Need Advice on How to Illiminate Daily Nap

Didn't read all responses, but here's what I did that has worked well. My son was NEVER a good sleeper and always fought naps, so I pushed it as long as I could. But I noticed the same thing with him that if he napped he would be lying in bed awake until 10 or 11 at night. SO, here's what worked for us. Initially I did quiet time in his room. He was not allowed to come out, but he was allowed to take a couple of toys with him. Granted, he was 3 years old when we did this, so he may be a little more cooperative than a 2 year old. Some days he would still crash and fall asleep, some days he didn't. I would make him stay in there for 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. Also, when he got to the point where I really didn't want him to sleep no matter what (so he would sleep at night time), I started to let him have his quiet time on the couch while watching a movie. He had to stay on the couch, but most movies are 1 1/2 hrs so it was just the right amount of quiet down time (for him and me). Again though, he has always LOVED movies and it was very easy to keep him on the couch for a movie. My youngest doesn't enjoy them as much so that wouldn't work as well for him. Hope some of that helps. Another important note, we also moved his bedtime up earlier and that helped. He would always want to crash around dinner time, so if I was able to keep him awake, we pushed bedtime earlier. Previous bedtime had been 8:30; we moved it to 8:00 and sometimes even 7:30. He gets a full night sleep this way and seems more rested. Good luck transitioning!

My 3 kids all behaved this way. If they are asleep in the daytime past their third birthday, they have fever or we have done something extreme like spend 6 hours at a water park. All kids are different. Sleep requirements are no exception. You can put a child to bed, but you cannot make them sleep. I know; I've tried.

First, try moving quiet time up to noon if your schedule permits. If you get him to spend an hour in his room earlier in the day when he's not so exhausted, he'll recharge a little, then be able to hang in until bedtime which can be any time after 7pm at my house. If they fall asleep before 7, they wake up at midnight thinking it is morning. After 7, they sleep until 6:30 or so in the morning. Either set a kitchen timer: when it dings, he can get up. Or put on a calm CD: when the CD is over, he can come out of his room. Shut the door, walk away, and unless he's breaking things or hurting himself, let him stay there. If he comes out early for any reason other than to go to the bathroom, then quiet time gets extended by either 5 minutes on the timer or 1 song on the CD. Explain that you need some quiet time, and he needs to give you some space. If he falls asleep, fine. If not, fine. Watch out when he gets sleepy in the late afternoon. Do whatever you have to to keep him awake. Go outside, give him a long bubble bath, but keep him awake. This is hard when you are tired too, but this phase won't last more than a couple of months. Start bedtime early, and enjoy your evening.

Keep in mind that this could be a preview of things to come, but he might go back to needing a nap for a while longer. My son will be 3 in March, and we've been back and forth on the nap thing since his 2nd birthday. Now he naps only about 2 days in 7. He takes a short 1 hour nap at school Tuesday and Thursday. Bedtime is 7:30 or 8pm with my older kids.

Some kids sleep; some don't. The advantage long term of a non-sleeper is that they will probably get more done than those of us who would still love an afternoon nap!

Good luck. Trust your own instincts about what is right for your child and will preserve your own sanity. It's good to start teaching your son boundaries - that you need some time alone too.

S.
SAHM of 3

My son needed naps up through kindergarten, and he could have used them in first grade, too but they didn't have time in school for them anymore. On weekends, he still napped. Everyone is different, and some kids need more sleep than others. But I think toddler is a bit young to not need a nap. Unless my son was sick, there's no way I'd let him stay up till 11pm or midnight. We'd do our bed time routine at 7-8pm (bath, brush teeth, story time, bathroom (once he was potty trained), then night light on and lights out. He'd sometimes draw out getting settled for bed till 9pm, but I'd go to bed and the house would be dark and staying up (for anyone) was not an option. Can you wake him up 7am then have him take his nap about 11am? His schedule needs to slide so it fits your routine. When he's old enough for school, he can't be up till midnight every night.

