Am I the Exception to the Rule?

Updated on August 31, 2011
S.F. asks from Ogdensburg, NY
19 answers

I am not complaining by any means and I swear I am not trying to brag for those of you that have nap troubles. I just starting thinking today that I dont think its the norm to have a child going on 2 (she is 20 months) and still takes two decent (1 to 1 and a half hour) naps in a day. I love the freetime it gives me to get things done but like I said is this 'normal' for toddlers this age? I have tried to get her to only take one a day but just make it a longer one but she NEEDS her nap in the morning and then again in the afternoon so I just go with it. She is also a fantastic sleeper at night (knock on wood now that I said that =)
Does anyone elses toddler still take 2 naps a day or am I just really really lucky?

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So What Happened?

@Sarah C. Noooooo dont say that! Thats why I said - "knock on wood" LOL =)

Featured Answers

A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

My son took 2 naps until about age 2. (first child)
My daughter went down to just one nap at age 9mo!!!!......She's the one that gave Mommy gray hairs :)

Now they are 7 and 9.......I miss nap time :(

1 mom found this helpful

M.L.

answers from Houston on

I have a few friends that I can honestly say, that I am crazy with envy on how easy going their children are. They sleep till 8, go to bed at 7, take long naps, never make messes, have simple tantrums or none at all.... for serious, I've witnessed it!

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E.T.

answers from Albuquerque on

This made me smile. I have good sleepers as well, and am so glad I dodged the nap/bedtime hysteria. At 20 months my twin girls were only napping once a day -- they switched around 18 months I think -- but it was a three hour nap. They kept the nap up until they turned 4, and now they nap once or twice a week for 2 hours. Usually only when they've had swimming lessons in the morning or a particularly busy and active day. Night time sleep is still 8pm - 7am with few wakeups.

Here's wishing you continued stress-free sleep!

2 moms found this helpful
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S.C.

answers from Des Moines on

Normal is always a bell curve.

But you DO realize you just jinxed yourself, right?

1 mom found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Dayton on

My oldest took 2 naps until 17 months which was awesome since I was pregnant and so tired. Enjoy!

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R.H.

answers from Boston on

My daughter was the same way! Stop asking if it's normal and just GO WITH IT!!! People will try to tell you you're letting your kid sleep too much (I know people said that to me) but you know your kid better than anyone. If she needs 2 naps just keep on giving her 2 naps. You will know when she's trying to transition to 1.

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E.S.

answers from Dayton on

I am green w/ envy. ;)

1 mom found this helpful
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S.L.

answers from Dallas on

Can I start off by saying NO FAIR! LOL. I so wish I could get my two year old to take more than 1 nap on the weekends. He typically sleeps an hour to two hours at preschool during the week. On the weekends I can usually get him to take one about the same time as preschool does theirs, but his sleep varies from 45 mins-2 hrs. (Hate the 45 min nap days!). If more than one nap a day works for you...go for it!

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H.V.

answers from Cleveland on

You are LUCKY!
My 3y/o son battles nap time. I put him in his bed 2 times a day for a Nap.
Its a rare day that he actually sleeps. Usually I put him down for the 1st one, and if he sleeps, I won't do it again later.
I'm 1/2 lucky...
My daughter, who will be 1 in about a week, has about 4-5 naps a day. not because I WANT her to nap, but she tells me she wants to go to bed haha

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K..

answers from Phoenix on

You're lucky. DD went down to one nap at one year old & hasn't napped in 2.5 years. She's 5 1/3 yrs old.

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M.T.

answers from New York on

No, my kids did one nap a day at a year. It was fine. When my oldest was that age, I worked and didn't need time to myself. When my younger was that age, I was home that year and my older was in half day kindy so I was glad for mornings with the younger. My kids napped well, never gave me a problem about it and it was fine. My older stopped napping just before three and I was glad for it. The younger napped til he was turning four, and I could have used a few extra nap months. A one hour nap is a short nap, so the 2 1/2 hours of naptime you are getting is equal to the 1:00 - 3:30 or so nap that my kids took at the same age.

S.R.

answers from Kansas City on

My daughter did take two naps a day until she actually turned two. Then it all changed. She still does take a good nap everyday, sometimes almost 3 hours, but two naps a day doesn't happen anymore. She is 26 months now.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

At 2ish my son was still taking two 2.5 hour naps. By 3 he was down to 1. By 4 he was down to none.

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K.O.

answers from Atlanta on

In the eye of the beholder: I would go insane if I had to factor in two naps to my day, so I wouldn't call it lucky ;-) My oldest 2 dropped the morning nap by age 1 when they had to move up in daycare classrooms. My 3rd dropped it at 6 months (that seemed oddly early, but it worked out pretty well). The baby currently doesn't have a nap schedule since he just has to go with the flow and wherever I'm going. I try to get home so he has 1 decent afternoon nap, but that doesn't always happen. So he just naps on the go.

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A.C.

answers from Savannah on

Instead of two 1 hour naps, my 21 month old now takes a nap after lunch. We eat lunch around 11:30am (we're up at 6 and sticking with my 4 year old's preschool lunch time since he's there 3 days a week). After lunch, my 21 month old will sleep for 2-2.5 hours. He goes to bed again around 8-8:30pm. I used to like the 2 shorter naps a day. But now I PREFER the one longer nap a day because I can go shopping, have a lunch date, a playdate, take my older son to kung fu or soccer, "etc" without being interrupted twice. A once a day, midday nap is VERY welcome though! It's my chance to veg out on the computer, or whatever I want to do. BTW: my 4 1/2 year old also still naps. He goes to bed around 12-2. Sometimes he sleeps, sometimes he rests. (He still sleeps pretty often though, because we stay very busy all day)

A.G.

answers from Houston on

Nope, my kids stopped napping AT ALL at about a year. They do sleep very well at night though.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

My son for the 1st year, took 3 naps a day. 2 hours.
My son in his 2nd year, took 2 naps a day. 2 hours.
My son at 3 years old, took one nap a day. 2-3 hours.
My son at 4 years old, took one nap a day. 2-3 hours.
My son now at 5 years old, still naps.... however not daily because he is now in Kindergarten. And there is homework to do after school and the time frame, does not allow for naps.
But he STILL will nap, about 3 times a week and on weekends.

My daughter is 8. And IF tired, she will still nap.

My kids both sleep well at night. Even if they do nap.

My kids have always napped. It was just the routine, since they were babies. And I always went by their cues.
It is not a 'battle' for them to nap.

S.T.

answers from Kansas City on

my oldest was the same. now at 2 1/2 he takes 1 nap a day for anywhere between 1 to 3 hours. great sleeper at night to. he goes to bed around 9pm and sleeps until 8 or 9am

L.L.

answers from Rochester on

I think you are 1, lucky, and 2, normal. Some children take two shorter naps (like yours) and some (like mine, who's 16 months) takes only one, but it's usually 2-3 hours long.

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