Toddler Naps

My son will be three in March, and he has basically the same routine you describe. In fact, he's napping right now! I think toddlers (like people) all require different amounts of sleep. And besides, we need down time too, right? As long as it is not interfering with his night time rest, I say stick with what works!

My 4 yr old napped consistently for 2 hrs every day and slept 9 hrs every night until the last 6 mths. I think he's getting passed needing a nap and just needs an earlier bedtime soon. He'll be 5 in Feb. Most days he just "rests quietly" for 1 hr without sleeping.

Way to go mom! I'm a grandma, and always loved it when they napped. Children pretty much know what they need and will let you know if you give them the chance. He still needs it. I have always needed more sleep than others. He will need to be in bed earlier once he is in early school, but tackle that when you have to, and don't let others make you feel funny.

the people gasping? - I promise you they are secretly jealous... It is perfectly appropriate for your toddler to still be napping. Children give up their naps in their own time. The fact that your son doesn't nap a few days a week probably means that he is gently weaning away from the nap - this could go on for the year. Keep doing what you're doing.

Good for you! the gasp that someone did about your child still napping was probably jealousy. My son napped until 4 1/2 and even then he stopped only b/c I took the naps away to get him ready for kindergarten. He did not want to nap but when he laid down he slept almost 2 hours. My daughter is 3 and sleeps 2 hours a day. She is fine when we miss her nap too but she sleeps well at night either way. I would let him nap, more sleep can only be good! I would stop the naps about 3-5 months prior to kindergarten if he is still napping just to get him ready for no naps! Good for you, who cares what others think, they are jealous! We all need our time :O)

W.

My girls quit naps between 2 and 3.
My son- who will be five in January- still naps daily... sometimes twice a day.

Kids know their bodies- they'll stop napping when they are ready.

My daughter is almost 2 and a half and naps regularly every day. She wakes up approx. 7:30am and goes down for her nap around 12:30-1:00 and usually sleeps between 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Her bedtime is 7 pm. I think naps are very important for children this age. If your son is wanting to take a nap, that is probably his body telling him that he needs to rest. I think some rest time each day is very important for toddlers. Even if they don't nap, they should have at least an hour of low lights reading time or quiet activity time. I say let him nap as long as he will and don't feel pressured by other moms. Do what you feel is right for your son.

You're SO lucky!! Be glad your toddler still wants to nap; mine stopped at 3 and hasn't napped since! Actually, she would nap, but then wouldn't go to sleep at night until around 11:00pm. That was unacceptable!! As long as he still wants to nap and sleeps at night...........let him!

Whoever the gasper was is just plain silly. All of my kids took naps until they were about 4 y.o., and then at 4 we had downtime for an hour, no noise, just quiet time in their rooms reading, laying down or playing. Downtime is important for kids. My 3 y.o. still takes a nap every day for almost 2 hours and goes back to bed at 8:30. She is a different child without her naps. Heck, my 6 year old still passes out when she gets home from school. I could go a step further and say I even need a nap at about 3:30 every day! lol

My son is 3 and just quit his naps. I have several friends with 4yos who still nap. (I was hoping I would have one of those!) It sounds like you and your son benefit from his naps. I wouldn't worry about that other mom.

Wow! I think that is great! Your son seems to know what his body needs and that is fantastic! Don't let anyone discourage you. Let him go at his own pace. He seems to have a great schedule. Both of my older girls stopped taking naps at age 2 almost like clockwork. I am a SAHM too, and it about drove me nuts! However, when they turned 4 they both sort of slid back into naps with a quiet time. Where, they would have to settle down and "rest" for about an hour and during that time they usually fell asleep. My twin 16 mos olds. still nap for three hours in the afternoon. (I am keeping my fingers crossed.) My older daughter, now 8yrs. old, transitioned well from her return to napping at age 4 to not taking one by 1st grade. Best Wishes!

I honestly think it depends on the child, and even what happened that day. My kids are now 6 and 8. My 6 yr old is in K, and they have a rest time between 2-3. Some kids rest quietly, while she still goes right to sleep.

