A milestone I’ve been dreading for a long time seems to be upon us: Annie is starting to give up her afternoon nap. If you’re like me you’re thinking, “But she’s barely two, how is this madness happening?” and the answer is I DON’T KNOW. It’s awful. She hasn’t completely stopped napping, but the days when she sleeps in the afternoon are becoming few and far between.
Back in the salad days.
She still needs a nap. The last couple hours before her bedtime are bruuuuutal. And as much as I’d like to, I can’t put her to bed at 6pm…mostly because she’d then wake up at 4am. I avoid 4am whenever possible. No afternoon naps mean my house is more of a disaster than usual, my kid is a disagreeable cranky-face, and *I* am a disagreeable cranky-face. Mike and Rigby are forced to hide from us.
I’ve tried keeping her routine the same, but she just ends up standing in her crib, calling to be taken out. I’ve tried changing the time of the nap, with similar results. I’ve tried putting her on my treadmill and having her jog for thirty minutes (just kidding). I think I just have to accept that nap time will soon be a distant memory. SOB.
I have friends who’ve had lots of success with quiet time instead of nap time, but Annie doesn’t really seem to grasp the concept. Her favorite activities involve singing loudly, talking excitedly, and being around people. Quiet time does not allow for those things, therefore, she does not want to participate in quiet time.
I guess for now I will still try to get her to take a nap, because the days that she does nap are glorious. Man, what is wrong with kids? Why don’t they understand how awesome sleeping is? I would kill for an unrestricted nap in the middle of the day.
Sarah G says:
I feel your pain – ‘land of no naps” is painful. We managed to extend naps for at least 6 months with one of our children by “lying down on the bed to watch a DVD” (she would fall asleep within 15 minutes). But it didn’t work for the other kid. The other kid only naps when we go out for a drive during nap time. She falls asleep and I sit in a nice quiet tree-lined street for half an hour reading a book. It’s not so bad.
The only good thing about no-naps is that suddenly you’re a bit freer with your afternoons. You don’t have to schedule things so you’re home for naps. You can go out for all-day activities.
Paula says:
My girl, the same age, is going the no nap thing too. She is super active and quiet time is not an option so far. But the kicker is that on days when I am at work and Daddy is home with her – she naps! I told him that is because I am obviously far more fun and entertaining than he is.
It’s a tough one – at least my girl isn’t grizzly but then she has always been an early to bed early to rise kid, so down at 6 30 and up around 5.
I feel your pain though – nap time for Grace was me time, or housework time.
Tam. says:
I remember the woe of the losing the afternoon nap. I made an announcement on Facebook: “Just like Elvis, the afternoon nap has left the building. But damn it was good while it lasted.”
Hang in there and relish all the naps you can get out of her.
TonyaM says:
My brother is 35 and I’m 40, and I vividly recall his asinine antics when he gave up his nap at such a young age. That should tell you just how awful it was for everyone who had to live with the little monster. From about 3 or 4 in the afternoon, it was game on. Then he’d crash by 6:30 and sleep until 6:30 the next morning.
Hang in there, and I’d keep pushing the quiet time thing. You both need it!
Corri says:
My girls stopped napping early, too. I don’t know how people have kids who keep napping kindergarten because we didn’t even make it 1/2 way!
You might be surprised about the early bedtime, though. Eliza was in bed by 7 every night that she didn’t nap and slept through to her normal wake up. For most kids, sleep begets sleep. Annie could be an exception, do test it out on a night where you don’t have to function the next day!
Linn says:
Yes, totally agree. She may very well make up for the no-nap with more sleep through the night, but only if you let her go to sleep early– then she won’t be as exhausted, and exhaustion leads to poor sleep. It’s so worth a try. (My kids both gave up naps at the stroke of 2-1/2.)
Margaret says:
No way, mama! That girlie still needs a nap! My son has been through a few stages of “nah, I don’t feel like it!” but he’s always gone back to every day naps, even after the latest month-long phase. He goes back to every day naps because of my consistency. If you give up her nap, she will. If you hang in there, she’ll come around!
Colleen says:
I agree! There were several periods where I thought my two year old was giving up naps for good, but she always returned to the land of mod after a few weeks! Be consistent about putting her in her crib everyday, sleep or no sleep and you may be surprised when she picks them back up. I also called it quiet reading time for a while and eventually it stuck. Now she is back to nappIng 3 HOuRS a day! It helps if I lay down in my room so she can hear me or see me.
