Any 2.5 y/o give up naps altogether?

etteyam

Coz it looks like my older daughter is in the process of doing it. She's been down to 1 nap since a couple months ago. Now she fights going down by screaming and kicking the door. I think it's too early for her to give it up. And I know she's tired in the afternoon coz when we offer to lay in bed or in the couch with her, she falls asleep. So should we let her give it up or no?

chloephoebecali

We stopped them for a while for that reason, but have since reintroduced somewhat successfully.  I tell her she does not need to go to sleep, but that we are all going to our beds to rest/read books.  I make it fun by asking if she wants to pick out this type of book or that/this type of stuffed animal, etc.  Asking these questions gives her some sense of say that makes it okay that she is going to rest for a while.  She probably ends up sleeping 75% of the time.  We skip as needed for events, but some days she absolutely needs it.

AmandaP678

Tim gave them up around a year old.

LoveEeyore

My oldest did around 25 months and was ready to- never fell asleep in the car- never cranky in the evening...

DS right around 28 months.  DD#2 Around 31 months.  Both twins fall asleep in the car and occasionally on the couch but no amount of sanity lost is worth the battle.  They fight, scream, disrupt everyone else in the house... it wasn't worth it the heartache.  I am excited, though, this summer I won't have to be a slave to the clock- it really has simplified our lives. 

Vegas928

We quit them at home, because he simply would not nap at home anymore. But he does still nap, just fine, at daycare. I have noticed that it takes him longer to fall asleep on weeknights (when he has napped at daycare) as opposed to weekend nights when he has not had a nap. Then he's out instantly.

penguingrrl

My girls gave up napping at 2y 9m and 2y 1m. In our case they would go down without a problem, but suddenly couldn't fall asleep at night. After a few nights of going down at 11 or later (rather than their usual 7:30) I tried skipping nap and they went down in the evening without a problem. Now we use naps if we know they'll be up late for something in the evening but otherwise don't let them nap.

I also wouldn't mind the late bedtime except that if they go to bed that late they wake up at the usual 7:30 and are an overtired, cranky mess the entire day because they didn't get enough overnight sleep. If they stay awake all day and get 12 hours of sleep they're well rested and happy.

Shell24

My DD gave up naps before she was even 2.  

I didn't start it until she was about 3 and could understand more but my DD has "quiet time" where she has to stay in her room.  If she's really tired she'll fall asleep while she's in there.  For the most part though, it's just a time where she plays quietly on her own, looks through books, does puzzles, etc.  

If your DD is screaming and kicking the door I don't see how you could force her to nap.  It isn't an issue of "letting" her give it up.  I think she's decided on her own.  

juliane2004

Thoughts from me:

1. If she is kicking and screaming, that signals to me that she NEEDS a nap.

2. If not napping, my kids will continue to have quiet time until they go to kindergarten. This means quiet play with a toy or book in their room for 2 hours a day.

3. For those that dropped naps by 18 months,e ek!!!! I couldn't imagine. I know I'd have extremely overtired kids.

EastCoastBride

This is something to play by ear.  We went through a phase a few months back where DS was REALLY fighting naps - but we KNEW he wasn't ready to give them up.  He's over 3 now and he absolutley still needs naps.  Occasionally he'll go a day or two w/o one - but i can always tell and it catches up to him. 

 

Kadyra

My son dropped his nap at about the same time he started climbing out of his crib-- 18 months.  He screamed and cried when we tried to put him down.  He did not need a nap.  He just didn't want to sleep and we were not going to force him too.  The first few days we tried the no nap regime, he fell asleep around 6:30, but after that, he's stayed awake until 8pm.  He will occasionally nap now when he's had a big day, but that's pretty rare.  Like once a month.

MamatoJackson

DS was in a crib and quit napping.  He would scream in his crib for an hour.  However, he was still cranky in the afternoons so I knew he still needed to nap.

The only option I could think of was to move him to a regular bed and lay with him until he fell asleep.

It has worked and he now naps for an hour everyday.  I sneak out after he's asleep.  It's not ideal, of course, but it really makes our afternoons a lot better.  I anticipate that I will probably have to lay with him like this until he gives up naps.  Thank goodness our DD is a terrific napper.

cchill01

juliane2004:

Thoughts from me:

1. If she is kicking and screaming, that signals to me that she NEEDS a nap.

2. If not napping, my kids will continue to have quiet time until they go to kindergarten. This means quiet play with a toy or book in their room for 2 hours a day.

3. For those that dropped naps by 18 months,e ek!!!! I couldn't imagine. I know I'd have extremely overtired kids.

I'm right there with you.  I give her books and let her read in bed, if she doesn't want to go down.  She will continue to nap every day at daycare.  I see no reason not to continue it at home, too.  DD is 2.5 and she would be an unbelievable mess if she didn't get a nap.

Sawyerplus1

Both of my LOs gave up their 2nd nap before they were a year, and gave up naps altogether right after they turned 2. It was a rough transition for both of them, but particularly for DS. He really didn't seem ready to give his nap up, but there was simply no way I could force the issue. We maintained "quiet time" at the same time as nap time, and for a little while naps were hit and miss (but mostly miss). It was exhausting and frustrating because he would be a mess by dinnertime. When DD gave them up she transitioned a bit more easily, but we still have "quiet time" for both LOs most days, even if it's them playing nicely in DSs room while mommy gets some quiet.  

I would say you should maintain the same nap/quiet time routine, but encourage LO to do something quiet, like read, play with puzzles, etc. Some people even have certain toys/activities they keep put aside for quiet time, so they are special for that time. Now that DS is 4, I have found a LeapPad to be a great way to get some quiet time!  Good luck!

regenab

My girls gave up naps at 2 1/2 when we moved them to toddler beds. The first week, I was not happy about it because I had no break during the day and I had a constant headache from the noise all day long. But after a week I realized I loved it because they started going to bed at 7:30-8pm again. Back when they napped they wouldn't go to bed before 10pm, so I got nothing done after bedtime because I was ready for bed myself. With a 7:30/8pm bedtime I can clean up the kitchen and then sit down and have a glass of wine while watching some tv and just decompress from the day. I prefer the no nap. Now on special occasions when I need them up later I have them nap. But I have to lay down in their room with them until they fall asleep because they tend to play and fight with each other instead of fall asleep if I am not in the room.