My 8 yr old son stopped napping at 3, however if we're in the car going and he's had a busy day, he will fall asleep.

I just don't think there's any set rule...it just depends on your child.

If your son is still sleeping well at night and asks for a nap, then he should stay with it. Both my children gave up their naps on their own at about your son's age and I hated to see the naps go because they were then much more likely to fall asleep around supper time and have trouble going to sleep at night. I'd say do what works for you, count your blessings and don't pay any mind to what other moms say. You're his mom, you know best.

He sounds like a great sleeper. Let the the little fellow sleep. My oldest (now 17)needed her naps for a long time. When she went to kindergarten she came home worn out every day and took a nap for at least an hour, sometimes more. On the other hand, my second daughter (now 14) outgrew naps before she was 4. They are all different. As long as he is sleeping at night, let him nap. Besides, the growth hormone is released during sleep, he is a growing boy! ;-)

I can tell you from my experience that my oldest is 14 and still can use a nap every now and then. Kids have very busy schedules. With school and practice for extras it can wear a kid out. My 5 yr old started kindergarton this year and still faithfully comes home and takes an hour nap before doing homework. She has to get up at 6am to catch the bus. She arives home at 330 and lays down for a nap. When she wakes up we do a snack and homework. We go outside for a few although with the time change that is getting harder. Then it is time to come in and get supper and a bath. We have reading time and then some short cartoon. She is in bed before 9. That is another thing....when kids lay down and get up effect how much sleep they need. I was told by my doc to expect my 4 yr old to need about 12 hrs of sleep because he seems to sleep all the time. I was worried about him. All kids are different.

Go with your instincts and let your kid nap as long as he needs to! My daughter is 6 1/2, in the first grade, and she still needs a nap if it's possible. She doesn't get one at school five days a week, but she takes a long (3-4 hours) one on Saturday and Sunday, and that's okay. She also gets 10 1/2 hours of sleep a night during the school week (8 p.m. - 6:30 a.m., but she has come home from school and gone to sleep before supper and even in the bathtub (twice)! At times I wish my child didn't sleep so much, but I need more than some adults and she needs more than some kids, and that is just our family's speed. Do whatever you need to do for your family, and let everybody else take care of themselves.

He sounds like an angel! By all means, if he wants or needs a nap, let him have one! Follow your intuition and do what works and feels right for your family. Don't worry another second about what anyone else does. An occasional nap does a lot of good for me, and I'm way past being a toddler. When my son was in half day kindergarten he would sometimes fall asleep on the bus ride home. You might find a physicians child sleep chart, which shows how much sleep kids need according to age. It's surprising how much they need, and he probably is in the range of 13 hours a day/night.

My daughter is 3 1/2 and she still naps everyday. My son gave his naps up by this age. She like your son ask to take a nap and asks to be put to bed everynight between 8-9. I see nothing wrong with a toddler that aknowledges when they are tired and ask to go to bed. I enjoy the time to. I am in no hurry for her to give up her naps.

A. M

my son took great naps - 2x's a day until he started school, now at 17 he is still my champion sleeper and i let him sleep away unless we are doing something.

my daughter took short (less than an hr)naps and stopped napping around 2 years old.

i say let their little bodies sleep, they need it.

My 4-y/o still takes a nap most days, right along w/my 2-y/o. Their 3-y/o cousin hasn't taken regular naps for several months. All kids are different. I baby-sat a family for years and the two oldest kids were 3 years apart in age, but they both gave up their naps about the same time -- when the older one was 5-6 years old and the younger one was 2-3 y/o. Just listen to your kids' actions, which is a lot better indication of how much *he* needs than what *other kids* need. :-)

Both of my kids go without a nap occasionally, and sometimes they make it till bedtime without a problem; more frequently, they are horrid for the last hour or so of the day, or fall asleep too early for bedtime but too late for naptime. I was willing to cut out naptime for both of my kids (but especially my older one), but they just get too tired and/or crabby to never take a nap. Sometimes they can handle napping only every other day, but most days they need naps.

