My almost-3-yr old son is trying to give up naps. He is all over the place and it's not pretty! How do I survive this transition?!
Some days he won't nap at all. Some days he'll conk out for 10-15 minutes in the car on the way home from errands, and that's it. Some days he'll refuse to sleep at naptime but then pass out at about 5pm, and then stay up really late. Some days he takes a nap anywhere from 1-3 hours.
He can handle skipping his nap 1-2 days a week, but beyond that he turns into a whining, crying, clinging mess at 5pm (if he doesn't fall asleep at 5). And I am not ok with him napping later and staying up. Good Mama shuts off at 8pm, and I need some personal, quiet time before going to bed.
My oldest napped until he was 4. My second stopped napping at 3 yrs, but he has always stayed a pleasant, happy kid even when he's tired. My youngest used to nap great, but alas, no more. I just don't know how to help little man through this without losing my mind! Even if he doesn't nap, I do enforce a 1 hr quiet time, but most days that's just not enough. I am starting to dread 5-8pm! And, I have to handle Mr. Bear while taking his brothers to their after school activities. It's exhausting for both of us.
So, any and all tips are appreciated!
1. Switch from "naps" to "quiet time". Lay down with him, shut your eyes and more than likely, he will follow suit. That will buy you some time. When he does sleep I'd keep it to 1 hour to avoid him not sleeping at night.
2. After #1 suggestion won't work any more, Just make sure he's had his dinner/bedtime as early as possible. Lights out by 7.
Good luck/it can be a tough transition.
If this is a transition for him to no more naps, try to keep his nap schedule the same. Just tell him he doesn't have to go to sleep, but just lie there and rest. You know if a 3 yr old slows down for 5 minutes they're OUT... Good luck.
While some kids do give up naps early, I have found that many kids still need naps until about age 4 or longer. Many kids that I've cared for go on what I call and "nap strike" at about age 2 /12 to 3. They have figured out that they don't *have* to nap and feel ok some of the time and try to not nap anymore at all. But just as you describe they can only handle it for a couple of days before they're overtired little bears.
I take the control out of it. I tell kids they don't have to sleep, but they do have to have quiet time. If, after an hour, they aren't asleep I let them get up. Many kids can keep themselves up for a half an hour, but not usually for an hour if they are really tired enough to nap. If they don't fall asleep, the hour of resting time is usually enough to recharge them to make it through the rest of the day without melting down at 5pm.
Have him rest at the same time every day (just like nap time), in a quiet, dim room. He has to lay down. No singing or taking with stuffies...Some people let their kids look at books, but I never had done that and I think it depends not he kid. If he is easily stimulated, it probably isn't a good idea if you want him to sleep.
After a few weeks of this consistent routine many kids resume taking naps every day. If he is ready to give up naps, he won't fall asleep after an hour of quiet time anymore and though he might go through some crabbiness in the evening while he's adjusting, he'll be able to make it until a reasonable bedtime.
Good luck~
I'll give you the tips I used when my oldest tried to give up napping - but I know it's more challenging with three. (I have 2 year old twins now - who fortunately still take good naps!)
I knew my daughter was still tired, but couldn't/wouldn't relax enough to sleep - she was fighting it b/c she wanted to play. So I gave her an incentive to sleep. If she took a nap (and slept not just sat awake in bed) - she got to watch a tv show and have a little treat (like a lollipop). If she didn't sleep - no TV, no lollipop. That seemed to work most days - b/c she loves TV & lollipops!
I am very interested in your ? b/c I have a new number 3 and I like the insight into the next few years you've given me...
SO basically with the first two we just suffered thru the cranky afternoons for a period of time and moved bedtime sooner (currently 7 pm, sometimes 630 for the almost 4 yr old) BUT we don't DO anything in the afternoons...the oldest comes home from school and we stay home b/c she needs that early bedtime too...
Can anyone keep Mr. Bear while you do afterschool activities or can anyone else shuttle the older ones to and fro while you stay at home with him? It was about a 6 month transition for us....I am sure that depends on the child though.
Honestly a lot of the preschool years have been just muddling through with one child or the other for us. No it's not pleasant but you have to prioritize and something has to give...for me a consistent early bedtime was a must, so when the youngest wouldn't nap at the "right time" to ensure a certian bedtime then we did away with naps and dealt with Mr. Bear...figure out the right tradeoff for you and your family!
my two and half year old is doing the same thing. Sometimes I need him to take naps so I can get things done! However I have come to terms with the fact that he will not nap every day and have been giving naps as needed. If he doesn't nap he goes to bed at 6:30. If he does nap he can stay up till 8. I have had a problem with him staying in bed though. He sleeps with a stuffed bear and since I can't really give my son a time out for not staying in bed (because this would get him out of bed too) his bear gets a time out. He doesn't like not having his bear so he usually stays in bed after not having it for 1-2 minutes.
