My son is 22 months. I was hoping he'd nap forever, but, *sigh* for the past two weeks, he's only fallen asleep twice. I put him down for a nap at 2 PM, and he'll lay in his bed/stay in his room for about 30-45 minutes. Then, I'll hear him get up and start to play. I've tried alternating nap times from earlier to later, but that doesn't seem to make a difference. Usually the later I put him down, the better he does at staying in bed. Do you think this is the end of naps? How long should I continue to put him in his room for? Also, I should mention that he does sleep a solid 12 hours at night.
Thanks for your advice!
My two younger ones did that too. They stopped their nap time a little too early but also slept 12 hours at night. I just dropped the naps but had quiet time in their room to rest while reading a book or something for at least 20 minutes... good luck to you!
As long as he is sleeping a full night, then I would let him stop the naps. I had the opposite problem. For a couple of weeks my son didnt want to take naps, but on the days that he didnt take naps he would wake up at night and cry. But I realized that when I forced him to take a nap he would have a good nights sleep. I dont know why that is but I know now that he is not ready to stop his naps.
I kept up the afternoon rest time even after my eldest stopped needing a nap consistently. It is wonderful for mom to have that known 2 hours of quiet. And it is a time to reset the clock and have down time for the child/children. I let her bring books on her bed, but the rule was she had to stay on the bed (if he's still in the crib all the easier). All my children have developed a love for that quiet time and do different things. It allows them to still get that nap in when they need it, or to play quietly with their stuffed animals or dolls or trucks or whatever, or to look at books and then read.
I think he's too young to give up naps! I would put him in his room with a quite lulaby CD (make sure it's @ least 45 mins long) and tell him he must lay there until the music is over...this way on days when he needs to sleep he will and other days you both get down time which is just as important as a nap...children need to be taught how to relax too!!(especially in our world of GO, GO, GO....)Another trick I use as they out grow naps...is nap every other day...once he starts prek I would alternate the napping days with the preschool schedule. good luck!!
Unfortunately, it sounds like the naps are done with. My son was about 2 when he stopped napping. I was so sad. I loved "me time" to get things done. It's normal, but sad for the moms 8-( At least he sleeps a solid 12 hours.
Good luck!
My daughter is 27 months old now and has just started to drop naps, now she only naps every other day, and I am sure she will stop for good soon. In exchange for naps she now sleeps and hour later in the morning and goes to bed a bit earlier on days that she doesn't nap.
He might just be ready to stop taking naps - sad for us moms... but I try to see the positive side: now I don't have to schedule our activities around naptime any more.