Colleen says:
*nod not mod – although ‘land of mod’ sounds like a freaky hallucination!
jacquie says:
These ladies are absolutely right Heather. Hang in there and consistently put her down at the same time every day.
Beth says:
Is she still sleeping in a crib? My daughter is 6 weeks younger than Annie and we transitioned her to a regular bed before she turned 2. We found out that she was much more comfortable and slept better with the bigger and better quality mattress. More often than not we have to lay down with her until she falls asleep but as a pregnant person 9 days past her due date the rest is welcomed. Grace sleeps 1.5-2hrs in the afternoon and then from 8pm-7am.
I would also skip the toddler bed stage and go right to a regular bed, a double if you can, as you’ll be able to comfortably snuggle with her on those nights that she needs the extra cuddles.
Laura says:
I wonder if it’s just a phase? My daughter (3) went through a few weeks where we wondered if she’d behave better if she skipped her afternoon nap, which was regularly 3 blissful hours. We kept her awake a few times and realized she was a hellion without a nap. Now we’re doing the “quiet time” thing – I put her in her room, and put a baby gate on the outside of the door frame to keep her safe inside (her room is right at the top of the stairs) and I tell her that she doesn’t have to sleep, but I want her to rest. This usually results in her playing or yelling random things to me (“Mommy! I see a bird! Wow!) for 15 minutes. Then all will be quiet, and after 30 minutes I’ll go upstairs to find her passed out. Sometimes she won’t sleep, but she’ll be happy playing in her room, and hopefully she’s getting a “mental break” during that time.
kristine says:
My daughter dropped naps in her room at 2ish as well. I told her that we were going to watch a video in mommy and daddy’s room instead. I put on a video with no sound, darken the picture and put on white noise. She’s asleep in 5 min and takes a full hour nap. It’s now TWO years later and we’re still doing it every day!! Awesome.
traci says:
My daughter stopped napping at 18 months and has not closed her eyes during daylight hours since (she’s 12) but my son who is almost 8 would still nap if I let him. He falls asleep on the bus in the afternoons (the ride is 7 minutes start to finish) he goes to bed at 7:30 and sleeps to 7:30 the next day. She does not go to sleep until 10 or 11 and is up at 7. It is crazy.
I highly recommend the quiet time. It took a few but she got it and so will Annie. You don’t have to sleep you just have to be quiet. (on your bed with a book or toy)
Good Luck
April says:
My 2 1/2 year old recently dropped her naps as well and it sucks! I feel like a zombie, wandering around the house from 1-3, wishing for the good old days of naptime. The only benefit is not having to rush home from activities to get her down for her nap. But, we’re having the witching hour(s) from 5:30 to 7, until we put her in bed.
I feel your pain!
Shawna says:
My daughter is almost 3 and thankfully still naps, but it’s getting shorter and shorter. Damn it all haha.
That said, she *will* continue to do at least 1.5 hours of quiet time until she starts kindergarten lol. There are lots of great “quiet time bin” ideas on Pinterest that maybe you should look into. That’s what I have done on the rare days when she’s wanting to skip nap altogether. Basically a bin with some books, little trinkey toys that are quiet, etc. And you rotate the bins so that they stay new and exciting. Even if she chooses to sing and dance and be loud with the quiet bins, at least she’s shut in her room and you can turn your TV up really loud to drown her out Good luck! Nap times are sacred for moms haha.
Jen says:
Stick with it, maybe she’ll go back to napping! My oldest went through a nap strike phase (I can’t remember how long it lasted?? A week or two? I THINK I BLOCKED IT OUT.) and then went back to napping great until after her third birthday. Not to get your hopes up or anything But it IS possible! The end of naptime is SO HARD… but once we all adjusted and she stopped being SO MISERABLE in the evenings, it was actually nice not to be tethered to the house every afternoon (silver lining? maybe?)
Laura says:
My daughter stopped napping with my mom during the week when she is with her, but I still force a nap on the weekends. I put her in her crib and she might cry for a minute or so and then she is out (as she needs to be). I know that every kid if different and it is easy to say to just leave her there and let the nap happen — but is does work for some kids.
Becki says:
You have a WONDERFUL opportunity here – now is the time to get Annie really invested with books/reading.
Quiet time! My Mom did that with me – and it gave her quiet time for YEARS!!!!!!! It will just involve alot of training and repetition.
