she was about 18 months old. I still make her lay down at least an hour everyday, but she never falls asleep. She sleeps very well at night and I have come to the conclusion that if she was not getting enough rest, she would be grouchy (which she isn't) and would go to sleep when I make her rest during the day. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Good Luck!!

Around 2 or so, my son started resisting naps. He would take them for anyone but me! At home, unless sick or extremely tired, I don't think he's taken a nap in the last 3 years! THat's just some kids. Sucks when they are hyper and you KNOW they are tired but they won't settle down to rest.

A great book to invest in...Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. It explains everything from the amount of sleep necessary for children, to how to get them to sleep during those difficult ages...GOOD LUCK!

Also, I read somewhere else (I cannot remember where) that children should take naps up until High School...dont give up trying to get her down for a nap. She is just resisting because it is so much more fun to stay up and play with you :-)

My two and a half year old is also starting to resist his nap times. I still make him go to his room for a couple of hours of quiet time. It also depends on how active he has been in the morning, the more active the more likely to sleep. But it is hard for me to have an active morning every morning, so he just goes to his room at the same time every day no matter what.

My daughter fought naps at that age to where we almost gave them up. But after getting by with just "quiet time" for awhile, now at 3.5 she takes them again, I just have to wait until really late in the afternoon (like 3 or 4).

It depends on the child. My son was 4 before he stopped taking naps. My 18 mon old girl is already trying to give up naps. I know several moms that their kids gave up naps around 2. For sanity you may tell her she needs to have a 1 hour quiet time each day (give her a couple of quiet toys like books to look at or stuffed animals). If she falls asleep she needed a nap, if she stays up and plays then she didn't.

It is 'normal' for kiddos to resist naps, even at this young age. With my son, I was determined to keep him having a nap per day until age 4...I don't think we actually made it to this point...I think I started to have him stay in bed for the full 2 hours, but he could look at books. This way I still got some quite time or a nap in. My daughter is 2 1/2, and I am determined to do this same process with her. So far she does fine with naptime each day though. Whatever you decide just stay cosistent, and you will be successful.
Sincerely,
~K.

I have twin three year olds that sleep 12 hours at night and take a 2 to 3 hour nap consistantly everyday.

I know that all children are different and have different sleep requirements, but at this age they still need a "quiet/down" time during the day for their bodies to rest, grow and refuel.

You might make sure there is ample active play time prior to her nap so she is more likely to be tired. You might also change the timing, or reasons you tell her a nap is necessary.

My friend used to do this one ( but her kids were 4 or 5 at the time).....tell her that she doesn't have to sleep, but she must be quiet and stay in/on her bed for whatever period of time you set for her.

I have lots of friends that had their children taking naps til the day the left for kindergarten, so I think most of us agree that 2 1/2 is too young to stop napping.

BESIDES, who is the mommy? If you give in on this point and "let her win" ~ what message are you really telling her?

STAND YOUR GROUND MOMMA!

My son is almost 5yrs old. At the age of 3yrs, he wasnt really wanting to take naps anymore. I came up with an idea and so far I have had no problems, and we have been doing it for about a year now. He goes to speech 2times a week and preschool two times a week. On Monday and Wednesdays he is gone for 2hrs at speech. He will come home and eat lunch and take a nap. I let him bring two small toys to nap with him. On the other days Tuesday and Thursday, he has to take rest time. I have him lay down in bed with a few toys and I either put a movie on for him, or he can just watch tv. With him, I am able to tell him that when the clock says a certain time he can come out. I usually have him stay in there for at least an hour and a half. On Fridays, depending on how his day is going, then I will decide if he needs a nap or rest. I hope my idea helped ya out a bit. Good Luck.

That can be so frustrating!! I ended up not fighting the battle with my 2 year old (he is now 16), and had "rest time" after lunch with a movie playing. If he didn't fall asleep, then he had an early bed-time (7-8 pm). It stopped the fustration and I was able to keep him busy in the afternoon, because I was able to do things during his "rest time". If he did fall asleep, that was great, too.

All 3 of mine were done, done, done with naps by that age. If they did happen to sleep in the afternoon it really messed up getting to bed at night, so I didn't push it.

Hi B.,

I work at a large childcare facility (250 kids) and our children nap from infants through the private kindergarten. There is about 2 in every class that do not nap.

