When Do Toddlers Give up Their Naps?

My son is just over two and is going through periods of time when he won't sleep either or he won't go down at his bed time. I have started putting him down at 11am every day and I let him cry a little--most of the time he goes right to sleep, other times he just cries. At that point, I let him get up and I make sure I put him down early for bed. He finally has gone back into taking regular naps. But occasionally we hit no nap weeks. I would agree that it's good to atleast make them sit quietly and read or something for an hour if they won't nap. On no nap days, that's my only sanity.

Hi M.,
My daughter is the same age and I started sleep training her at birth with great success. Not long after her 2nd B-Day she decided to stop napping regularly too. I still put her in her bed for a "rest" for at least 1 hr. I also moved her bedtime earlier by 1 hour on days she doesn't nap and she doesn't get as cranky in the afternoon. The average child still needs to nap at their age, but not all will. :( The trick is to make sure he doesn't become overtired.
Good luck!
L.

I've noticed that if my 2.5 year old daughter doesn't get enough exercise in the morning, then she won't nap. But if she doesn't nap, she's cranky in the evening. So I've been trying to make sure that she gets enough exercise in the mornings so she'll nap better in the afternoon. Then her mood is better for the whole day.

If she really won't nap, I put her down and then she plays in her room quietly for about an hour. That's not as good as a nap, but it's better than not having any down time at all.

M., you sound like me. I thought NOOOOO, not yet!!!!! I had to make sure and be relentlessly consistent about the schedule. Even if my son didn't want to nap, he had to have some quiet time in his bed. This went on for about 6 days. he would sit in there and entertain himself, sometimes cry a little, but soon enough he gave in and went to sleep. Even an hour does wonders for the attitude! Mine's 2.5 and very spirited. He would have to be quiet cause I just got his 14 month old brother on the same schedule!! Stay consistent with your schedule, kids do good on one. I'm also 30ish, 2 boys, stay at home run my own mortgage business. Hope that helps, hang in there, win the battle of wills. They say pick your battles, this was an important battle for me. It was my mid day sanity to catch up with myself.

I had the same problem with my son when he was about that age he just decided that he didn't want to sleep and he had always taken a really long afternoon nap (3 hours)! I found with my son (and yours might be different) that he was just trying it out. Like , let me see what mommy will do if I don't take my nap, wheee!!!) He went crazy late in the afternoon! He gets hyper when he is tired. I just kept trying to get him to nap at the same time, even if he just had quiet time in his room for a while. He took about 3 days and he was back to the same old schedule. He is now 3 1/2 and has the same schedule most of the time. He goes to bed about 8 pm and gets up about 7am take his nap about 1-2. It will probably pass if you want it to.

it depends on the child. there are basic guidelines that determine the amount of sleep your child should be getting based on their age. this is what i found on web md: 3-6 Years Old : 10 ¾ - 12 hours per day

i would say if your child gets the right amount of sleep without a nap, and doesn't seem to miss nap time... do without it. conversly, if your child isn't getting alot of sleep at night (less than the 10-12hrs)or misses naptime, a nap would be good.

I am a mother of 4. Im sure you already know but all children are different and need different things. My 3 year old does not take a nap every day. It depends on what we are doing that day and what his needs are. I feel you know your child best so if he is getting cranky by 4:oo that is his way of saying i need a nap. Even if he doesnt want to. If it is a fight i would try having some down time, like reading a book or taking a rest even he he doesnt fall asleep. He may surprise you and need more rest some days and not so much others. Good luck, im sure it will all work out.

that depends on your kid? If he gets a nap is he hard to put to bed at night?

that is when we knew it was time to give it up in our house, my DD would stop going to be at night..