Put her in her crib with new books etc. Tell her (even though she won’t understand) that she doesn’t have to sleep but she has to stay in her crib for an hour and “read” if she wants like a big girl.
Eventually she will get the hang of it and more often than not, will drift into a nap.
And then you will be able to do this way into the elementary school years. (Just keep some books aside just for quiet time).
I remember my Mom subscribing “Jack and Jill” magazine for me and the ONLY time I got to read the new issues were at quiet time .. .
And you may get a Reader out of it!
TamaraL says:
My daughter stopped napping before she was 2, but thankfully never had any meltdowns before bedtime. She just didn’t need a nap anymore. I was sad. Fast forward a few (almost 14) years and the kid will come in at 8:30 and say, “I’m going to bed!” She now loves to sleep so I guess it finally caught up with her!
By the way I was very confused reading this, as Mike is listed as author! Granted I am still half asleep, but I do think Heather wrote it!
Mommy Boots says:
Nellie is also 2, and each week that I pick her up from daycare I notice that her naptime report is getting shorter and shorter. The other weekend my husband and I snuggled in to our bed while she napped, and were all WTF when she woke up after ONE HOUR. What happened to TWO hours?! Whyyyyy??? I feel our afternoon nap’s days are limited as well. Boo.
Jen says:
Omg…I just thought this EXACT same thing last night when my 2 year old and 8 month old were up at 330am crying. I was like, what gives people? WHY AREN’T YOU SLEEPING!?!??!??! Sheesh…
Kristen says:
I think it’s the age when kids start trying to give up nap for some reason. Stick with it and your routine so hopefully she doesn’t give it up. My kids never took super long naps, but it was a break I needed and it helped to keep them from extra meltdowns in the afternoon. We stuck with it and even now, if I do lay down with them for “family nap” (makes it sound more fun) then they will fall asleep at 4 &6 years old. And it’s a nap for me!!
Good luck!
oana79 says:
My toddler was a terrible sleeper for ages but I never gave up. I NEEDED that time for myself! So many times I would have put her in the pram/the car, let her fall asleep and then bring her back inside and let her sleep in her pram for an hour or so.
Leslie says:
LOL mine gave up at 2 (later 2) but the last few months I was so desperate I would drive for 2 hours every afternoon…she would sleep and the day was sooooo much better. I could even get a tea at Chick fil a drive through and drop things in the mailbox. I know, if your kid is singing, quiet time is even more frustrating than skipping the nap altogether…people don’t understand that you can’t MAKE a nap happen…thankfully for me, my Highlander could…though that phase did end and I surrendered!
ColleenMN says:
That happened with my daughter, as well. I used to go places with her to distract her during the time before dinner. Short trips, a pet store, a crafts store, the park, places she enjoyed. We would visit a relative, a friend….just places to go so we both could have a change of scenery….the day got really loooooong without a nap. And I don’t believe she will go back to taking regular naps, when they give it up, it’s done. Plan longer outings, take classes at community ed, gymnastics for toddlers is fun, art classes etc. Take her out to lunch and get a pedicure, just go places. That’s what kept me sane.
Stephanie says:
My two-year old is doing the exact same thing. Some days she naps and some days she doesn’t. I’m trying to keep everything the same and am still putting her in her crib for a nap. I pray that she naps and, if she doesn’t, then we go to the kitchen and bake together or go outside. Anything to keep me from feeling exhaustion.
AMY says:
Oh, I hear ya Sister.
Our two year old would still nap, and the bottom line is, she NEEDS a nap, or else a witching hour to be similar to yours, BUT if she naps, she won’t go to bed until, I don’t know, like, 10:30. I can’t do it. (This just happened yesterday and at 10:15 last night I was remembering EXACTLY why she doesn’t nap.)
What has been working for us over the last few months is, no nap, dinner at 5:30, then ready for bed right after and then by 7 she is gone. No later than 7. When we do that, she doesn’t even move when put to bed, so it makes bed time easier too.
This transition has been the hardest one for us yet.
Rachel says:
My youngest gave up naps for me at 18 months!!! He attended daycare 4 days a week, and would nap for them, or at least lay down for a while for them. Not so much for me. He also NEVER slept in the car. Dinner time was “poison hour” at our house but God forbid he would ever actually fall asleep then, or he’d wake up at some wicked awful hour (11 pm and up ’til 4, or 4 am and up for the day). The only good thing was if he managed to stay awake until near bedtime, he would come to me & say he was ready for bed. THAT was awesome. My labor with him was less than 4 hours from 1st contraction to delivery and I always say he came fast & hasn’t slowed down yet (he’s 12 now). My other one is 15 & she was a much better napper, but not sure when she quit. I don’t think either one of them EVER took a morning nap. Does Annie nap in the morning?
