Nap Time - Milan,MI

I don't think there is any age where they should or should not take naps. My son took naps through kindergarten, but one of my sisters quit taking naps about 4 years old. I think it depends on the child. I hope this helps.

I taught Kindergarten for 5 years and am now at home with my son. As a teacher, I had my full day every day class take a nap everyday. They do not necessarily need to sleep but the rest that they get is invaluable for the rest of the day. I would say just let him get the rest until he no longer can, in first grade. Hope this helps!

My daughter still takes naps. She just turned two in December. I also don't think 9pm is too late for bedtime. That's the time I put my daughtet to bed also. I'm not a morning person, and since she wakes up about 9:30-10 that works great.

I have 3 children 10,8,and 5. My daughter is 5 and she had stopped taking naps before she turned 4, however she just started kindergarden this year and they make them lay down during the day. I wasn't happy at first because it threw her off. I felt as if we were going backwards. It turns out that most of the time she just lays there for the 20 minutes they get. I recently found out that if you lay down for any amount of time it's the same as if you fell asleep. My kids go to sleep at 8, but I get them up at 6:30 on the school days. I say if he doesn't need one don't push it, but if he falls asleep way before bedtime then he does need the "rest" time.

D.,
My son who is now 20 took naps until he was eight. I believe some quiet time during the day is important for all children. Life for a child can be stressful at any age & having a time to rest & re-group, can make family time in the evenings more enjoyable for them & you. One thing as parents we seem to forget is when a child's body needs something it usually will take it. If he sleeps when you put him down his body must need it, if he doesn't the quiet time is still good for all of you. Don't worry it won't be long & your husband will be saying "way does he sleep so much" because once he hits those teen years his body will require more sleep. I suggest you do research on line about sleep paterns for boys & share them with your husband so the two of you are on the same page. Good Luck & don't sweat the small stuff.
D.

My daughter turned 5 Dec 20, she is in preschool m-th full day. they do get a rest period after lunch, but often times she is yawning on the way home when i pick her up from after school care around 5:30. There have been times she's in bed by 6:30 or 7pm.
When we're at home, there is a nap time. Most of the time, she does fall asleep.
Alexis is in bed by 8, if she wants to watch a movie in bed she has to get in bed before 8, cause the tv goes off then.

If Brenton doesn't fall asleep, no biggie, but they do need that time for their little brains and bodies to recharge.
As for the testiness at bedtime, we solved that by having an earlier bed time.
I thought she didn't have to go to bed so early because she gets UP so early, but she's much happier with an 8pm bed time.
When she gets up in the morning, once it's 6am she can watch a movie. Her alarm goes off at 6:25 and she knows she has to get dressed at that point. This way she's ready to go when we have to leave at 7:15.
Good luck, aren't they fun?? L.

I don't think he needs a nap, quiet time is fine by 5. However, 9 pm is a bit late for bed. I would start putting him to bed around 8 and getting him up by 8 so that he will be better adjusted when he does start school.

My daughter is nine years old. We went through the same thing when she was between four and five. She was in full day pre-school at the time and she was very unhappy and restless at nap time because she wasn't sleepy. The teachers let her get up when all the other kids were asleep and help them with little tasks. She did seem to get a little testy by bed time but it was nothing out of hand. We moved her bed time to 8:00 from 9:00, but read to her for 20 minutes and let her read for about 10 minutes. By 8:30n she was ready to sleep. Most of the moms I know stop giving naps around 4-5 unless their child really enjoys them.

Another thing to consider is will kindergarten next year be full day or half day. Half day kids have to get used to no naps or a delayed nap. Full day kids have a nap time. If he'll have to nap next year you may just be adding another element for him to adjust to.
Hoped that helped, sorry it was so rambling.

It differs with every child. I have 4 1/2 yr old triplets. They pretty much quite napping at 2 1/2 / 3 yrs old. Isabella absolutly doesn't need a nap at all. If she takes one she is up later than she already is (1am normally, having problems with her going to bed). Logan takes one ocassionally, maybe once a week if that and he is up later than usual if he does. Brody on the other hand could take one every day and still go to bed at 8pm. So it all depends on the child. If your son has some quiet time during the day I am sure it is a good thing and since he is a good boy, I would just keep up with what you are doing. :)

Hugs
M.
mom to Christina 15
Isabella, Logan and Brody 4 1/2

Hi D.,
My son stopped taking naps a couple of months after his 2nd birthday. I would lay him down for a nap and he would just play for an hour. I started putting him to bed earlier and that worked. He is 3 and a half now and sometimes I wish he would take a nap to give me a break. LOL!
Chris

Hi D....
My kids aren't five yet, but even my 3 1/2 yr old skips a nap occassionally. On those days she just goes to bed a bit earlier. If I were you, I'd just continue the quite time...even with books or a quiet toy. I would also start putting him to bed earlier. I think a 5 year old should be in bed by 8am at least. THat would help with the testiness. I've heard that the sleep before midnight is better quality too. Just my opinion. Hope you find what works for you and him.

D.,

Mt oldest was 3 when he quit taking naps, and my youngest is 3 and trying to cut his naps out. If your son is cranky in the evening, try moving the bedtime up a little. That's what I did with my oldest. He went from a 9:00 bedtime to a 8:00 bedtime. I would try to get away from naps comopletely with your son if he's going to be starting school. Try to explain to your hubby that your son nees to get used to being up all day. Most schools do not have nap times now. Not to mention he may have to start getting up earlier next fall, so now is a good time to get the new routine down.

Hi D., my daughter will be 6 in May and I still make her lay down and "rest" if she's cranky. She knows she doesn't have to go to sleep and this elimanates any fights and she usually does fall asleep. I think all kids are different, you'll know if he needs a nap or not by his behavior.

MY daughter stopped taking a nap at 18 months. My son is 2.5 years and he still takes a nap. Maybe as a compromise you can have a hour of "quiet time" for your son. Where he colors, writes, reads etc. That works well with my daughter and it is nice to have that hour for me to do what I need to get done. Most of them time she spends that time in her room but she can spend it anywhere as long as she is doing quiet, calm things.

R.

hi,
I feel the same way! wen my oldes was 5 would put him in his bed for down time no TV or anything and he will will just lay there with a toy car or an action figure some days and other days he will fall a-sleep on his own.

My son quit napping at about 31/2 years old. I do lay him down for bed about 8, and he is up by 7:30.As long as he has at least 1 hour of quit time, he should be fine. And being testy at night, I would start putting him to bed a little earlier, and getting him up by 8am. This will also help when he starts school. Good Luck.

My son stopped napping when he was three, but every child is different. We kind of had to, though. My husband works nights, and we are a one car household, so I needed to have him in afternoon preschool. We stopped giving him a nap, but started putting him to bed at 6 p.m.(since he always woke up at 6 a.m.) at first, then gradually putting him to bed later and later. Personally, I think 9 p.m. is a bit late for a young child. But, every family operates on different schedules. Now, we put our four-year-old to bed at 8 p.m.(sometimes 7 p.m., if he's getting cranky), and he usually wakes up around 7 a.m. He'll take a nap once in a blue moon, after a really big day at preschool, but not very often.

My daughter is 3 1/2 and is goping through the same thing. I tell her that she has to go to her room, by herself and play with a quiet toy until the timer on the oven goes off. I set it for 1 hour. I usually have to shut it off because after about 30 minutes she is asleep on the floor with whatever toy she has been playing with. Some days this works, and others it doesn't. But at least I had an hour of quiet time. And I usualy tell her that mommy is going to quietly read a book too. That way she sees that even big people need quiet time.