Wow-our 4 year old still takes a nap about 1:30 and goes to bed at 8:30pm.The 2 year old sleeps about 2-3 hours and still goes to bed at 8:30 or 9pm. Try quiet time for one hour , door closed, CD playing maybe and small books or toys. Everyone needs quiet time every day, so even the 6 year old rest or plays very quiet for at least one hour.

try to wake up your son earlir and move his nap ealier too also he needs to burn all the energy with a lot of activities

or just don't let him sleep but he will be very unhappy all day

C.,

You are reading your son's signals correctly. He is ready to give up his nap, regardless of his age. Now, as a Mom, I grieve for you -- I LOVED nap time!! However, by your account of events, he's telling you he's ready. All kids do things at their own pace.

So, my advice is similar to some others: attempt to move his "quiet time" up, if possible. Depending on when he awakens in the morning, you might want to have that happen earlier (again, as a MOM, UGGGHHH!!). It will take a few days or even a couple of weeks; but, you will hit on the right schedule for him to be in bed at a reasonable hour at night.

Good luck, Mom! I always hated having to adjust a schedule I was comfortable with; but, you are on the right track.

R.

most all kids still take naps in pre-k and kindergarten. in my opinion, i would continue with the naps, but do it from about 1130-1pm, then he will probably go to bed good. my son gets up about 630am, naps from 1130-130, and bedtime at 8pm.

I would revisit that subject with your Pedi's office. Yes, there will be a time when they don't need naps - but I don't think its at 2 years old. Did the Pedi say "now, at 2 yrs old, stop doing naps"?

Recently I have seen mama's post about their 2 year olds going in to a funk with their sleeping habits, but after a while, they get back out.

How long does he sleep at 1.30p? Maybe shorten his nap or don't let it go past two hours. Is he getting lots of exercise to wear him out to go to bed at night? What are you feeding him - could their be too much processed sugar or something else? Is he playing games, computer or doing something too stimulating at night? Dunno - just trying to think out loud. Hope you get it figured out!

I have a 3 & 4 year old. my daughter stopped her naps @ about 3.5 yrs old. She just wouldn't go to sleep & big issues everyday, So I changed nap time to quiet time. I still have her go to her room like nap time, but i told her that she doesn't have to sleep and that she can read or play, but she did need to stay in her room unless she needed to use the bathroom. She was good with it and I put a timer in her room that dings when quiet time is over. I do an hour. My son loves his nap and he is currently 3.5. He actually tells me when hes tired & goes into his own room & closes the door!

Before listening to your wacky doctor check out this book. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth

Your doctor told you a 2YO is ready to eliminate naps? That's a little strange to me.

Maybe your son's schedule is off some. Try getting him up by 6:30/7, at the latest 8, and then naptime should be around 4-5 hours after he wakes. I wouldn't let him sleep for naps any longer than 1.5 to 2 hours. He should go to bed around 8 or 8:30p.m.

Kids need their naps at least until they're 5 years old. Some kids are different and rid of their naps at an earlier age, yes, but 2 is waaay too young to get rid of them altogether.

Good luck and let us know if and when you've found a new pediatrician!

HI C.,

I feel your pain. My daughter started giving up her naps at 3 and my son is almost 4 and we are doing away with his naps as we speak. 2 seems a little young to be getting rid of the nap (this was my time to get stuff done). You didn't say what time he gets up in the morning. If he is a late sleeper maybe try waking him earlier that way he can have lunch around 11am and then nap starting at noon. I would also look at how long his naps are in length. Basically he needs to be getting 10-13 hours of sleep. If he is already an earlier riser and you really want to eliminate the nap for me I have to keep him busy. It is easy to get him to stay up during the normal nap time, but if I am not careful he will fall asleep on the couch come 5pm. So the normal nap time can easily become a quiet time with a special toy in his room. I hope this helps.

M.

Once my son started fighting naptime and it would take 2 hours to just get him to lie down, I gave it up. I'd let him watch a movie on the couch and rest. It gave him enough of a boost to make it through the day. I had some friends that would allow a quiet "reading" time with books in their bed, but that would never have worked with my sons for more than 10 minutes. I also moved his bedtime up a bit.