Wow I'm flabergasted that other Moms/people can judge a person for a child napping!!!! It is perfectly normal for a 3 year old to nap during the day and much needed I might add. Cuddos to you for keeping a schedule with your children!
My 7 year old starting giving uo naps at age 4 and it would be hit or miss, but she still lay down everyday for quiet time and then at age 5 she stopped that all together. They still napped in kindergarten until Decemeber and then after the Christmas break they stopped their naptimes, to get them ready for First grade.
My 3 year old takes a nap daily between 12 and 1 and will nap for 1-2 hours. She goes to preschool 3 days a week and at times doesn't nap there and believe me I can tell by her crankiness.
Sleep is an important part of a childs development. Their little bodies need to rest in order to grow and to learn.
Don't worry about what others think, do what you know is right for you and your family!!

Hi Sarah,

My little boy will also be 3 in January. He also still takes a nap everyday for between 1-2 hours. The differences are that he doesn't ask for or even want to take them (I wish he'd ask for/want to take them) and if he doesn't get a nap he is a bear later that day. My opinion is be sooo glad that he still takes a nap (it's sanity time for me) and just give him the nap as long as he wants it. You are a lucky mommy! This age is so wonderful and fun, but very exhausting. Keep reminding yourself (as you do) that each child is different and EVERYONE has their 2 cents to put in about how to raise children. BUT you are the BEST judge about your little sweethearts. Have fun and good luck. I'm sure you are busy. My little one keeps me going. My husband and I want to have another baby but I'm not sure how I'll keep up. Talk about intimidating.

Katie

My son is almost 3(in 2 weeks) and he still takes a 2hr nap each day. I will let him take his nap until he seems to not need it anymore. We do skip the nap occasionally due to being away from the home or whatever during the day and he usually does just fine. He is a great sleeper at night as well. My daugher who is now 8 took naps up until she started school. They did shorten after she turned 4 but she seemed to feel better if she had her nap. She had to take a nap (rest time) in Kindergarten so I did not see any reason to stop her naps before she started school.
You will always find someone to "gasp" at your parenting skills. I think that if something is working for you and your child than let it be no need in making him grow up faster than he already will.

My 4 year old (will be 5 in February) still takes naps most days for 1 - 2 hours and still sleeps about 11 hours at night. The only day we usually skip is on his long day at pre-school and Saturday's. When we do skip them on his long day at pre-school his is ready for bed early that night. My son is a high energy child and when awake is always full speed ahead. My 6 year old is in 1st grade and they no longer take naps or have quiet time. Some nights she does not make it until dinner without falling asleep. She often takes naps on the weekends to catch up before Monday comes around. I am not about to let anyone make me feel bad for still giving naps to my kids. Believe me...you can sure tell when they are not rested!

Every child (AND adult!) is different (some are hot-, some are cold-natured, some eat all the time, some will HARDLY eat)! There aren't any 'hard-and-fast rules' about how much each one should sleep, either. I always CHERISHED naptime as I could get some things done (or NOT!! Sometimes I'd just take a nap, MYSELF! LOL) No one should 'shame' you for such things, and if they do, it's an insecurity on THEIR part. It doesn't pay to 'judge' other parents, because --however much we wish it were true, there are no guarantees that our kids will turn out wonderfully no matter how well we 'parent'. On the other hand, they usually actually turn out pretty good in SPITE of us! Ha Ha! (I have 4 grown -- ages 20 to 31). I also had one who resisted sleep like the plague, and he's almost 29 and still has weird sleep/awake habits.

Anyway, just be glad your child is healthy and active when s/he is and that s/he sleeps when s/he does!

God bless and happy parenting!

.

My daughter still takes a nap on occassion and she is 5. I think this is fine, I just believe if the child is tired than why not let them sleep!! in my mind, it certainly doesn't harm them and if they are given the oppurtunity to nap and they do so then this is fine in my opinion. Most days while at pre school/daycare, my daughter is given the oppurtunity to take a nap, sometimes she does and other days she just rests without sleeping...on the weekends most typically she will not nap unless we have a planned late evening and I want to be sure she is up and happy for instance, later in next month we are going to see the nutcracker, she loves that but it starts at 730 PM which this means I want her to nap during the day so she will be able to stay up and enjoy the show...
Anyway, just my thoughts...

