(Another) question about naps - 2yo - wwyd?

christie.h · April 2011

Usually DS naps for 1 - 1.5 hrs at 11:30 everyday. This past week, he's been going down later and later, and today he's been happily playing in his crib for over 45 mins and will not actually go to sleep for his nap. He keeps calling for me, but just wants me to tuck him in and as soon as I leave he's up again so I finally played the "this is the last time" card.

I don't feel like it's time to give up naps yet. He'll get so tired by the evening that he'll fall asleep on the floor or pass out right before dinner.

At night he sleeps well from 9pm to around 7am.

So what do you do? Let him stay up, keep trying, move nap time later and have it possibly conflict with bedtime? I'm about to have another baby, and I feel like we're all going to need routine if we're going to stay sane.

katekirschner · April 2011

If he is getting up at 7am I think he might just not be tired yet at 11:30. DD still naps about 2 hrs but that's from 1-3. We do lunch, a tv show or some quiet play and then nap at 1. Some days she doesn't nap as long or goes down later, but at 2 I think they very much still need a good nap. Maybe try bumping back the time till after lunch?

Sami8468 · April 2011

My son went though the same thing, I thought he was going to stop with naps but it was just for a short amount of time. I sometime just let him take a late nap. My pedi said that even if he goes and lays down in his room or relaxes watching a movie, it's better than no nap at all. Just a little quiet time is good too. GL!

WifeofaMarine · April 2011

I would try to move naptime later. DS (2.5) hasn't napped that early for a long time. He usually gets up between 7 and 8, though every once in awhile he gets up REALLY early.

At daycare, he takes a 2.5 hour nap at 12:30. At home on the weekends, he normally goes down for a nap between 1 and 2 (depending on what time he gets up) and sleeps for 2-2.5 hours. His bedtime is anywhere between 8:30-9:30.

christie.h · April 2011

Thanks ladies. I work a lot and DH is a SAHD so sometimes I don't realize there is a gradual change taking place until I'm actually being counter-productive to it lol! We've noticed some changes in his eating habits too, so I'm sure that's playing into this.

I think we will try moving nap time later. Thanks!

smile869 · April 2011

definitely try later, both my toddler nap from about 1-3, and it has never interfered with bed time. Good luck!

nic326 · April 2011

Maybe he just needs to go down a little later. The issue in our house is DS goes to daycare 3x a week at 1pm. So I am getting him up early to be able to put him down for a nap around 10:30am. If he misses a nap he has a really hard time getting thru the rest of the day because he is so pooped. But there are some days too where he just wont nap but I let him "rest" or take quiet time in his bed.

I would try moving the time up a bit and see how it works.

LuvinMyKids · April 2011

I agree that if he's not getting up until 7am, going down for a nap at 11:30am may be too early. Our DS2, who is 2 1/2, goes to bed at 7pm and wakes around 6:30-7am. He naps from 12-2pm. I agree that your LO is probably not ready to give up a nap yet. FWIW, our 5 year old DD still naps, lol! GL!

lmdbww · April 2011

Around the time DD turned 2 we went through a nap thing which started out with her refusing to nap totally, and eventually when she started napping again the time changed from 11:30-noon to around 1pm. Her bedtime is still between 8-9 and she wakes up between 7-8 every morning.

WiggleBaby · May 2011

i agree about moving naptime later, but also we had a nap refusal right around 2 years old. lasted about a week and a half, and then she went back to napping, thankfully!!

JoannaJes · May 2011

I agree with PPs, 11:30 am seems really early for a nap for a 2 yo. DS goes down around 1 pm. He also has spurts in which he gives up naps completely for a week or two. He still has quiet time in his room each day.

Of course, 9 pm seems like a late bedtime. Could your DS be overtired? Also, I find that it helps if DS skips a nap, we put him to bed early. Sometimes he goes to bed at 6:30 pm.

DEBBIE33CASEY · May 2011

Since we moved DD to a "big girl bed" she has only napped 3 times in her bed. It's been almost a month since we made the change and she refuses to go to sleep for naptime now. She gets cranky in the evenings so I don't feel like she's ready to give up the nap. So for now I make her stay in her room at least an hour. I make her lay down (even if she gets up eventually). We try to make the house quiet so she doesn't feel like she's missing out (sounds crazy I know! lol) but we are also struggling to keep naptime intact!

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