20 Month Old Daughter Not Napping

hopefully it is just a stage with her, but my daughter stopped napping at 18 months. She takes after me and just doesn't require that much sleep. We still had "quiet time" and she had to lay in her bed or she could look at books in bed but she had to be in there for 1 1/2 hrs and it was rare for her to fall asleep.

She is now 6 and in 1st grade and still doesnt require that much sleep. she goes to bed at 7:30 and is usually still awake at 9 pm, even though she has been laying in her bed quietly with the lights off.

Hi S.,
Sorry to say but your daughter may just be one of those who don't require the sleep. However, maybe not too. Your routine might need changed as her age is changing. Try putter her down later in the day. My son, who is now 9, gave up all of his naps at 15 months. And he continues to need little sleep. His friends require a good 10 plus hours of sleep a day, but my son lives on 7 to 8 hours. Go figure. You can't force a nap. There have been times that I have needed him to take a nap just for my own sanity and hated the fact that they now made all cough syrup with "Does not cause drowsiness". Or had the fleeing thought of our ancestors when they would give doses of alcohol to put a baby to sleep....

But because we are civilized and would never do those things, we just need to realize that some children do not all require the same amount of sleep. You don't like this now, but her other qualities will out weigh this one character trait. Use her nap time as a story time, you will both benefit greatly.

L.

My experience is that the sleeping habits change so often you barely get a chance to get used to one before they're on to another one.

I would still try each day and at some point she'll get back into the habit.

I do feel for you, I'm home with mine all week and really look forward to the weekends when her dad's home and can take over, so when he has stuff he has to go do I get more than a little perturbed. I need my breaks!!

Most people I know had their kids go through this phase, and some went back to normal napping in a short time. I gave up the fight with my daughter because it was just easier with her older brother who wasn't napping. But only you can make it through, with patience and calmness and sticking to the routine. Good luck.

Hi S.,

I have 16-month-old son, and he has not experienced this phase yet, so I could only suggest idea that I overheard from other moms who has older toddler.

I've heard that their toddlers sleep better when they do lots of physical activity in earlier day. One mom (has 20 month old) told me that her son sleeps better if he walks, climbs, runs at the park rather than just playing at the sand box.

Just an idea. Good luck!

Hi S.,

My daughter stopped napping completely by 23 months. We tried all sorts of things. I have to admit, this is when we started watching more tv. If my daughter watched Dora, etc., that gave me a 20 minute break.

Good luck!