Nap Question

MrsMommyofDom

I have a 3.5 year old that will be 4 on July 6th. He has always been a good napper. Do you still give your child naps at this age? He can go without and go to bed at 7:30pm or have one and be energetic until 9pm if we let him. He has great energy regardless of a nap, so I was just wondering if I should cut them or keep them? I have a5 week old too btw.

tracy41

I think the real question is with a 5 week old don't you need him to take a nap? There are days DS just sits in bed for 2 hours and plays trains but it gives me 2 hrs where I can focus on LO who thinks 30 min is a nap!

The Weisbluth book says kids drop their nap between 3 to 6 depending on the child although some will still need a nap once in awhile even after they stop napping regularly.

mrs.mastro

My 3 year old still naps.  And I have a 4 week old as well.  But the 3yo's naptime is becoming the most dreaded part of my day.  He is so great all day, but he becomes a devil at naptime.  It is such a production and then he throws a huge fit almost everyday.  I think he still needs it because he will usually sleep 2-3 hours once he settles down, but it is really draining on me.  He has gone without naps, either because we've been out and couldn't do it or he just cried/talked for 2 hours in his room.  He always gets up cheerful and is fine the rest of the day either way.  He goes to bed around 8 with or without nap.  DH puts him down, and I can't get him to do it any earlier.  DS will just sleep in longer some days if he didn't nap the day before.

I sometimes think about cutting out the nap, but I would prefer he go to bed earlier if not napping  But now that it's summer, DH thinks it's cruel to make him go to bed when it's so nice and light outside.  Plus I really need some quiet time during the day.

My nephew will be 4 in July too, and he still naps.  He has to get up early for daycare and goes to bed late though.  I think he will sometimes nap 3-4 hours on the weekend to catch up. 

memali26

DD1 in just over 3 and is kind of in between on naps. She still needs them several times a week or her behavior deteriorates, but if she has one every day she's too rested to go to sleep at bedtime between 7:30-8.

We've reached a compromise the last few weeks - she can take books or quiet toys to bed with her and either read or play quietly OR she can take a nap. About 75% of the time she chooses to nap, the other 25% she plays quietly until I come get her. We were fighting a massive nap battle that left both of us cranky, but giving her a little control like this has made life a lot easier.

BelhurstBride

If he goes down for the nap without a major battle and his night time sleep isn't a problem why switch it up? I personally wouldn't mess with sleep if everything's working!

TriciaandSean

My son needs a ton of sleep and would be a grouch without one.  He's at "school" during the week and they do 2 hours of nap time for all the kids.  Even if they don't nap they have to lay on their mat for rest time for 2 hours.  I plan on keeping naps until Kindergarten if I have any say in the matter. 

honeybee111

DD is almost 3.5, and she still naps for 2 hours every day.  On the rare occasions that she misses her nap, she is horrible and falls asleep for the night at 6(her regular bedtime is 7:30), so we definitely have no plans to cut out the nap anytime soon.

Jules122907

Dd was 4 in March and still takes a nap. Sometimes she goes to sleep, other times she sits in her room quietly and plays with her dolls or reads books. She still needs the down time or she is a mess by 6pm. I also have a 2 1/2yo who needs his nap an I struggle getting him to sleep if dd is up. With a new baby coming in Oct, I will encourage naps/quiet time until she starts kindergarten the next fall.

08summerbride

We just try to be more flexible now. We used to always be home for nap time and plan our errands around it. Now if we have something to do tha t onterfers with nap we just skip the nap. If we are home she takes a nap, or at least has to rest in her bed for 2 hours. In the summer time I don't mind a little later bed time, so her napping still works. If she doesn't nap she is definitley down by 7:30.

MrsMommyofDom

Thank you everyone! I think the main reason is because I need a break. I wake up between 4am and 5 to feed the baby and then ds1 is up when I try to go back to sleep and then 9pm rools around and Im exhausted. He sleeps great for naptime but will sit in bed after lights out for an hour but if he skips naptime, hes cranky around 6 and will fall right asleep. I like the nap til kindergarten idea, but weekends are busy so maybe he can skip them if hes happy.