This stage of Annie’s too shall pass.
I love me some naps, so I still wish adults could have a nap every afternoon. =)
liz b says:
keep trying to put her down, maybe it’s a phase. Do you have blackout curtains in her room? We have a blackout old school pull down vinyl shade and black out drapes and it’s DARK and we have a sound machine we use and mine will nap, not terribly long, but at least it’s a nap. When i nap her places where it’s lighter she is confused because she knows that light means ok to get up…
Betsy says:
Ahh, my son gave up the nap at 2.5. I tried to hold on, but he just wasn’t having it. But once I gave up on the idea that he should nap, it was very liberating! No more stressing about whether he would sleep, or fighting to keep him in his room at naptime… we were honestly both much happier once we fully embraced the no-nap situation. He probably still needed one (he would still fall asleep in the car on occasion) but for me, it wasn’t worth the fight at home.
meg says:
It is a stage – at least from my perspective Don’t give up! Push through and MAKE HER TAKE A NAP! You are the mom she has to listen to you! She needs a nap and she is just being a typical 2 year old and pushing the limits…..she needs you to push back! Of course…..this is just my 2 cents…all kids are different and I don’t mean to lecture! Good luck the 2’s are tough!
Dee says:
Several people so far have mentioned quiet time on Mom & Dad’s bed, and I have to add a word of caution. If you decide to try this option, make sure you don’t have anything in your nightstand drawers you don’t want her to get into, or put drawer locks on them. When my niece was little, about 3, we put her down for a nap on my bed while her mom and I visited. A while later as we were chatting, Emily comes trotting out out of my room holding a string of condoms! Needless to say we quickly redirected her to a more appropriate toy, and then had a huge laugh.
Prudie says:
In my daughter’s kindergarten class they are supposed to nap for an hour unless the parents say not to let their child sleep. My 5 year old has asked that I request that for her and I totally told her I want to take her nap time!! Just to lay my head on my desk for an hour would be heaven!
giselle says:
You should schedule a daily time to watch Disney’s Fantasia. You can sleep through it and it has lovely calming music so hopefully Annie will too!
Vicky says:
I used to be Fantasia on for my sisters when they were about Annies age, fell asleep 95% of the time.
Sara says:
Yep, Kelly was a little over 2 and just all of a sudden, she was DONE with naps. She still naps at daycare 2 days a week, but no way is that happening here. So instead, certain days she crashes in the car when we go to pick up her older sister from school. My oldest wouldn’t nap on her own at this age, but if she snuggled with me, then we both would snooze the afternoon away! Kelly doesn’t go for that. I keep telling both of my girls that they need to understand how wonderful sleep is–I’m going to wake them up at 6am when they are teenagers as payback. LOL
Catherine says:
I’m right there with you. My almost three year old has been very “nap dodgey” for the last few months. She definitely still needs it, but it’s few and far between. Alas. Good luck holding onto the nap for as long as you can, mama!
Kristen @ The Chronicles of Dutch says:
Fast forward 20 years and she’ll be begging for a mid-day nap!
Amy K says:
My daughter gave up on naps right before two, EXCEPT in the car. She’s three now, and on really cranky days a few minutes of driving and music knock her out for a couple of hours. I just bring a book and my iPhone and entertain myself.
Joleine says:
Is she still taking a morning nap? Can you push it out a bit? Morgan went down to 1 nap a day right after she turned 1.. She naps from about 12:30 (right after lunch) to 3-3:30 and is good to go until 8pm!
Annalisa says:
I don’t think she’ll drop the nap just yet. Having worked child care, I can tell you this: once they start fighting it, they’ll always fight it, but it might take a year or so for the reality of not needing a nap to catch up with their perception of not needing a nap. I’ve dealt with plenty of 3 year olds who would very self-assuredly say: “I’m not sleepy, I’m not gonna sleep. You can’t make me.” The best thing to do was negotiate with them. “Okay, but you’re going to lie on your cot quietly while the other kids sleep, and if you do that well, we can get a quiet time box out in a half hour”. After that, they would be quiet and fall asleep from boredom 9 times out of 10. They didn’t just nap, they gave us a fight about waking up for snack time!
