When Do Toddlers Stop Napping?

Our pediatrician, at my daughter's 2 year appt, said that even though she's champion napper, almost every child during the age 2-3 goes through a phase where they resist napping. I was skeptical, and to this point we've always gotten my daughter to nap (she also sleeps 8:30 - 8 or so at night), but there are days that are harder than others. His advice was to persist, even if it means she ends up just "resting" for an hour in the afternoon, and eventually she should actually start napping again if she really needs it, which she should. Like I said, we haven't gotten to the point where she won't nap, but the doc did prepare me for the commonality of it.

My son will be 3 on Tuesday. He stopped napping consistently a few months ago. He has a rest time in his room for 1 hour each day. A couple times a week usually he falls asleep for a 2 hour nap. Other times I just go get him after an hour. I have a gate in the doorway and he plays with his cars for his quiet time. He sleeps 12 hours each night 8:30-8:30 about. When he does nap it's usually after a very active day...a lot of times Mondays after a busy weekend. When he dropped that consistent napping was when we moved to a new house...big change kind of like a new sibling. So similar situation. Summer is coming and I'm sure they'll get great rest after those active summer days! :) That's what works for us. Best wishes to you!

Hi Jenni!

All I can tell you is that I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old and they are both still taking regular naps. It helps to be on a schedule. They both know after lunch we take our nap and then we get to play again.
I also run a daycare out of my house and have many other kids here during the day, and because of state and DCFS rules children under the age of 5 are required to have a rest period. One of the little girls who started here stopped taking naps around 1 1/2 years old, and when she started here it was difficult to get her back into a napping routine, but it finally happened. I also know that if your child goes to daycare, pre school, or even full day kindergarten they are required to take a rest/nap time...so keep this in mind for the future.

You didn't say what time you are having her go to nap, but you might try a littler earlier in the afternoon. Perhaps she is over-tired. Unfortunately, children don't get sleepy when they are over tired, they get cranky. I 've always had great sleepers (as in "mommy, can I have a nap today?" that came from my 4 y/o) but I know with my 2 y/o it makes a huge (negative) difference if we get him down later in the afternoon. You also might try framing it a little different. My 4 y/o actually started taking naps again, after a number of months without, by calling it a "rest" and letting her snuggle up on my bed with her blanket and teddy bear. But like I said, I have really good sleepers, so maybe this won't help you at all. I hope it does! :-)

mine will be 4 in may.. and i cant remember the last time he actually had "nap time"..i think it started when my daughter started going to school, and he knew he was all mine and took advantage of spending time with mommy.. i know in nicer weather when he plays outside all day, he will nap early.. but thats the only time he takes naps.. i cant wait!!