I have 3 1/2 year old and he does not want to take naps. I do force him to take a nap and he usally sleeps for about an hour, then we have a hard time getting him to go to sleep. He has gone all day without taking a nap and wants to go to sleep before bed time. My question is should a 3 1/2 early old take a nap or should we let him stay up?
My son will be 4 in a couple of weeks, he's had "quiet rest time" since October of last year. Sometimes he sleeps, sometimes he doesn't... but the rule is he has to be QUIET and in his room. He can play with his cars, look at a book (often we read together)... this gives the baby (18 months) a nap and doesn't provoke a lot of screaming or stuff about not being tired.
S.
I am a firm believer in naps and sleep for kids. My 3 1/2 year old says he doesn't want a nap either, but he gets to sleep within 5 minutes and sleeps for at least 2 hours. I think at this age it is more a test of will and seeing how far you will bend the rules. I try to keep a consistent routine that after lunch we take a nap. This way there is no confusion about whether he will have a nap or not and anytime he questions it I let him know that after lunch we take a nap. Sleep is just too important for their mind and body. Most kids are sleep deprived as it is. You can check on some websites to see how much a 3 year old should be sleeping. I know some recommend that if they stop napping to make their bedtime that much earlier. So if they normally go to bed at 8:30, but their naps were 1-2 hours they should go to bed at 7 so they will get the same amount of sleep.
I know I really need the quiet time of both of my kids asleep for a little while too! Good luck!
N.,
My 5yo went through the same things from 3 until 4 1/2. The thing we found worked best was to establish "quiet time" instead of nap time. This was a time where he didn't have to sleep, but was required to play quietly in his room for 2 hours. Sometimes he would play, other times he would take a nap. As far as going to bed early, if it is not affecting the time he normally wakes up, then I wouldn't worry about it too much.
Debi
It's a test, he is testing his boundries. Even in my latest Parents magazine they were talking about 3 year old (mine is too) going through a big testing period in thier 3's. I am currently having a big problem with this very thing. They want control and it seems they pretty much know how to get it. So stick to your guns and don't let him push you around, you are they adult, Plus: keep his schedule tight, and make sure it's consistant. It's best for those handsome (sometimes devilish) kiddos!
_N
My daughter (who will be 4 in a couple of days) was never a nap taker either. Recently, I have been putting her in bed for a nap. Then I have been making her go to sleep by 8-8:30 at night. I have found that listening to what all those advice givers before had told me actually does work. The advice is to keep kids on a schedule. They know what is coming and they accept as long as you are consistent. She is no longer cranky at night before going to bed and wakes up a happy little girl.
That's a really good question and I do not have a for sure answer. My kiddos are 2 & 1/2, and 4& 1/2. The eldest boy stays up late if he has a nap and if he does not goes to bed too early. However I started cutting down on the durration of his nap.
The younger child, is on medication so we have to do a nap. Which makes getting through the whole night hard at times vs no nap and he goes to sleep earlier than later. ( in which case so do I)
I guess only thing I can really say is look at what you have planned that day and the next. Maybe be a litle more flexable it does not have to be either or, sometimes child might need one ( cries,crankie ect) or you might have had a rough day,in which case maybe let kiddo stay up and go to sleep early. ( this works nice if you have to get up early the next day too)
Trial and error...I used to think it was either or but seems every other day my eldest naps now and when he does not we play Playdoug or do an art prodject while younger sleeps.
Good Luck
hey hun
not all kids have or need a nap. so for your 3 old to not want a nap could be normal for him. i wouldn't sweat it. you just dont have downtime during the day like most :). i say let him stay up and when you put him to bed make it at a time that you know he will sleep through the night. i do that with my 3 yr old when he doesnt want to take a nap and it works fine.
N.
With my son I stoped naps at 2 yrs old so hw would got to bed at night other wise he wouldn,y go to sleep until 12:00 or 1:00 at night. My daughter who is now 3yrs She has stoped taking naps since about 2 1/2 because I was having trouble of her going to sleep at night. When she was a preschool theymake them lay down they would like them to take a little nap but if not they would lay down quitely When summer started she doesn't take a nap unless she is really tired usually never. She would go to sleep maybe a little early at first buy know it only about bed time. SO once your child gets a little used to it he will adapt. Know at first he might be alittle cranky but his body will get used to it. I know in 3yr old preschool some teachers don't let them have naps and some do.
So do what you want to happen. Let him take a nap and fight with him to go to sleep of put up with the crankyness for a little while and him falling to sleep a little early Some times whe he starts to fall a sleep early just keep him bussy .
L. M
I think your answer really lies within what your child is able to do. If your child can go all day without a nap and not be a royal terror in the late pm AND go to bed at a normal time, then Yes, he's ready to skip the nap business.
However, if he misses a nap and is a complete melt-down king or wants to fall asleep at the dinner table, then he's not ready.
I took naps well into my kinder year (and again in college - those were the days! lol) and my son who is 3 1/2 also still takes a short nap (1 1/2 hrs. to 2 hrs) in the early pm. If he doesn't (and he does try to stay up sometimes) he is impossible to deal with in the evenings!
My 5 year old gave up his naps when he was about 4. He just had some quiet time playing in his room at nap time. We called it our quiet time because I wanted some rest too. Sometimes he would fall asleep on his own during that time. If he did not take a nap then the bed time would come a little earlier, at 7 - 7:30 instead of 8 pm.
Hope it helps.
If you have a hard time getting him to sleep at night, it may be time to skip the nap. When mine was 3 his younger peers were starting to skip the nap before age three! I am sure you love that time, but consider quiet time where he has to color or play quietly for that hour in his room. Good luck!