If you want to get her to take up quiet time, I suggest making a quiet time kit, with coloring pencils and other kinds of activities that tend to keep her quieter (for boys, believe it or not, sometimes Lego building will bring on a church-like level of quiet), and tell her that she can have the quiet time kit if she can show you she can be quiet first. Betcha she gets so bored of being quiet that she falls asleep.
hdj says:
I had the kid that napped until the summer before kindergarten and so did a lot of my friends. But we all had our kids in daycare and the afternoon from 12-3 was nap/quiet time. But don’t forget – every kid is different. Not all of these kids did nap so they could rest and read quietly. But that was their only option – nap or be quiet.
ldoo says:
I understand the nap battle! It could be a phase, though, and I wouldn’t give up just yet. One thing is: She HAS to know that no matter how much playing/whining she does, you guys won’t go get her until her 2 hours is up. If sweet Daddy Mike gives in, she wins.
Also, 6 p.m. is a bit early, but I would TOTALLY put her down at 6:30 or 7. I’d bet load of money that she will not be up at 4. She will likely sleep 12 glorious hours.
My almost 4 year old doesn’t nap most days anymore, and she is fast asleep at 7:30 and sleeps till 7.
Heather says:
When we were in the transition between nap and no nap I started setting a timer. He had to stay in his room and be quiet until the timer went off. There were several days that he fell asleep before the timer and I would just shut it off and let him sleep. If he talked or asked to get up I started the timer over.
It didn’t cut out the transition all together but it made it a little easier.
Jessica Makuh says:
The timer is a good idea!
Kirsten says:
HA! My son stopped napping at her age and it sucked. I LIVED for naptime! I used to put him in the car and drive around hoping that would get him to sleep – total waste of gas because 9 times out of 10 it didn’t work. Then we got to the point where if he DID nap, he wouldn’t go to sleep at night.
I am so jealous of those people who have 4 year olds who still nap!
Virginia says:
Ouch! Don’t miss those times
What we ended up doing was telling our little girl that she didn’t have to take a nap, but she did have to have quiet time in her room. On her bed. Whether it be with a book or a doll or a stuffed animal, she still had to be quiet. Half the time she dozed off, a quarter of the time it worked out, the rest was a mix between her getting up and playing quietly in her room or suddenly appearing with an “I’m Done!” attitude. Good luck!
Jessica Makuh says:
I feel your pain, too. When my 5 year old stopped napping at age 2, we started room time. She had to stay in her room to play. I gave her a snack and a drink. It worked really well! When my 3 year old stopped napping in October 2011, it did not go very well. She doesn’t like room time because she wants to play with her sister. However, I can’t have them in the same room, because I don’t really get a break. There is too much arguing. I never lasts more than 30 minutes, maybe. So, we have had no naps and no room time for 7 months. I am still recovering. I feel very stressed, as if I am not accomplishing as much as I used to. I feel I have to do more in the evenings before bed to accomplish anything, which cuts into my hubby time. I’m kind of a mess. I hope it goes better for you.
Glenda says:
Both my kids were good nappers till 4
My son slept from 73pm – 730am .
My daughter a little different but still slept through the night.
I hope it gets better for you!
Chris says:
The thing about sleep is that it is fluid and different for everyone. My daughter gave up her naps when her little brother was born (she was 3) and I could not have kept that child in her room and quiet no matter what I tried. Her little brother still took sporadic naps until last summer (he started Kindergarten in the fall). Starting at about 3 1/2 we did quiet time every afternoon and set a timer for 45 minutes. He felt like he had some control over the situation and stopped fighting it. He slept maybe 40% of the time.
If she naps and then doesn’t go to bed until very late then she is probably ready to give it up.
Maggie says:
Each child is so different and there is no right or wrong way. My son gave it up at 2 1/2, my daughter at 2. My son would run in circles screaming and yelling during “quiet time”. My daughter could sit quietly for hours with her stuffed animals and books…..they are all so different. You know her best and your gut answer here is the right one
Also, I can totally sympathize with the nap drop. Makes those last few hours draggggg on. That’s when we go outside the most. Good luck!!
Pilotswife97 says:
My Oldest gave up napping at two just in time for her baby sister to be born. I went a little crazy that year.
