When did the nap go away?

FabulousMrs.P

My DD turned two on Halloween. The last 2-3 weeks I have noticed that she isn't really napping well. She is usually up at 6:45am, eats lunch at around 11am and then down for a nap at 1.  She is in bed by 8pm although she usually take 1/2 hour or so to fall asleep. We will have one day where she naps well and then the next few days she doesn't go to sleep during her nap at all. She is content to play in her crib, but never actually sleeps. I vaguely remember this started happening when she was dropping her morning nap...she needed the nap some days and not others. My mother-in-law keeps insisting to me that she is WAY too young to not need a nap because my 4 year old nephew still naps. I know that all kids are different though.


When did you little ones drop their nap? I will still probably give her some "quiet" time in her bed in place of a nap so she can recharge her batteries a bit.

tracey4228

P dropped her home nap around 2 but still naps most days at daycare. She still benefits from a nap so the drop is related more to not wanting to miss out on anything.

BelhurstBride

Within the last couple of months. My mother said I quit napping by 2.

HML5382

My 3 year old still naps consistently, but I know that's not the case for everyone. My daughter sleeps from 8pm-7am and naps 1.5-2 hours. I think continueing with a quiet time is a good idea, especially if she still sleeps sometimes and is content to play quietly in her crib.

The recommendation I've always heard is that toddlers need 12-14 hours of sleep per day, that can be all overnight or broken between night and a nap. You might try moving up your daughters bedtime a bit too see if it helps. I know when my DD gets a little sleep deprived from vacations or whatever and misses naps, a few nights of early bedtimes usually gets her back on track. Even if that doesn't help her nap and she really is done with naps altogether already, she'll probably benefit from an early bedtime so she still gets her 12 hours per day.

Cherryblossoms07

DD it was 2.5
DS is just now dropping his and he just turned two. (

I agree with above poster. Most toddlers need at least 12 hours a day. That can be all at night or broken up with naps.

kristennd

It's all over the map. DH dropped naps completely at 18 months and I was four.

LO started dropping them at 2 1/2. We get 2-3 days/week with a nap now. And a no-nap day is no longer a guarantee of an early bedtime. Sometimes he powers through like he got the sleep.

ashiscute

My DD is almost 3 and still naps about 2 hours each day.  I think she is a little young so I'd keep up the routine and maybe (hopefully!) she'll get back into the habit of napping regularly.  It could just be a phase.  

Vespah

Nap was totally gone by about 2.5 she only naps now if we happen to be driving in a car for longer than 30 min around lunchtime. During the transition to no nap though her bedtime routine took a 180 and it became very hard to put her down ( she wasn't going to bed until like 11!) it was insane. It took about 4 months for the dropping nap #%^*storm to calm down.

BeanNut

Mine is turning 3 this month and still naps most days.  Some days she will just sit in her room and play during naptime.  As long as you are giving her the opportunity to sleep, I think that's fine.

My mom loves to remind me that my sister and I both stopped napping just after our second birthdays.  So don't be surprised if she gives it up completely after a little while.

myeshabride

My DD turned 2 in Sept. and she's down to taking a nap at daycare for 1hr 45mins - 2 hrs when she used to be good for a 3-4hr nap on the weekends.  Like one of the other Moms said, as long you're attempting to lay her down whether she actually naps, lays there quietly, or plays quietly, at least she's have a little wind down time.  Good luck!

Spin313

DS stopped napping at 3.5 and would do quiet time.

DD is two months shy of three and recently stopped napping. She was climbing out of her crib and we recently switched to a twin bed. She won't stay in her room for quiet time...so it's been a battle.

sunnyday016

This thread is scary! It will be a sad day indeed when my son drops his nap! DD is almost 5 and naps about 2 hours every day. I know we need to cut it before she starts kindergarten in the fall, but she still does truly need it.

KissyFishyLips

AB started skipping her naps around a year old and dropped her nap completely before 18 months old (sigh). She would still go up for quiet time in her room until just after 2.5 years old.

E is almost 18 months old and still napping strong. 

luvmygirlss

same thing is happening with us:( She's 2.5 some days are ok, others she'll just lay there, or tell me she's not tired. Trying to stretch it a little longer but it I know it wont be long until she drops the nap completely

FabulousMrs.P

Yes, I keep putting her up. I tried pushing her nap time back a little bit, but that didn't seem to help. Some days she sleeps, some days she plays in her bed. I keep giving her "quiet time" in bed regardless...it's her choice as to what happens in there. I hope that she goes back to napping normally, but honestly, I think the nap is on the way out. We're trying to stretch it for as long as we can.

dglvrk2

My LO is 2 yrs. 7 months and is doing the same thing.  Some days it's a beautiful 2+ hour nap and an 8 pm bedtime.  She takes a little while to fall asleep and is up around 6:45-7 am.  Other days, it's no nap and no signs of being tired until about 7 pm.  

I'm born on Nov. 1st.  My mother was just here and observed DD's nap behavior.  She said it was around January of my third year (your daughter's age almost exactly) that I started to drop a nap or two a week.  She said it was tough because some days she, my dad and DCP thought I could go without and I couldn't then others I'd just play when they wanted me to nap.  This went on for over two years in my case.  I finally dropped my naps when I was five and went to preschool.  (I'm sure the naps got shortened as I got older)

I think your'e doing the right thing by giving her opportunities to nap and/or for quiet time every day.  

I too am not looking forward to the day DD drops her naps entirely.  Our second DD is due next week!!  So she'll have to be mellow when DD#2 naps........ah toddlers :-)

zeptattoo

DS just turned 4 and he is not napping at home anymore.  We still do "quiet time" and he is fine with that.  He naps occasionally at preschool.

ladylisalt

My 2.5 still naps at home and daycare. We had a day or 2 of battles at home around the holidays where he fought it.I think he was just off routine. It took a quick carride from DH to pass him out. lol I hope he continues for awhile longer too. From what it sounds like every kid IS different. My friend's daughter who is the same age has been completely fighting them altogether lately.

Leap08

My 4 year old still naps most days. It's a much shorter nap than it used to be (1/2 to 1 hour), but still a nap. I fully expect her to drop it by summer. They still have a nap time in her daycare class, and I'm sure that's why she still takes one. My 2 year old naps for at least 2 hours. If she does not sleep, she's a cranky mess. It's getting harder to get her to slow down and take a nap, but she still greatly needs it. 

ThatWasAHoot

My son just turned 3 and he still consistently naps.  Once every 2 or 3 weeks he will sing in his bed instead, though haha