Struggeling with Nap Time- When Did Your Child Stop Taking Naps?

Our son moved to a big bed at 20 months (was a futon couch). We started having a rule that for naps and bedtime he could take as many books (NOT toys - just books) into bed as he wanted, but that he could not get out of bed. Books get boring after a while and if he's sleepy he will lay down and fall asleep. 2 is way too young to be dropping a nap, and the fact that he sleeps makes me think he is indeed tired.

Is there any reason you're moving him to a different room? Can't you put the big boy bed into his current room instead? Lots of times kids get used to a particular environment and switching beds AND rooms is a big change. I dunno... we just did it all at once (crib to bed trnasition) and kept my son in the same room. Worked fine for us.

Jennifer,

This can be a difficult transition. Hang in there.

We did the same thing - naps in big bed, crib at night. When this proved to be too challenging, we just took the crib away. We also opted to put a metal tension gate with a foot pedal on the bedroom door. This way, if "quiet time" wasn't a nap, we didn't have an escapee running around on the second floor. Many a nap (and sometimes bedtime) did we find our little one sleeping on the floor in front of the gate.

Two is young to transition, but we too had another baby that needed the crib.

My kids are 6 and 4 and STILL have quiet time almost every day - esp. over the summer! They don't have to nap, but they do read, color, etc. Something to settle down for awhile. My 6 yr old almost always naps. My 4 yr old hasn't much since she was 3.

I say put him down for a nap (with a gate up) and walk away. Make sure doors are locked or have childproofing and that any dressers or tables are secured to the wall with brackets (as he may attempt to climb). Finally, you may have to "clean out" the room of any electrical cords, unsecured blind cords, etc. as you have now ventured into TODDLERHOOD in his room...no more safety and convenience of a crib. You can put a sound machine outside his door if you think it will help.

I wouldn't keep sleeping/resting with him. Maybe right after lunch, read a nice quiet story and then walk out of the room. I read one time that if you don't let your kids' feet hit the floor after lunch you'll have more success with naps. Give it a try.

I hope this helps!

Sara

Hi Jennifer,
Congrats on your new baby! this is definitely too early to stop napping. I'd recommend, reading to him in his big bed, then maybe put him in the crib to sleep if he doesn't want to stay in the big boy bed. He can get used to the new bed slowly. I'd not stay with him while he rests, kids need to learn to can soothe themselves, and learning to fall asleep on their own is important. You might take the crib down so it goes bye-bye then by the time you need it again, he'll be used to his big-boy bed. Just an asside, don't let him get into and out of the crib with the new baby or they learn how to climb out much earlier than you'd like! My sis' big kid did that with her twins and wow, she had no element of control with those girls. Bed became optional!

Good luck!
D.

Two is definitely too young to stop taking naps. We have the same problem with my older son now nearly 4. At about 21 months, we did cry it out at bedtime which did wonders for bedtime, but it didn't work at nap time. He would sit in his crib in the dark for 2 hours just talking. My mom took it upon herself to rock him to sleep every day (still does). He doesn't nap every day, but much of the time he does. Obviously not a good solution for you though.

As far as transitioning goes, if at all possible, wait. We kept ours in his crib until about 2.7 years when our 2nd was born. The baby didn't go into the crib for several months after that so there was time to transition. We also moved him to a different (bigger) room at the same time. Like you asked, we started naps there first and then night time.

Transitioning is hard, but my son has high functioning autism and did ok with it.