Sherry says:
My two cents…maybe it’s just a looong phase she’s going through? I’d do everything under the sun to try to get her to continue napping. My two sons (3.5 and 1.5) both have had times where they refused to nap but it always worked itself out somehow. The older one still naps daily (so does the younger guy) but I’m sure it won’t be long before that ends.
Much luck and sorry about those few hours before bedtime. Theyre bad enough with a nap, let lone without!
Trisha says:
I’ve got nothing for you sister!My 3-1/2 year old loves her some naps. When she moved fro mthe 2’s up to the 3’s at preschool they cut her nap down from and hour and 45 to and hour and 15 and she still is the last one ot wake up at nap time in her class. She gets plenty of rest at night but she loves her midday siesta.
I hope it’s just a phase because there’s is just nothing like cuddling up for a snooze with the kiddos during the day. I love it on the weekends when I can lie down with her too! Good luck!!
Kat says:
Well allow me to weigh in! I think you need more opinions here…
From a daycare lady’s perspective a nap is scheduled into our days from 12:30(ish) to 3pm(ish) every day. I don’t care who actually sleeps or who doesn’t, but everyone lays down and pretends to. I would continue putting Pretty Annie in her crib as you have been for naps and if she wants to sing the whole time that’s fine. Time alone in her bed IS quiet time for her…even though she’s being loud. Just let her talk and sing the entire 1-2 hours and then get her when ‘nap time’ is over. Just pretend you’re a daycare lady and she’s not actually your child…it makes everything much easier that way.
ps My 8 year old and 7 year old still take naps when they’re not in school. I just can’t see myself cutting this out of the routine until they all move out.
Erin says:
So a ton of people have said it, and maybe it’s no one’s place to meddle, and only y’all know your baby’s temperament, but I’m gonna repeat it: if she flat out will not nap, at least enforce a quiet time. It sounds like you know she needs the time to rest. Just explain the ‘rules’ one day, calmly and matter-of-factly. Annie, if you don’t need to sleep, this is what you can do instead during that time! Read, draw, play in your room, etc. until x time- whether you set a timer or go get her at the end. No bribes, no pleading, no letting her ‘have her way’ by staying up and playing like normal (which results in an overtired cranky girl & mama all evening). She’ll learn you mean business so she won’t question or resist it, and everyone will benefit. My daughter is on this same path, and I’ll fight it tooth and nail. But no matter what, she’s too small to decide she doesn’t need the nap anymore. Keep giving her the opportunity and the routine.
Mrs. Commoner says:
My youngest cut the nap out completely at 2 and a half. I’ve got no suggestions for you, just commiseration.
Wallydraigle says:
Stick it out a little while longer. Both of mine have been through a couple phases like this, and while several people have told me, “Well, maybe she’s just ready to give up her nap,” I have KNOWN that they NEED that sleep. Yes, sometimes it’s less that they need the sleep and more that they need to adjust to the new schedule. But at two, I think it’s highly unlikely that she is ready to give it up. I’m told I did at two, so it’s not impossible–just, I’d give yourself a week or two, maybe try to fiddle around with the time she takes her nap. It’s probably just a phase.
VHMPrincess says:
this worked with my 2 youngest – 1 p.m. was “quiet” time on the COUCH (for them, they were so thrilled with not being sent to their rooms to sleep like a baby) with books. They didn’t have to “sleep” but they had to LAY and quietly look at books or play with very small toys. They slept 90% of the days.
Lisa says:
Oh wow, Heather, that is very super no fun! Only other parents can understand the desperation felt when a child starts giving up napping but is too cranky to make it through the day…
Something that worked for me was establishing “rest time” of 45-60 minutes during the time that used to be nap time. My daughter didn’t have to be quiet, but she did have to stay in her room (I put up a baby gate so she couldn’t get out). She played alone, I did my thing alone, and we both got along better after that brief forced separation. Just a thought! – you gotta do what works best for your family. Good luck!
Lindsey says:
Sympathizing with you since my kids were all great nappers – the youngest was still taking 2 to 3 hr naps when he was 4 yrs old!! Just a question– was the SOB meaning sob as in crying or was it cursing? haha!! Speaking from a mom who could be a grandmom at this point, I would try to reinstate the nap at all cost!!! Might just be a phase.
