Why Is My Toddler Not Wanting to Nap Lately?

Yes. It's normal. It's horrible. They usually give up the nap 6 months before they are physically able to manage it. It stinks.

Try "Quiet Time" in the room, no forcing of or discussion of the "nap." There are also some inexpensive foam "easy chairs" in kids sizes that unfold into more of a chaise lounge. One of my stepdaughters had them for both kids. Great for TV time. At the designated nap time, make it "Special Chair Time" and the kids could unfold the chair, snuggle in it with an afghan and a book or 2, and have quiet time - no requirement to sleep. 9 times out of 10, they napped.

Have you tried 1:30 or 2:00 if 1:00 isn't working? Maybe she's not quite tired yet. Since she's crashing around 4:00 it sounds like she needs a nap. But I wouldn't sit until she crashes without at least trying a slightly later nap.

Yep it's normal. My daughter stopped taking naps by your daughters age. I would make her have quiet time in her room during what was supposed to be nap time. I would tell her she could play quietly and that worked. Toddlers bring on an experience you wont believe. Good luck!!

With my first, I worried about this stuff. When I had a second, I just went with the flow. It's much easier to just do what works, and your toddler will let you know when she needs to nap (or not). They change constantly - when something is working, they go and switch it up as you must already know :)

When mine hit this stage, they would konk out while I was making supper or they would crash in the car on way home from daycare. What can you do. You just give them downtime when they used to nap - just so they have a rest, and I used to move bedtime up. After a few weeks, they kind of settled into a new pattern (for a while).

Not all toddlers need naps at two. One of mine was the only kid in daycare who didn't nap. His teacher just read to him quietly and he played quietly until the rest woke up.

** I used to wake mine up if they passed out around 4:30 after about 20 minutes, nothing wrong with a cat nap, just made sure it wasn't a power nap (interfere with bedtime).

Some give it up, other resist it - our son napped till he was in first grade and couldn't nap at school anymore - but he still did on weekends.
He's almost 18 now - and sometimes when he comes home from school he'll grab a quick nap before starting homework.
Some people just really need their sleep.
When he was a toddler he sometimes resisted a nap for fear of missing out on something.
So me and Hubby would lay down with him on our big bed - thinking he'd fall asleep and we'd get back up again.
More often than not we ALL ended up taking a nap.
I really miss those naps now!

yes.
toddlers don't care about the schedules parents set for them, and think they'll just stay on. they don't care that it's 1pm.
i have no idea why YOUR toddler isn't being obedient to her schedule right now. it could be a gazillion things, or nothing at all.
i'd keep putting her down to rest. you can't force sleep. as with all parenting, you need to find the line between keeping your lives on pleasant, manageable keel and being flexible enough to go with the simple fact that children don't grow inside nice neat lines.
khairete
S.

Yes, it's normal. I had one that napped really well until he was 5. Another that gave it up around age 2. They are all different. Sounds like she's a great sleeper - 8:30PM until 7AM. So count your blessings and don't worry about this.

L.,
Let the baby sleep. If they fall asleep at a time that is inconvenient, well, just let them sleep!

With my two - when they slept, they slept. If I had to carry them in from the vehicle, I did. If I needed to carry them out to it, to pick up DH, I did. Not easy. Not convenient. Catering? No. But it usually resolved itself in a day or two, and back to usual. It usually involved a growth spurt. Or change in naps. Changes in naps usually mean growth. Or growing out of naps.

So yes, I would say it is normal for a toddler to do an unpredictable, inconvenient-for-us thing like not want to nap.

You didn't mention if s/he receives any care outside the home - thus any accidental addition of caffeine or other nutrition.

One thing that helped when I wanted to sponsor a nap - putting my own head down on the pillow and talking to them. Or simply closing the shades and saying 'you get that pillow, you get that pillow, and Mommy is taking THIS pillow, AND the blanket' after which was a brief complaint that they didn't have blanket, and then I'd say something then yawn, and repeat....and usually it worked.

welcome to mamapedia!!

She's growing up.

You need to start adjusting her schedule. Just because it doesn't conform to YOUR schedule - doesn't mean it's hers or her body's.

I second the idea about "quiet time". If you lay down with her and read then tell her she has to lay still and be quiet instead, she'll probably fall asleep. If not, the quiet time still refreshes everyone.

It is a very common age for toddlers to give up naps. It is a transition. Both of mine gave up naps by this age. Instead they had a "quiet time" in the afternoon while I made supper. They were allowed to watch tv on the sofa with a blanket. Sometimes they did fall asleep and have a nap. Sometimes they fell asleep in the van on the way home from our afternoon activity. Most days they didn't sleep. I would suggest offering her a quiet time, but not forcing her to nap. Also make the quiet time later in the afternoon.

Yep, all three of mine stopped napping at around two. You can still lay down with her and rest and have quiet time, reading books, etc.

nither of mine took a nap after they turned 2.

move nap way earlier, like about 11;45
I bet she is getting overtired and then you are missing the window of sleep

Both my kids stopped napping at about age 2 and a half. I thought that it was so early because many kids nap till about age 5. Not mine though. Both of them just would not fall asleep anymore even though they had to have quiet time. Good luck!

It's a power struggle and she's learning who the boss of her is. If it's you then you need to keep doing your schedule. I will say that kids her age are usually still taking their one nap per day after lunch, right afterwards. Close the blinds, make the room darker, play quiet music or turn on a fan, do something to help her sleep like rub/pat her back.