Whoever pushed you into a corner and gasped about your child still napping is just jealous! It's wonderful that your child has healthy sleep habits! Be thankful. It's certainly normal and nothing at all to worry about. Most children need naps up until around age 5, but most parents lead too busy lives to pay careful attention to their baby's/toddler's sleep needs. Sleep deprivation, unbeknownst to most parents, is a common cause of crankiness, hyperactivity, & difficult behavior. Let the kid sleep, and enjoy!

Relax and count your blessings! Some mothers can't get their children to go to sleep! You are doing the right thing by listening to your child as to what he needs. Other mothers don't necessarily know more than you about this, and are just comparing your child to theirs.

The developmental experts give a range of how much sleep children of different ages need. Some children are nappers until kindergarten, and some stop as young as three. From birth, my daughter seemed to need less sleep than her same age neighbor, but both are in the normal range.

Trust your instincts and try not to compare your child to others. And enjoy these years. I miss the naps!

I agree with the other Mom's... it was a gasp of jealousy! My son will be 5 in January and started Pre-K this year. They do have 30 minute rest times and occasionally he does go to sleep. On the weekends or long breaks, occasionally he takes a nap, mostly because I can see the meltdown coming and to be quiet honest, I need the cuddle time! I have always tried to protect nap/rest time, just makes for a better day.

Let him nap... I am lots older than 5 and jump at the opportunity to nap! LOL! Good Luck!

My oldest daughter took naps until she was 5. They had to take naps at preschool, she didn't usually sleep during that time, so when she got home from preschool which was 1:45, she laid down at the same time as my youngest when she was a baby. My youngest is 3 and she still naps. She will probably until she's 5 too. Kids are different so she may take them until she's 4. She'll let me know when she doesn't need a nap any more. J. A.

My daughter will be 4 in march and still naps 2 hours a day but if we are out and she doesnt get a nap then she's ok without it if that makes since? My friend teaches 4YO preschool and they have naptime every day for an hour and all her kids take naps

Hello, Sarah
My first daughter quit taking naps at age 2, but that was because she fought them so much. It was more of a hassle to get her down than the break it provided while she was napping.
I think the norm is stopping naps at age 4 or 5. She is in Kindergarten now and after lunch, they get 30 min rest time. Some of those kids do still take a quick nap.
I would just let him nap as long as he wants to. They know how much sleep they need.
Good luck,
D.

My daughter just turned 3 and she still naps most days. I think she needs a nap every day, but sometimes it's not worth the fight if she really doesn't want to take it - or is too busy to stop and nap. I have found that if I fight with her or force her to take a nap, she wakes up very grumpy or whiney. So some days if she doesn't want to I just tell her she needs to go play quietly in her room - and she usually does. I don't see any reason to give up naptime - for the little ones or for the moms! Oh - and she sleeps a good 10-11 hours at night after having a 1-2 hour nap. Those other moms who gasp at our happy children napping may just be in need of a nap themselves :-)

Oh how nice that he still naps! I think my first two gave up their naps before or by the age of 3. I really tried to get them to nap longer to no avail. :( I still needed it. haha I stay home now but when my kids went to daycare all the kids napped to at least 4 and the 5 yos had quiet time too. They still layed on their mats and I think most slept...not mine of course. I know kids who practically put themselves to bed at night and need their naps during the day. I think you're doing the right thing for your son. Some of us need our naps and sleep and some don't. I can't believe there are parents out there that would gasp at the thought of still napping...haha If they were smart, they would want their kids to nap too. :)

Both of my children took naps right up until about 4th birthday. I would keep doing it. I think they NEED it and if it is not effecting his night time sleep, continue it. If he gets to a point where he cannot fall asleep at night bc of his nap then reevaluate!