Kylee says:
I’m so with you on wishing adults could have naps in the middle of the day. Don’t they know how lucky they are, cheeky little monkeys. I also wish I could be carted around the mall in a shopping trolley or pram on the odd occasion – but maybe that’s just me
Carrie says:
My oldest gave up his nap at 22 months and it was a very, very sad thing. I didn’t have free time during the day after that until he started school at 3 1/2. My younger child is still napping at almost 3 and if she gives it up I will die. Mama needs her free time.
Noelle says:
My daughter NEVER took naps, and she didn’t sleep through the night until she was 18 months old. If I ever tried to put her down before 730 she would sleep for an hour and then be up until 3 am. Seriously, it sucked! She just turned 7 and a few months ago was having a really rough day so I made her lay down in the afternoon. She fell asleep for an hour and when she woke up said with a big smile on her face, “that nap wasn’t so bad. But don’t tell anyone!”
MG says:
My middle son stopped napping way to young and I really think we’ve all paid for it for the past 4 years. Seriously. My third son has tried to go spells without napping, and we even skip on some days because we have to but he still naps a good portion of the time (he’s almost 4). I would stick to it and she might start again. One of the best books, for reference, we’ve read is Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. It just always helps me to refocus on sleep, sleep habits etc. I go back to it every time. I know it’s hard, and all kids are different, but I really wish I wouldn’t have given up with my middle guy. I was pregnant at the time and would end up falling asleep on the couch as I tried to sit there and police him not climbing out of his crib! I just figured I had stuff to do and couldn’t sit there forever! Good luck!
Andres says:
I would suggest putting her to bed at 6 or 6:30 and see what happens. Many kids will still sleep until their normal wake up time, especially once they get well rested. Tired kids sleep poorly, well rested kids have better quality sleep. I know it sounds odd, but it is so true. Give it a shot!
Elise says:
My girls (triplets) are the same age as Annie and I know how much she (and you) need that nap. I know every family has different needs and priorities, and ours is having well-rested children. We never make plans to be out of the house during nap time, not even to be driving in the car, nap time is sacred.
We are 100% consistent with their routine, they go to bed between 12-12:30 and rest in their rooms until at least 3 pm, they will often sleep longer. We split them into two rooms for naps, one of our girls is a total trouble maker and wouldn’t let anyone sleep if they were in the room with her. Two of our girls fall right asleep, and the third takes longer, sometimes up to an hour with a bit of fussing. Occaisonally someone decides to sing/talk/read books/create havoc instead of sleeping, but the door to their room does not open before 3 pm. The only exception is if someone is sick or has a doctor’s appointment.
Even with a 3 hour nap, they are ready for bed by 8 pm and I don’t hear them until after 7 am the next morning (we have one sleepy head who would happily sleep until 8:30 if her sisters allowed it).
My only advice is that if you believe the nap is important, stand your ground.
Good luck, sleep issues are the worst part of parenting, IMO.
SnarkyMommy says:
Don’t dispair just yet. Both my older kids went through a phase where they would nap off and on for (but always forced to stay in the crib for some period of time, even if they spent it singing and talking), but then went back to full-time napping a few weeks later. She might just be in some developmental stage where she wants to be awake.
lisa gleesonl says:
Don’t Give Up the NAP!! Seriously, though, she still needs one. My youngest daughter (now 25) did this as well. I told her fine, don’t sleep, but you have to stay in bed for one hour. I let her have her dolls and her books, but she had to stay in the bed. I needed this, for my mental health After about a month, she began going back to sleep during her nap time. I hope this works for you too. We all need our nap times
Lisa
Jacqueline says:
Our 3 year old was having a similar issue about a year ago. Nap time was like a fight to the death, bedtime was even more miserable and he was waking up around 4 in the morning demanding I make him some eggs, pronto! Our pediatrician told us it sounded like he was not getting enough sleep, even with the 9 o’clock bedtime. He said to put him to bed at 7:30 every evening and at 7 on the days he missed his naps. I told him he was nuts, but soon had to take it back because suddenly, my boy was sleeping like a dream. We recently started quiet time while his 1 year old brother naps and it’s working nicely for us too. He watches a movie and looks at books for a couple hours and then he’s a happy camper the rest of the day!
Halley says:
That reminds of a pin I saw.
“Dear sleep, I know we had problems when I was younger.. but I love you now!”
If only Annie could see into her future and know how sleep deprived she will be as a college student and then mother! She would CHERISH her naps!
AmazingGreis says:
Can Annie and I trade. I’ll come live with you and take naps any time and she can come work for me. I desperately want to take a NAP TODAY!!