STM's with toddlers that are still napping... Come on in :-)

Britt&Dave · February 2014

Ladies,

How many of you have started phasing out naps for your toddlers? I have a 4 and a half year old that my ex husband and I have split custoday until she becomes school age. When she spends her 2 weeks there they do not require her to have nap time. Being her mom and one that is very routine oriented, this frustrates me beyond belief! You know how you can tell if your kiddo needs that nap still becasue they become very cranky around dinnertime. This should be a tell tale sign for them to realize that she's still needing that naptime in her schedule. When she's with me, we make sure we have that it, in her room, quite for one hour minimum, if she doesn't want to sleep she is allowed to read as many books as she wants to help develop good habits. My ex allows her to play on an iPad/Tablet during naptime which is why she fights its now with us. I just find that it is a very positive environment to associate quiet time with reading. And I want her to start good habits now especially when it comes to books.

When you started to phase out naptime, did you have quiet time in replace of it? was it a struggle? And would you recommend it before baby #2 arrives?

Thank you!

Britt&Dave · February 2014

Sorry about my horrific spelling, and I can't edit on my work computer :-(

MissLadyTay · February 2014

My son is almost three. He is required to have "rest time" every day and will until Kindergarten. Our daycare requires kids to lie down from 1-3 and "rest their bodies." They don't have to sleep - they can read a book or color - but they have to lie down. We do the same at home. He sleeps probably 70% of the time, and the other 30% he plays quietly in his room or reads or sings to himself. I think it's good for him.

Luckyu317 · February 2014

DS is almost 4 (May), and I try to get him to nap everyday still. Id say 5 out of 7 days I make him nap or have quiet time. I can definitely tell a difference in his behavior around dinner time/late evening on no-nap days.

Britt&Dave · February 2014

@Bliz1712, @MissLadyTay and @Lucky317,

It seems like you all have similar experience with naptime and quiet time. I will stick to my guns and keep the same routine, I like the idea of "Reseting their Bodies" that's a good way to think of it :-). I just need to keep her more entertained when it gets around time her crankiness kicks in and hopfully the distractions will help. We start soccer this coming Wednesday at 5pm so that will definitely occupy her. Thank you ladies.

MamaLlama14 · February 2014

My DS is 2.5- naptime will remain in our foreseeable future as long as I can help it! HE needs it, but so do we. It sounds more like a co-parenting problem rather than a naptime problem, though- she might still need the naps but b/c she's learning she doesn't have to take them, she's putting up a fight with you. OR, the other way around- she doesn't need them anymore and has learned to go without them but is still being expected to at your house. I suggest trying to come to some middle ground with your ex, but I don't have any experience with co-parenting in a divorce situation so I'm sure that's easier said than done.

rainydayluck · February 2014

DD is a little over 3 and she can nap until she moves out as I have no intention of ever weaning her off naps.

Mittens14 · February 2014

DS is 3.5, 4 in July. We do still try to do nap time, but, we aren't as strict about it as we used to be. I used to "make" him have a nap/quiet time every single day but now, he really doesn't seem to "need" it. He makes it until bed time. Some days he's perfectly fine, some days he's a little cranky or tired if we were really active during the day. On days when he's at daycare they require 1 hour of quiet time or nap time (he's only there 2 days/week). I started noticing that his nap times were moving later and later, he'd have an hour of quiet time and not go to sleep and then he'd fall asleep another hour or so later on the couch or in the car or whatever, depending on what we were doing. Eventually nap time started being close to 5pm and was screwing up bed time so we just decided to let his body figure it out for himself.

Xath · February 2014

DS is 2.5. He still naps at home, but has recently been having difficulty falling asleep at daycare. I just tell her to keep trying; he clearly still needs them as he's super cranky when we get home if he doesn't sleep there.

I'm planning on keeping with nap time for as long as humanly possible, then transition to quiet time. I had quiet time through most of elementary school, IIRC, where I'd spend time in my room reading. It gave my mom some alone time, and helped me develop a healthy love of books.

CamrynnsMommy · February 2014

DD2 is 3.5 and she still naps and will until she starts school. DD1 is 7 and she still has quiet time on the weekends.

jjones59 · February 2014

My dd is young still at 2.5, she still naps but not for long. Our daycare allows them to nap until they start kindergarten. Even if they don't sleep they have quiet time to watch a movie....

I would work on your communication because if your going to have shared custody and napping is a problem now, imagine what could happen when bigger issues come up that need both parents decisions.

bumpuser10194737 · February 2014

Luckyu317 said:

DS is almost 4 (May), and I try to get him to nap everyday still. Id say 5 out of 7 days I make him nap or have quiet time. I can definitely tell a difference in his behavior around dinner time/late evening on no-nap days.

Same with mine who will be four in May. He has a nap or quiet time almost every day. I always give him some books and sometimes he sleeps, sometimes not. I will definitely keep up the quiet time for quite a bit longer.

Britt&Dave · February 2014

Thank you for all your input ladies :-) Sorry I was out of the loop, family vacation in Myrtle Beach. We recently did discuss the middle ground in this situation, I just wanted to see how other mom's dealt with the transition or if we should discuss keeping naptime for a little longer. Most of you seem to maintain the overall quiet time and I think this is where we are headed. So we decided to meet in the middle and just attempt nap, but at a minimum quite time with books.

Fortunately communication is actually pretty good between myself and my ex, honestly some people may find it very werid, but it just shows our daughter that she's loved by two families that love her very much. Thank you again!

honey740 · February 2014

I will never phase naps out. She won't get one in kindergarten during the week but if she still wants/needs a nap on the weekend, she gets one.

Britt&Dave · February 2014

Ironically, todays quiet time is going on to a 2 hour nap lol!! I guess I'll just make sure she's always comfy and I get a lucky day here and there for this momma to relax!

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STM's with toddlers that are still napping... Come on in :-)

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