How old was your toddler when they gave up on naps? - Page 2

[lyterae]

DD is 4.5 and only recently stopped napping everyday, she currently only naps on preschool days.

[loraxc]

My older daughter was over 4. DS is 2.5 and shows no sign of dropping his.

If there is a nap struggle going on, maybe you need to change bedtime or naptime (try earlier rather than later), wake the kiddo after an hour or so of nap, etc. We did have some nap struggles with DD, but we kept at it and they resolved.

[ellemenope]

It has always been difficult to put DD down for naps.

I think it was around 15 months where DD could skip her nap and show little to no ill-effects.

Ever since she turned 2, that trick where you skip the nap so you can get them to go to sleep earlier has stopped working.

Nevertheless, we still strive to get DD one good nap in the day. She must wake up from her nap before 3 or we will really be in for it at bedtime. And, the only way I can get her to sleep is by putting her in my ergo with her fave blankie and dancing around to her favorite song while I do my chores. It takes anywhere from 15-45 minutes. She won't even sleep in the car anymore.

We just really think it is important for her to get a bit of a recharge in the middle of the day. I do notice subtle little things when she has not napped.

So, we are still napping at 26 months. She gets one. They are 45 minutes long. (I lay her down in her bed.)

ETA some advice: I was always surprised how early DD seemed able to nap. From 12-18 months she would get up at 8 and take her nap at 11. Also, I think having them on a sleep/nap schedule that is down to the minute is really key. They need to get up at the same time, take a nap at the same time, and go to sleep at the same time every day. There is a lot to be said about your body clock. It really works. Now, with DD it is still hard, but if we stray from her schedule it get really hard.

And, DD never slept in a crib, so I am confused why a transition to a toddler bed makes any difference. Is it because they don't stay in bed? Because, DD would never stay in bed and just go to sleep for a nap. never. We just have to get creative.

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Originally Posted by ellemenope

Also, I think having them on a sleep/nap schedule that is down to the minute is really key. They need to get up at the same time, take a nap at the same time, and go to sleep at the same time every day. There is a lot to be said about your body clock. It really works. Now, with DD it is still hard, but if we stray from her schedule it get really hard.

We have found this to be soooo true. Thankfully, with DD (will be 2 on Tuesday) we no longer have to worry about what time she wakes up on her own and how it will affect her nap. She wakes up anywhere between 7-8, goes down for a nap at 1, wakes up between 2:30-4, and goes down for the night at 8.

[Stitches]

OP here. Thanks for all the input! She's still sleeping well at night but resiting the naps pretty forcefully, although when she does get tired enough, she will take one. We're averaging about one or two a week. I'm enforcing 'quiet time' if she won't nap, and she does seem to be refreshed afterward. The days when she really does need one and won't are hard on me though...I'm getting worried for when the new baby comes! She's still only been in the new bed for a few weeks though, so I'm hoping things might normalize yet. My mom tells me I gave up naps around this age though, so it may just be her makeup.

[blizzard_babe]

It became a struggle at abotu 20 months. He gave them up for good (barring out-of-the-norm circumstances) at around two years. He still naps maybe once every two or three weeks, but we don't consider it a good thing, because it's always unintentional, too late in the day, and bedtime-ruining .

[ckberkey]

My 2.5 yr old still naps most days. By about 4 yrs old my kiddos stop taking naps.