This ought to be a good one... I have a now 2.5 year old as of yesterday! Happy Half Birthday... I've noticed that she doesn't really care to nap anymore. She's a little more whiny throughout the day but not ridiculously like I'd expect with no nap.
We put her down just exactly as we have for more then a year now and she just plays and fusses and talks and sings and plays some more... We just leave her in there hoping she'll get some "quite time" of her own.
Is that serving any purpose at all? Is it possible she senses our anxiety and excitment in getting ready to move into a new home, so she doesn't want to settle down and rest either???
I know they typically nap through 4-6 years old so we're no where near eliminating the afternoon nap so this is odd, right??? Its been a good three full days of this! Or just a weekend thing or...
Thanks Bunches!
~T.~
My four year old still takes a 1-2hr nap. I think it just depends on the child and whether or not they are in a growth spurt.
My son gave up naps around 2. We didn't do quiet time/rest time, either.
I noticed that you have a lot going on with the big move. We had twins when our son was 2 1/2 and we needed to change his bed, potty train him, start MDO, etc. with 2 screaming newborns. We were told to space things apart. Change his bed, wait a few months, then tackle potty training, etc. He did great. Just a suggestion.
My 5 year old son gave up naps around age 2, which made daycare interesting! He's had quiet time ever since and still does - more for Mom than for him! He is also a very good night time sleeper, goes right to sleep and stays out for 10 hours or so, would sleep longer if I would let him.
My almost 4 year old daughter still naps for 1 1/2 - 2 hours a day and shows no signs of giving it up. Don't get me wrong, she fights the nap at home, but once she gives in she's asleep in no time so I know she still needs it. She is not a good night time sleeper, doesn't like to go to sleep and wakes up at 6 am on the nose every single day. We even tried eliminating the naps to see if she would sleep in a little, but it didn't work, we just had a really cranky kid.
This is actually very typical. I gave up on naps because for me it was actually MUCH easier to skip the nap than to fight him for an hour and half only to realize that he didn't nap anyway! When I asked my pedi about it, he basiclaly told me that he is just out growing his need to nap...he said that if I need a break then put him in his room for quiet time but know that he will more than likely not fall asleep! I just hate the fight so I don't worry about it. At my son's MDO there are only two kids who actually fall asleep during their "nap time". Do what works best for you!
My eldest gave up naps around 2 1/2 and I never even pushed the quiet time concept. She just didn't seem to need that sort of extra rest during the day. My second child is still taking naps at 3 1/2, though she's starting to phase those out. I think it really just depends on the child.
Stick to quiet time, but dont force the issue. Some kids are ready to give it up around 3...and I have not had any of mine (in home day care kids included) nap past 4. They all do have to have at least an hour of quiet time, so that if that day they need a nap, they will fall asleep, if not, they have rested. I am sure she senses something is up with the move etc. but dont let yourself worry too much about that. She may not be doing as much these days to tire her out either, so try to get her outside in the morning, or at a play place in the mall somedays, or the pool for sure wears all of my kiddos out. Good luck with the move, and all that goes with having a little girl who is getting bigger before you want her to! ~A.~
My daughter is 2 1/2 as well and also just gave up naps :::sniff sniff::: but I do believe the down time is always good. :)
