Not Napping

Updated on November 22, 2006
K.D. asks from Andover, MN
6 answers

My daughter just turned 2 in November, and she just started not wanting to take her nap. She used to nap up to 2.5 hrs a day. I think she still needs a nap and I remember my son taking naps till he was at least 4. He even still needs one and he's 6 now. Any suggestions???

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Well I tried giving her some books to read and sure enough, she fell asleep within minutes. She has just moved into her toddler bed and we are potty training, so maybe it's just a little too much for her all at once. I'll keep you posted.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.M.

answers from Des Moines on

My son went through that, and we just told him if he didn't want to sleep he had could take whatever # of books to bed with him and read quietly. But if he got up then books go bye, bye. usually within 20 minutes he was asleep. She's probably just wanting to assert herself, it's not that she's not tired. I think the terrible 2's should actually be called the Resistant 2's. The more consistent you are with whatever you do, the shorter the phase will be.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.F.

answers from Omaha on

Most kids go through this stage in their lives. All you need to do is tell her that you need some quit time and that she needs to go to her room for 1/2 hour. Make sure that all but one of her toys is put up. Usually by 1/2 hour, she has fallen asleep. I hope this works!
G.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.M.

answers from Omaha on

Both of my daughters (now 11 and 4) gave up napping around the two year mark. They just didn't require as much sleep as the average kid of that age. They would occasionally nap on days when they got up exceptionally early. We still had a quiet time for about an hour.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.P.

answers from Great Falls on

You got some really good advice. I suggest the same thing. Make her lay down but tell her she doesn't have to sleep. she can't get up and sometimes they fall asleep better. Some kids just don't need as much sleep as others.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.D.

answers from Boise on

I think you are very right. Kids need that extra sleep until around kindergarten age range. Maybe it's not so much that she doesn't want to take a nap anymore, as she's putting you on a slightly different schedule. For instance: Has her sleep throughout the night changed at all? She may not want to take a nap until later, or maybe she needs one earlier, and by the time her "normal time" nap is, she's so frustrated she won't go down to save her life. Start looking for any signs at all that say she's tired...Because we all know that a typical two year old isn't going to be honest about it! So watch for irritability, eye rubbing maybe, frustration with simple things, unusual sibling rivalry, toy throwing, whining....those can all be signs...Otherwise, perhaps she may be getting her two year old molars in and they both her mostly during the day....Check that first just to be sure. Good luck, and let me know how it goes!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.T.

answers from Denver on

My son just turned 3 and gave up his naps cold turkey about a month and a half ago. He used to take 2.5 hour naps as well. I moved his bedtime an hour and a half earlier and that seems to work pretty well. I try to lay him down sometimes, but he won't sleep. You can make them sleep no matter how much you want them to! He still gets very tired by the end of the day, but I put him in the bathtub right after dinner and then it's story time and bedtime, and he sleeps right till 8 or so in the morning. It seems to work well for us.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions