Naps...

When my older daughter decided she didn't want to take naps, I told her that she didn't have to go to sleep but she had to stay on her bed being very quiet reading or playing with one doll until a timer went off -- and a lot of the time she fell asleep on her own. But, at least, my younger daughter and I had quiet time for naps.

Maybe you could transition it away from "nap time" to just "quiet time". Having quiet time during the day is a good thing - it teaches children that everything doesn't have to be go-go-go and they don't have to be entertained all the time. It also teaches them essential skills they'll need later in life - like how to relax and slow down.

When I was young, we used to have "turtle time" (I think it was called this because we were quiet and slow, like a turtle. We even did it during Girl Scout camp-outs). It was an hour or so in the middle of the afternoon when we spent some quiet time alone in our rooms. We could nap if we wanted, but otherwise we could read, color, or play quietly. As I got older, I started missing that time to wind down and relax. I try to have that time even now that I'm an adult.

my daughter is 4 as well and has quit taking naps for the last year now. when she started i would tell her to lay down and rest. now she just has quiet time where she can lay and watch a movie or read a book, just so she can rest a little (& i can have a little quiet) it works well for us

Our 4 year old doesn't nap everyday. She does take naps, when we deem it necessary for the sanity of the house! We can tell when a nap is needed and she gets one. On the days she is doing well, she doesn't. Some days we make her spend "quiet time" in her room, meaning she can play quietly while our younger son naps - this is also beneficial for everybody.

I think you have to decide what is best for her, and you and then give it a try.

Hi R., there is nothing wrong with having rest time instead of nap time. You could allow her to read books or color in a coloring book while she lays down if you want to. If she lays still for at least 30-45 minutes she will fall asleep if she needs to and if she doesn't need a nap she will get a good rest to keep her in a good mood the rest of the day.

My 3 year old still naps. My five year old stopped at 3.

S.

All kids are different, and she may be ready to stop. I used to work at a daycare in the 4-5 yr. old class. Some of the younger ones didn't take a nap, and some of the 5 yr. olds did. There may be days where she'll want to take a nap, but it sounds like she's ready to stop. It's up to you if you want her to take an hour rest/quiet time in her room or not.

I would make the decision based on how she's sleeping at night as well. If she's having trouble going to sleep at a decent time I would cut out the naps. It's hard at first but well worth it. My son was 3.5-4 when he stopped taking naps. What we have instead is "quiet time". For about 1.5 hours he can read or do some other quiet activity in his room. I think it's important to teach them everyone needs some "down time" to recharge their batteries. Usually afterwards we have a healthy snack and play outside or play a game together.

Hope this helps!

L.

I made my son quit napping at 4 becuase he didn't want to go to bed until 10 every night. After the naps ended, he was in bed by 8. Let her watch a video instead of taking a nap. That way she gets some down time and so do you.

Every child's (inside makeup) is different I had four, and there isn't a magic number when to quit taking naps, but if you say just rest a bit, you can look at a book, you don't have to sleep, and if in 15 minutes she isn't asleep, doubt if she is going to , so let her up. That short of time isn't long to just rest, and if she still needs a nap then of course she'll drop off.

My daughter stopped napping at about 2 1/2. If she slept for so much as 10 minutes she wouldn't go to sleep at night until 11:00 or 12:00. Good Luck- V.

Hi R.,
I would suggest not forcing the nap any longer. When needed, you could give her an earlier bedtime.
Leanne