My 20 month old son has been napping for 3 to 3 1/2 hours a day lately. When he started taking only one nap (at around a year) he was napping about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. He was pretty consistent with that scedule until the last few weeks. I am not complaining!! I know he needs his sleep, and I am not trying to shorten the naps. They don't seem to effect his schedule. He still goes to bed at his usual time at night. He does wake up early (around 6 every morning, no matter when he goes to bed at night). I am just wondering if these long naps are normal. Does any one else have a marathon napper? Or should I be worried?
My 22 month old daughter usually takes naps from 3 to 5 hours long, which gives me enough time to clean and take a short nap! I love it! And she still sleeps great through the night, usually from about 8 or 9 at night till 8 or 9 in the morning. I think if they are sleeping that long, it's because they need that much sleep and there's no need to worry about it.
Yep, this is normal and a great phase of development! Enjoy it!
My oldest daughter was a marathon sleeper...through age 2 she would sleep 13 hours and take 2 2hour naps a day, sometimes longer than 2 hours! I remember I used to get worried and I'd check on her over and over to make sure she was breathing. She moved to one nap a day when she turned 3 sleeping 1 to 3 hours at a time, still sleeping 13 hours at night. The only not so great part about it all was my other 2 children were not like that at all! So I found myself spoiled, lol. Enjoy the sleep time and take advantage!
My kids always nap a really long time when they are growing or fighting an illness. If he seems fine during the day and is sleeping well at night I wouldn't worry about it.
No, it's not a problem. My son always napped for several hours in the afternoon....it's perfectly normal and healthy! Especially when they're going through a growth spurt. Plus, the older they get, the more energy they expend.
Our little guy (21 mos.) still likes to sleep about 1 1/2 hrs. morning and afternoon. If he just increased his sleep, it might be a growth spurt, especially if he's a little chubby right now. 3 hrs sounds about right, though for naps. Our older one did the marathon naps of 3 or 4 hours. Count your blessings and enjoy the quiet, undisturbed time. :)
My daughter is 13 months old, and she typically naps for 2 - 3-1/2 hours, depending on what time she got up in the morning.
I wouldn't worry about it, IF he seems healthy and happy in all other respects. If he seems lethargic during the day, or if his activity level takes a drastic change, then you probably want to talk to his doctor. Otherwise, he may be fighting off an infection, going through a growth spurt, or just catching up on the sleep he doesn't get at night.
Best of luck,
S.
my 22 month old will go for a week or so refusing naps then he'll go through another spout of taking a nap every day for 3-4 hours. which oddly enough is like my eating habits for about 1 month i'll be constantly hungry all the time then the next month i'll want to hardly eat anything so who knows. its weird but i sure don't mind the 3 hour naps unless its a day where we need to go out and get things done
J.,
I would not worry about this behavior unless it persists for several months. He may just be going through a growth spurt. I found that my son would start eating and sleeping much more than usual for a few weeks, and the end of which he would not only resume his more normal behavior, but also would be a bit taller. Growth needs energy and rest. He may just be growing.
Linda B.
my son is 21 months and takes 3 to 3 1/2 hour naps too, but he's done this ever since he went to one nap. It's great for me! I wouldn't worry about it, just enjoy it while it lasts :)
Hi J.:
My son is 2 1/2 and he still takes long naps. Either from 2 hrs to 3 hrs every day. This has been consistant for at least 6 months. When they go through growth spurts they tend to nap longer and still sleep the same amount of hours at night. They basically need it. He will start to nap for a shorter period of time once he gets done with this spurt. He may even go through a stage when he won't want a nap. Don't worry I think this is normal. Enjoy it while it lasts.
H. P.
My youngest always napped for about three hours. Especially if he was going through a growth spurt. I wouldn't worry and as for the getting up early. Try having two kids up before five in the morning. My kids don't go to bed until 8:30 or nine at night and they are both up by five, sometimes six. At least now at ages 12 and 9 they can get themselves breakfast, so I only really have to daze my way through the morning and then I go back to sleep. LOL. Your son seems to be on a good schedule. Good luck and enjoy the free time.
When my daughter naps for a really long time and it doesn't effect her normal night time schedule, then I think she must be getting ready to go through a growth spurt. I've also noticed that she tends to eat more at meal times when that happens too.
if it really is not effecting his night time schedule in anyway then count yourself blessed!
I wouldn't worry about it. My daughter did the same thing. She gradually just started taking shorter ones. She is almost three and still naps in the afternoon for two hours. Your little guy is probably just going through a growth spurt. Enjoy the extra time to get stuff done.
My son who is almost 23 months was late to switch from two naps to one a day (only a couple months ago), the two naps would total about 4 hours, now that he takes jut the one it ranges anywhere between 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 hours. Like your son, mine still has the same routine for going to bed and waking up. My son is very active when he is awake, so I figure he needs the long nap and almost 12 hours at night. Now with a 3 week old in the house as well, I look forward to that long nap everyday.
If it doesn't affect his regular sleeping/night time schedule...don't worry! I had a marathon napper too around that age. I would check on him constantly but learned never to wake a sleeping kiddo. He must need it and mine seemed to do it in growing spurts. No worries...take advantage of the quiet time with yourself/thoughts and your daughter. :)
that's pretty normal. they change nap times and amounts at this age. the trouble comes when it starts affecting whether or not he sleeps on time at night. my 2 yr old puts up some pretty big fits if we wake him up from a nap when he wanted to sleep longer. but if we don't, he takes way too long to fall asleep at night. once he gets over his annoyance of being woken up, he's fine for the rest of the day, not cranky in the evening. good luck!
I have two marathon nappers. The nap schedules vary from time to time. Sometimes my kids will nap for 2 hours for a while and others they nap for 3 to 3 1/2 hours and they are 2 & 4 years old. I just keep a consistent schedule for them - put them down for their nap & for nighttime at roughly the same time every day & let them sleep as long as they want to. They both seem happy & healthy. Enjoy it!
Hi J.!
How lucky for you that your son naps so long; it gives you time to get things done and have "you" time. I have four boys and two of them have never slept since they were born. My one year old only takes ONE, 45 min nap a day. It has been this way since he was just two weeks old. My 2 1/2 year old takes one nap a day also but his nap is 2 1/2- 4 hrs long! (Everyday). It's perfectly normal; some kids just require more sleep than others! :) Enjoy it!
My oldeest did the same thing. It was wonderful. Eventually he didn't need as much sleep and the naps shortened. Enjoy your blessing.
