My Two Kids Are Not Taking Naps like They Should HELP

First the little one sounds like he is transitioning to one long nap a day.
Right now it is hard to keep him up but as time goes on (hopefully within
the next month or two) he should stay up later and sleep for a long
stretch.

As far as the 2 1/2 yr. old, some give up naps at that age and some
continue to nap until 4!!! I would keep putting her down for a nap; if she
sleeps great if she does not just leave her. At least she is having quiet
time. Good luck.

Both of my kids stop napping around 2 too. Sometimes if my younger is getting grumpy I just put her to sleep early, she still waking up in the mornings at the same time, nap or not nap.
I would start to working in quite time instead.

who wants them to take a nap??? you??? you 2.5 year is done napping and you 1 year is now napping once a day!! don't try to force them to nap they will take one if they feel tired!! or maybe an early bedtime will be in order!!!

Welcome to my world sister! Some kids roll like this and I have 3!

~All 3 of my kids were done with naps at @ 2 yrs old. Period, done, no turning back...just didn't need the naps anymore. For the most part my kids were fine w/out the naps, not too grouchy or anything, a couple of them really did need a good healthy snack at @3-4pm though, just to keep them on track.

You can try to lay down with them and put on a movie or some music to get in some 'rest/quiet time' at least, if they are grouchy come the end of the day...but that is the best advice I have for you, sorry!

*For the record, I blame my hubby for that terrible turn of events (I LOVED nap time, serenity now!), my MIL confessed to me that hubby was DONE with naps at 2 too! ;)

My 2 yr old hasnt taken in a nap since he turned two. I think your lucky that shes taken naps until now

Not getting a break is tough. On the really difficult days, just keep focusing on the blessings you have. Don't keep mulling over and over in your head about how difficult your day is. It will make it worse. When you absolutely need a sanity break, let your daughter spend time in her room playing and put your 1 year old in a crib or playpen with some toys. Kids need to learn to entertain themselves instead of running to mommy and saying, "I'm bored!" When they tell you that, just tell them to go find something to do. Do not become their answer to boredom.

You also need away time. Plan a night each week when your husband watches your kids and you go out with a friend. If money is tight, don't go out to eat, just go for a walk or go window shopping. It is nice to have a set time that you can look forward to instead of wondering how you are ever going to get through this stage.

Since you know ahead of time that you will hit those crazy moments, plan ahead how you will respond to it. Having healthy responses in mind will keep you from reacting in ways that you don't want your children to mimic(screaming, etc.). For example, you can turn on some fun music and dance. It will get the pent up energy out in a fun way. The kids will probably join you!

Hang in there! Keep reminding yourself that it could be worse. And when they are finally asleep at the end of the day, literally pat yourself on the back and tell yourself that you are the best momma they got to have today!

My first two stopped napping at an early age. Both around 2 1/2. I think lack of physical activity plays a part. It is difficult to always have that outdoor time with the weather, sicknesses, and errands. My son who just turned 3 will still take a nap at mother's day out (twice a week) but has a hard time falling asleep at bedtime (8 pm). My 5 year old daughter does not take naps at all. If she does take any kind of nap, she also has a hard time falling asleep.
My 14 month old stopped taking his second nap a day around 12 months. He sleeps about 2 1/2 hours during the day (around 11 am) and 8 pm to 7 am.
When the older two began to give up naps altogether, it became such long drawn-out chore for me to TRY to get them to sleep, I finally just gave in.
The good thing about the lack of naps was that they slept really good at night and were ready for bed at bedtime. Also, it frees up your schedule if you have places to go - you don't have to be home at a specific time for naps.
I know how hard it is for us as moms to not have the kids napping. They (and you) do need rest time or to play quietly in their respective rooms time.

Make SURE, that everyday in the MORNING, she gets outdoor runaround time.

Toddlers, need more physical activity.
It helps them get out their yah-yahs, gets their pent up energy spent, and it is good for them.

This happens at about 2 years old. They are changing physically and cognitively.

2 1/2 - 3 is a normal age to give up naps. Just keep up the routine and sooner or later they'll both be on the same schedule. My kids have the same age difference and I remember struggling with this myself.

my kids both so far quite naps around 2.5 yrs old. They still have mandatory quiet time to do exactly what she is doing, playing in her room quietly. Yes we need our alone time but she doesn't have to nap to get it.

My daughter was about that age when she began skipping naps. She is 3 and a half now and for the past year, she has only been taking a few naps a week. She just doesn't seem to need them everyday anymore but it's like the sleepiness compounds over the days and then she needs one. However, the days she gets one, if she sleeps more than a half hour, she has trouble falling asleep at night. I would encourage "down time" though. Don't make her sleep but require her to play quietly in her room for an hour. I wish we had gotten in that habit when my kids were very young. It's a hard pill to swallow when kid's sleep schedules change but it's so normal. When she goes to school, you might find that she needs more naps again. My daughter often falls asleep in the car on school days.

Dontcha just wish moms could control when and for how long their kids slept?? That would be great....

Both of my older girls switched to one long nap per day around 1 year old and were done with naps by the time they turned 2 *sigh*

My youngest seems to be a bit better of a sleeper, but she's an early bird. Where my older two would sleep till 8 or 9am the littlest is up with the sun around 6am.

We just can't win! lol

My 2 1/2 year old does not take a nap everyday. Those are the worst days, so I hear you.

My son still needs them and will take a 2-3 hours nap when he does. When he doesn't all he does is cry from the time he was supposed to nap until he goes to bed.

I just keep trying and hoping. I try to tire him out but I feel that there is a window of opportunity and sometimes I miss it. If I put him down too early it doesn't work, too late same thing. Just be patient, consistent and establish a routine and stick with it. We have a nap time/bed time ritual despite not always having the same nap time due to our schedule. If your daughter needs it just keep being consistent.

I don't see anything wrong with your older child not napping lots of two year olds I know don't nap. If you need a break implement quiet time for your 2 yr old while the younger one is napping

A sad day...for sure! :)
What I did was earlier bedtime on the "no nap" days and once in awhile, mine would nap after a few days of not napping.

The 1 yo def still needs a nap. I agree with the PP that said as he gets a little older, he will be awake longer....just try gradually bumping it later over time. Pay no mind to things like "lunchtime" til you get him settled.

Will your 2.5 yo lie on her bed and listen to a storybook CD, watch a 60 minute movie?

Every kid is different--my 6-year-old still naps most days (we've been trying to wean her off), but my niece gave them up at 2. I have a feeling that my son (age 2) will give them up at a much earlier age than his sister. It all depends on whether they actually sleep.

I suggest you give your child approved "quiet time" activities (and hide anything you don't want her to play with) that she can do by herself in her room so you can get some kind of break. Maybe some books to look at (if she's over the ripping stage--at that age, my daughter could look at them well without supervision, but not my son), some doll things, etc.