Hi Sarah,

My son will be 4 in a few weeks and he still takes naps. I too am a stay at home mom and my 11 month old daughter will go down at 10:30 and sleep for about 30 minutes and then at 1:00, both children take a nap and will usually sleep for about 2 hours. I see nothing wrong with it, and if he has napped, he usually goes to bed at night easier, because he's not overly tired.

Every child is different. My oldest stopped napping completely right after his 2nd birthday. My youngest napped until he was 3 1/2 or 4. He slowly fazed them out. Now in kindergarten they have rest time and some children do take a nap everyday. Please don't feel intimidated by other moms. A lot of them probably wish their child would sleep like yours.

I am a mother of 6 children ages 13,15,17,18,19,22. All of mine were great nappers. With 3 very close in age they would all nap at the same time each day and give me a couple hours of catch up time. My oldest son was 5 1/2 when he started kindergarten, he went in the mornings and gladly came home and took a nap every afternoon. This went on all the way thru kindergarten. There is nothing wrong with your child taking naps, he is listening to his body and most kids don't get enough sleep. My oldest son also slept 11-12 hours a night. I have never heard of a cut off age for naps and my son grew up to be a very successful young adult.

HI Sarah.

Don't let anyone make you question what you are doing as a mother. Considering the fact that your little one will be required to settle down and at least lie still for a while in the dark at school, I imagine still taking a nap up until that point would be a good thing. If he needs it and acts like he feels better afterwards while still sleeping well, then I don't see a problem at all. My three year old still naps most days and is much better off for it. The days he does not nap he tends to be a bit grumpier as evening approaches. For anyone to tell you that a 3 - 4 year old should not be napping... that's just ridiculous. If he doesn't need it and isn't sleeping at night, that's one thing; but if he is one a fairly regular sleep schedule and acts happier after the nap, then why in the world would anyone tell you that was bad?

Anywho, sorry for my rant. Like I said, my three year old still takes naps most days and is much better off for it. =) I don't know when he will stop, but I imagine it will be when he is good and ready.

Good work mommy!

Sarah - Never worry about keeping up with the Jones's with kids. They are all so different! My son took naps until he was 3 1/2. I wish he had gone longer. Heck, I'm 40 and take naps!!! My 2 almost 3 year old girl still takes 2 hour naps daily, and I don't see her giving that up. I have friends whose kids are 5 and still nap, and some stop at 2 (thank God mine didn't give them up early). If your child is tired - let them sleep!!

My son has been 3 for a little over a month, and he still takes naps about everyday. He sounds like yours - he can skip sometimes and he is okay. He knows that there is naptime every afternoon, and he'll either go to sleep or he'll play in his room by himself. I'm going to continue the quiet time even when he completely stops napping. I wouldn't worry about it...let him nap as long as he wants to. You need time for yourself whether you are cleaning, working, or napping yourself!! :)

toddlers need naps period... the person who asked your child still naps... may not have had a good sleeper. your son obviously needs the nap or he wouldnt take one. and he sleeps all night. so i would say you are doing the right thing. my daughter is 5 and still takes naps... as you said im in no hurry to make this stop lol

My 4-year-old naps at school but not at home. He quit napping at home when he was about 2, however, he sleeps 12 hours at night when he doesn't nap. He is in head start this year and they get about 90 min of rest after lunch and he sleeps most days. On the days there is no school, he doesn't nap at home though. Sometimes he will lie down for a little while but he doesn't go to sleep. I think in kindergarten they still have nap time after lunch. I wouldn't worry about it unless he starts sleeping more and more and seems otherwise to not be doing well.

My little girl turned 4 in Sept. and she still naps in the late afternoon. Her bedtime is 9:30 and she usually sleeps til 7 or 7:30. Then she takes a nap between 1:30 and 2 (sometimes later depending on what we are doing that day) and she will sleep anywhwhere from 1 1/2 to 3 hours. If I remember correctly, it's reccomended that a child her age get 11-13 hours of sleep a day, and any combination of night/nap sleep is ok. She doesn't really like to nap, but I know she needs one. When she skips she is so cranky and hard to deal with, and actually sleeps less at night. I think naps are good for everyone no matter what their age. Ignore the gasps... tell them they need a nap too!!!

