What age do you start leaning your toddlers off of naps?

[AshleighLynn]

What age did you start leaning them off naps? Did it just come naturally?
I am just wondering because my children are still napping at 25 months and my friends child at 25 months rarely still takes naps (although she sets the bedtime early so he sleeps through the night.) I just would like to know what everyones experiences are with this and what they think is best.

 

[CaptainMummy]

Paige still has and needs a nap at 28 months. She sleeps around 1.5-2hrs.

Her friend who is 3 in August also still has a nap every day

 

[Cleo]

F is 3 next week and still naps. He goes through phases where he won't take a nap for a day or two, but then he gets back into it, so I imagine when he no longer needs them he just won't be able to fall asleep, or won't sleep for very long.

 

[DaisyBee]

We've tried having Megan not nap as too much nap and she can't fall asleep at night. She gets overtired without the nap though and it affects her sleep in the night. She will wake and can't fall back asleep. We've tried moving bedtime up but she rarely sleeps through without a nap. We limit her nap to 10-30 minutes at the most. I would love for her to stop napping, she just doesn't seem to be ready. She is 3 1/2.

I had daycare kids still napping the summer after Kindergarden. Depends on your child. There isn't an age that naps need to go. Some kids need one and others can't sleep at night with one. Follow your kid on this one vs your friend.

 

[seoj]

I plan on letting my DD nap long as she's willing! My best friend got her son to take naps up till like age 5-6yrs?! Her daughter is 3yrs and still takes naps- although some days she'll power through and refuse. LOL. My SD stopped napping by age 2yrs- she just fought naps so hard my hubby finally just gave in... she was fine without them though. My LO, on the other hand, will come to me for a nap when she's ready- but I usually go rock with her for like 2-5mins before she passes out (even if she's fine and having fun playing- she doesn't fight them at all). I would think toddlers needs naps, overall- but all kids vary. My LO still sleeps 10-11hrs at night with a 2hr nap... she's always needed that much sleep though (even more as a baby).

 

[Tanikins]

My lb hasnt napped since 18 months he just refuses to he sleeps about 12 hours a night.

I miss naps

 

[Seity]

Never! If I could get my 3 year old (39 months) to take a nap every day I would. Sadly, he doesn't nap every day anymore, so some evenings he a right grouch and I don't get any time off from him during the day

 

[Toms Mummy]

My son is 4 in september, he still has a good hour or two most days and still goes to bed happily at 7:30, waking at 7. I think it's dependent on the child and I wouldn't push to stop them as they obviously need it x

 

[ellie27]

My 3.5 year old daughter doesnt nap. She stopped around age 2 or 2.5 yrs?

My 19 month old son has a nap of around 1.5 hrs

 

[racheal021106]

Mine stopped by herself at 20 months, I remember it was new years eve around 4:30 (her usual naptime) and she was having absolutely non of it so I gave in and then ever since she had no naps and was perfectly fine I guess she was just ready

but I have a friend who has a 3 year old who has to have a 2 hour nap a day, just try and go with it xx

 

[Bambi1985]

My 2.5 year old naps most days but can go without if neede. Remember that every child is different, when OH was younger he napped everyday until he started school at almost 5!

 

[SillyMoo1983]

My 22 month old still needs her naps. If we're at home she has 2 hours+ but if we're out she has an hour or less in the car. She's definitely happier after the longer nap! But I have to wear her out properly when she gets up so she still goes to bed ok. She has a friend the same age who has no nap though and one who will nap no longer than 30 mins. They're all so different. I guess some need naps more than others.

 

[RachA]

.

 

[RachA]

I don't think naps are something that you need to wean children off. They will stop at some point.
My son napped up until he was 4 1/2 years. From about 3 he wouldn't nap every day but most days. I only stopped putting him down because he would take ages to go to sleep and then wouldn't want to wake up. Napping didn't affect his sleep at night. He would nap for around 3 hours.
My daughter still naps now and she is 4 in Oct. Again she doesn't nap every day but more often than not. She naps around 2 hours and it doesn't generally affect her sleep at night. I don't plan on stopping her nap.

 

[sun]

I think it depends on the kiddo. My 19mo is hit or miss with naps, whereas my son quit napping at 3yrs 2mo - just a couple of months ago. Lame since I was hoping she would nap until 3+, but getting her to sleep is really tough now and when she naps for over an hour her night sleep is severely affected.

ETA: I wouldn't wean them off naps at all unless their night sleep is suffering. I stopped my son's naps because he wasn't sleeping until almost midnight and was a bear after his naps. Now he goes to bed 4h earlier and sleeps soundly at night with energy through the day. His nap was really causing night sleep issues. But I think most kids just slowly drop their nap as they don't need it.

 

[EverythingXd]

My DS1 is going through a phase of refusing naps. Several of my mummy friends say this means he is ready to drop them, but I'm sure that's not the case - if he doesn't nap, he has waves of crying over nothing. His naps (or lack of) do not affect his sleep. He will sleep 7pm/7.30pm - 6.30am/7am regardless. When he does nap, they're still 2 hours long and he wakes up in a lovely mood.

I would say if your child is fighting naps, and/or if they are not tired at bedtime, maybe it's time to experiment to see how they cope without a nap. If they get really grumpy, I personally wouldn't stop naps unless you really have no other choice.

 

[Cleo]

My DS1 is going through a phase of refusing naps. Several of my mummy friends say this means he is ready to drop them, but I'm sure that's not the case - if he doesn't nap, he has waves of crying over nothing. His naps (or lack of) do not affect his sleep. He will sleep 7pm/7.30pm - 6.30am/7am regardless. When he does nap, they're still 2 hours long and he wakes up in a lovely mood.

I would say if your child is fighting naps, and/or if they are not tired at bedtime, maybe it's time to experiment to see how they cope without a nap. If they get really grumpy, I personally wouldn't stop naps unless you really have no other choice.

F did this too. He refused for a bit, and was such a bear that I knew he still needed them, despite what HE thought! So now I sit with him while he settles and usually I end up staying in his room till he falls asleep (takes about 20 mins) bc I bring the iPad in and I go on BnB haha! I actually like it bc I get a little down time And he has a 2 hour nap and is way happier for the rest of the afternoon!

 

[Laucu]

Emma stopped napping when she was 37 months. I'm not sure she was entirely ready but that's when her dummy went and there was no way she was going to nap without it!

But yes, all kids are different. If their night time sleep isn't affected then let them nap, I say!

 

[freckleonear]

Make the most of it! They will give up when they are ready, no need to stop them napping unless it is affecting their night time sleep.

 

[happigail]

Kitty stopped at 2. She just simply could not fall asleep. She gets the Grumps and it's hard having to fill up the whole day with activities, but I'm adjusted to it now.