But the average child (studies proven) naps through age 4. You have to be consistant on your routine everyday and let them know that you are in charge and if it is nap time it is nap time.

E.

My 2 1/2 year old won't nap either! She naps just fine at day care, but I couldn't pay her to at home! I just make her stay in her bed and read books for a couple of hours. I tell her that she doesn't have to sleep, but she cannot get out of her bed until I come to get her. It's better than nothing, and we both get a little bit of quiet time!

Hi B.
My kids definitely resisted naps...although the pro's seem to say they could benefit from them. I think one approach my cousin told me she used was "quiet time"....maybe they didn't want a nap, but they still needed to sit quietly and look at a book or lay down quietly...etc...and ususally they did end up falling asleep. The trick was getting them to lay or sit down daily as a routine...like on the couch, lights and tv off...for quiet time. hope it helps...thx/R.

Every child is different. I had two that stop taking naps at about that age and one, who loves naps. Usually when they start preschool they are so worn out that they will start naps again, and they see everyone else doing it. Hope that helps.

Day cares are required to have children have 1 1/2 to 2 hour 'rest periods' until the children are 5. Some 5/6 year olds still need naps. Some children stop naps at 2 or even earlier. But they still need some 'down' time. So encourage your daughter to rest even if she doesn't nap (my 2 1/2 year old doesn't usually nap but sometimes will pass out at dinner time, so I try to get her to rest with a book or Word World so she's not so tired.)

S., mom to four girls under 5

My daughter stop taking naps the minute she turned 2. All we did was adjust her bedtime for a little bit earlier and that seemed to help.

Every kid is different. My oldest gave up naps at 21 months and I would put her to bed earlier. My youngest is 4 and still takes an occassional nap. You can always have a "quiet time" with books on Cd or coloring quietly or reading quietly together curled up on the couch or bed.(Some people create a special box of quieter books or toys just for this time) This is still restful. I just put mine to bed a little earlier (7:30)and that worked fine. Good luck!

I make my kids, ages 4,3,2 and 5 months, atleast lay down for a quite time of 30 minutes. Sometimes they will start taking naps again on their own. Most Pre-K and Kindergartens require a rest time and my kids need to know how to lay down and be quire for that time!

Your 2 1/2 yo still naps? Call yourself lucky! My oldest stopped napping at home at 14mos and my youngest was over the nap thing by her first birthday, but she would take them at daycare, just not at home, til about 18mos. I have always been jealous of moms of nappers! lol.

As someone whose kids quit napping early and they seem fine (the youngest is almost 7 now) I'd say each child is different. You need to watch her mood, see if SHE needs the sleep. Youngest had an early bedtime for a couple years because she wouldn't nap, then it all evened out.

hth

i know a mom whose 6 year old still naps, but my twins stopped napping really close to 3. i think it depends on the kid. if she can go without a nap and still be tolerable, then she is ready. if not maybe try swiching to quiet time where she doesn't have to go to sleep, but she has to stay queit in her room for at least an hour. we did that for a little while and it works pretty well as long as you start her out laying down.

It totally depends on what her day is like. Mine quit napping around 3, but mine also went to bed at 8:00. My ds got up at 6:00 every morning and his sister around 7:00. See where she was up an hour later? She needed that sleep but she gave up naps around the same age he did.

Oh, and what they do all day effects it. We would take walks, play on the swing/jungle gym set, and other activities that helped tire them and ready them for at least a quiet time every day. ;-)

Don't go by age, go by their sleep needs and how they act. If they are cranky they most likely need a nap, but it may need to be shortened. you may need to just wake her up after an hour --just enough to be rested but not miss bed time.

You might try moving naptime just a little later....if it has been at 1pm, then try laying her down at 1:30 or 2pm instead. Both my kiddos seemed to go thru a nap transition around that age and moving the naptime a little later helped.

My oldest took naps (at least 3 days/week) up until she started kindergarten at age 5.

Kids stop taking naps at all ages. My oldest girl stopped at 4 and my youngest boy stopped at barely 2. When he gave up naps I just put him to bed earlier to compensate for the lost nap time (yes, for awhile this meant 6 to 6:30pm but eventually he slept a little later and it slowly moved to 8pm). However, he still had "quiet time" alone in his room because everyone needs their own space. Good luck!

My son stopped taking naps right when he turned 3, but my nephew was even younger. I knew of a mom that would just have them lay down to take a break when they outgrew naps.