Sarah,
Don't worry about your almost 3 yr old taking a nap. I have worked at preschool in Cordova for over 9 years. Children in the 2 and 3 yr old classes are expected to lay quietly or take a nap for an hour at preschool. Obviously your child needs that much sleep, because the naps are not affecting his night time sleep. I would continue to let him nap.

P.

Sarah,
My son is 3 and has always detested nap time. He is so afraid he will miss something that is going on that he will lay down for 2 seconds then bounce up saying I'm done resting!
A child behavior specialist told me at his age he needed roughly 13 hours of sleep total. (night and nap combined)
I too have been gasped at except mine is the other way around. They say OH lord has he had a nap? I welcome them to come over and spend the two hours fighting him to lay down.
My son is very strong willed! I suggest a nap daily and if he fights it I tell him to let me know when he gets tired.
Then around 7:30 or 8 pm he gets in bed.

Only you know your child and know his needs. If he needs a nap all the way through schoool then let him. My 16 year old niece used to come home from school every afternoon and take a nap (her day began at 5:15 am) and if she missed her nap WATCH OUT! She would be so grouchy you couldn't be in the same room.

Keep doing what you are doing and when someone sticks their nose in politely tell them Thanks for their input and you will take their opinions into consideration but will always do what is best for you son. That usually shuts them up.

Also, I would be interested to hear about what work you do from home?

A litte about me:
2 children, one 3 (boy) and one 6 weeks (girl) I am a single mom so you can imagine that everyone I talk with has an opinion. I say love your children with all you have and do what is best for them always. Never let an opinion sway your own gut instinct!

I wouldn't worry about it, Sarah. My daughter will be 4 in January and still naps on a regular basis (can occasionally go without one but will tell me "I'm so sleepy, Momma!"). Granted, she doesn't nap as long as my almost 2 y.o. does. I'm a big proponent of sleep and beleive that well rested children have lots of benefits (able to concentrate longer, better disposition, etc). Keep doing what you're doing beause your family's happiness is all that matters!

My daughter is just turned 5 and is in pre-k this year. We actually stopped her naptime at 2.5 because it was interfering with her night sleep. She was waking up in the middle of the night and wanting to play. Once we cut the afternoon nap, she went right back to sleeping through the night. Now things are different though. Preschool is all-day and keeps her going until "quiet time" which is just after lunch. The first few weeks she just rested quietly, but lately she has actually been sleeping during that time. Obviously, she needs the sleep now. As long as they continue to sleep through the night, a nap isn't going to bother them. It can only make them happier. You are doing what's right for your child.

My son is in Kindergarten and still loves his naps. I don't let him after school because it interferes with bedtime but I will allow him to snooze on the weekend afternoons. I talked to a couple of parents of kids in his class and he seems pretty normal. I subbed in a pre-K class last week and most of them slept during the "quiet time".

Just ignore whoever was making you feel that way. As you can see from the resposes you are not alone. My 3 year old naps every day for about 2 - 3 hours, and my 11 year old naps after school anytime she gets a chance.
Just enjoy your time, people were always trying to "help" me when I had my first daughter, it gets so annoying. This is probably the best place to get information, the ladies are always so helpful.

If I make my 5-year-old DS lay still and be quiet, he will still take a nap. DD is 2.5 and she started protesting naps earlier this year. She was never the sleeper that DS was ... even as an infant. I asked the pediatrician about it (and about them not winding down until 9:15 pm no matter the bedtime routine or time) and he said it could just be that she is not needing that much sleep. I decided that everyone was playing nicely, they could stay up. I found that I could get more done if I wasn't constantly fussing that they had to take a nap. They also go down much quicker at night. The days have been really pleasant and we are getting more outside active time, they are asleep by 8:30 (or earlier if someone is whiney and gets an earlier bedtime.)

