Is 2.5 Too Early to Give up an Afternoon Nap?

My oldest son napped until he was almost 5, so when my younger son started stopping at 2.5, I was NOT amused (they are 2.5 years apart). What I soon realized, however, is younger son didn't want to MISS anything. Yes, the first couple of weeks were rough, but he also realized that he wasn't missing ALL that much, and would fall asleep on the couch (or even take himself up to his room and fall asleep) a couple of days a week. He was also usually good for a nap in the car if we went somewhere on the highway, and I could generally transition him in to the house and put him on the couch to finish out a nap.
Once we got through the transition period, it was NICE to not be pinned down to my house every afternoon!
HTH!

No, my oldest child, my daughter, stopped around that age too. It may even have been an little earlier. If she did take a nap, she wouldn't go to bed a a decent hour... Now my middle son, napped until first grade, and that's only because they don't nap at school in 1st. My youngest stopped around 2.5 years too.
Hang in there momma!

I think it's too early to stop naps. My son is 2.5 and if he doesn't nap, he becomes a terror by late afternoon. Try telling her that even if she doesn't nap, she has to stay quietly in her room during naptime. that way, b/c she can't play with her brother, she may end up just falling asleep.

My daugher is almost 2.5 yrs old, and she "skips" about half of her naps. At daycare, she will "play quietly" if she doesn't nap since all the other kids are napping or doing the same. At home, she usually just sings to herself in her bed. Sometimes she will sleep, sometimes not. We just enforce "quiet time" either way.

She goes to bed between 8:30 and 9pm and is up around 6:30 or 7am.

Maybe you can have her older brother do a "quiet activity" during her naptime so she won't feel left out? Or have them both do something separately in their rooms so she can either nap or have some "down time". If you don't already, set her room environment the same way every day to "signal" nap/quiet time. For us, that means, turning off the lights, closing the blinds, putting on her "sleeping music," and closing the door.

Yes - for ME! Haha. My DD is 3 and she is starting to fight nap time. Definitely have down time for the same length as nap. I have DD lay in bed for quiet time, no toys. It hasn't been easy though but it is getting better. Could it be related to the time change? Hope you get some good advice!

Try giving your son a "nap" too! Bring your daughter and go to his room first and have him get in bed. Kisses and leave. Then go to her room - same thing kisses and blankets.

He can read or play very quietly for 15 minutes. Once she is asleep, he can carry on as normal.

Can't hurt to try. Naps are important if your little one can't function all day without one. Good luck!

I hope not! (As I listen to my own upstairs in his crib right now, talking, singing, and kicking...)

My oldest (4.5) tried to give up his nap around 2.5, but I was very insistant that he take it, and he napped until he was about 4. She may just be testing the limits right now, so I'd just stay firm with it and keep enforcing nap time, while your older son has quiet time. Maybe she needs some white noise in her room to block the sounds from the house so it isn't as apparent that he's not napping either.

Good luck!!

My son stopped napping a few months after turning 3, he just would not lay down or stay in his room. Instead he had quiet time where he would just play with his toys. In the beginning, he did turn into a "bear" at times in the late afternoon/early evening...he eventually adjusted to his schedule change and is mostly in a good mood throughout the day now.

All 3 of my kids were done w/naps at @ 2 yrs. old and fine with it...well,
one of them NEEDED an afternoon snack or he would be a bear.

The rest of the kids in my family (2 stepsons + 2 nephews) napped longer...1 of them *happily* took and needed an afternoon nap till he was around 5 yrs. old.

It really depends on the kid.

At 2.5, a child is usually napping later in the afternoon. No longer at 12 but closer to 2-3 to go down for a nap. So, if you haven't already, more it later.

Most kids fight their naps aropund 2.5 and later. However, I think most people give up on naps too early. I think most kids NEED that sleep,even just an hour, until almost 4 and some later. So, I urge you not to give up yet. Sleep is SO important.

My daughter stopped at about that age (my son was later, almost 4). I kept trying until she was 3. Only about 1 time per week would she fall asleep. The rest of the time, she would play quitely for 30min or so and then get back up :(
Sorry........

none of my kids have taken naps past this age unless heavy traveling where they are over stimulated. My kids do sleep 12 hours straight at night though

My son gave up naps at that age. I see your concern because it could lead to a late afternoon meltdown. I remember several months of wanting to pull my hair out at about 5:30/6. Total witching hour. What I would say to do it every other day, lay down with her for a half hour or go for a carride early enough that it doesn't effect bedtime. That way she can take a 20 minute nap if she really needs it.

Sometimes you don't have a choice! Sometimes they just won't nap anymore but then you could implement "quiet time" and sometimes they'll fall asleep from there. It's a difficult transition time.....

Yes. It is WAY too early. They need naps to get the required amount of rest time. As they get older their bedtime naturally goes to a later time.

Once she starts school she will have nothing but trouble because they still lay down in pre-K and Kindergarten. They give up the nap time after Winter Break usually in the K class but they much still have quiet time so I would keep making her lay down and stay with her until she goes out each and every day.