HTH

You are so lucky! Let him sleep. Both of mine gave up naps at around 2. One is now 4.5 and one is 2.5 and they will still take naps occasionally, but then it is impossible to get them to bed at a decent time (and they both wake up between 6:30 and 7:00 almost every day regardless of what time they go to bed). I miss their nap times more than they do! They both have 30 minutes of "quiet time" in their own rooms every day, but that's mainly just to slow them down and calm them down for a while and to help me keep my own sanity!

My toddler is 3 and takes a 1 1/2 to 2 hour nap every afternoon. He's very tired in the early evening if he doesn't get his nap in, or if for some reason he has a really short nap (like when he falls asleep in the car or something). I think it's best to let them get as much sleep as they need and/or want at that age. They are so busy growing! I watch kids, and even the 4 year olds and older need at least a "quiet time" and/or nap in the afternoon. (I have one 4 1/2 year old that still naps for about an hour in the afternoon). Let him nap and enjoy the break! God bless.

Oh I envy you! My dd turned 3 in september and she cut out her naps quite awhile before she turned 3. But then she would get so grumpy come five or six that night, but the days we finally wrestled her down for a nap she'd be up until 10-11 o'clock at night because she didnt want to go to sleep. So if he's still sleeping good at night, and wanting a nap I wouldnt worry about it. Studies have shown children aren't getting enough sleep these days so just be grateful he's still wanting to nap and sleeps well at night! And don't let others make you feel bad.

My son is 4, and he still needs a nap of 1-2 hours every day, though he usually argues with me about it. I've noticed that he tends to sleep better at night when he gets one, since he's not over-tired.

My older daughter napped until she was 4 1/2. I had my second a month before she was 4, so this helped a lot. My younger daughter napped until she was almost 4. She is almost 4 1/2 & still naps once in awhile. I had friends whose kids napped only until 2 & they were jealous.

You need to do what is best for your kids. As long as he is sleeping well at night you have nothing to worry about.

My daughter is 3 1/2 and she still takes naps. She used to take a nap right after lunch, but now she goes down around 2:00 for about an hour and a half . I DON'T think any child of any age taking naps is unusual, it all depends on the child. My nephew is 7 and still naps after school.

Just feel sorry for people whos kids don't nap. I really enjoy the down time. :)

My son will be 4 on Nov. 16th and he still naps. He goes to a daycare 5 days a week and takes a 1.5-2 hr nap daily there and we only skip them on weekends if it's necessary. Don't feel that you are doing anything wrong. Different kids require different sleeping schedules.

each child is different, but my 5 yo has just now stopped napping on his own.

At about 15 months, we went from 2 naps to 1.

It's definitely fine for him to still be napping. My youngest will be 3 in december and definitely still needs a nap every day. It is rare that he ever skips a nap and even then it's only out of necessity. His daycare has naptime for all kids through the 4 year old room. My oldest son stopped regularly napping around 4 1/2. He started kindergarted this year and we had to buy a nap mat for afternoon naps there. It's only about 30-45 minutes, but they still need some form of down time. I still make him take a nap on some weekend days if he acts grumpy and he will sleep for 2 hours. My sister-in-law's middle son just stopped his naps (he will be 4 in feb) and she's upset about it because her oldest napped up until about 4 1/2 too. All kids are different and you'll know when he's done with naps. As long as he still goes to sleep then he obviously still needs them.

Hi Sarah. Just wanted to encourage you not to feel pressured to stop the naps anytime soon. I've had moms tell me their child napped well into Kindergarten and other moms said they couldn't get their child to nap after age 3. Personally, I felt it was important to hold on to the naps if my children acted like they still needed them. My five year old went from napping to "rest time" or "quiet time" at about 4 1/2. About once a week she actually dozes off for a half hour. My 2 1/2 year old still takes naps, and expects them. Even after a 2 hour nap he still sleeps 11 hours at night. I don't expect him to require naps at as late an age as my daughter as he can miss a nap and still do okay. However, there will always be a "rest time" required until they are being schooled full-time. Hope this info. helps.
M. D.