When did you drop the nap? How did you know it was time?

[Marigoldy01]

I have twins who will be 3 in a couple months. They have about 1.5hr nap each day but lately haven't been settling at night until almost 10pm! It's been going on for about a month now with bedtime getting later and later. The last two days I have tried to keep them awake all day, which is a struggle they get very tired and cranky and sometimes doze off, but they go to bed at 7-7.30 easily and sleep until 7am.

Is it time to drop the nap? Are they old enough to not need one? What age did your kids stop napping?

[winchester1]

Dc1 was 18months, we knew it was time as he was settling later for bed, waking in the night, and after a couple of weeks of trying to.continue them he started physically fighting being put down and then not falling asleep in his pram which is where he had always napped.
Could you try cutting the nap to 45 min for a week so.its. More gradual drop and moving bedtime earlier for a while.

[MattDillonsPants]

Both of my DDs stopped napping at 18 months. I know that's young but they wouldn't sleep at night...like yours. So I decided that the naps were going.

It was hard....all day without that little break but it was worth it when nighttime came around!

Sometimes they'd drop off if we were out and about with a buggy...but otherwise they had no naps at all. When your twins get cranky, that's when you have to think of something they adore doing...I used to get out a bowl of water for mine...put it on the kitchen floor on a towel and give them some bath toys.

Or I'd put them in the bath in some old clothes with some paint and a brush! Messy but contained and they would become interested enough to perk up.

I would say almost 3 is well old enough to drop the nap...do they not go to preschool or nursery yet?

[Marigoldy01]

Thank you for your replies.
I haven't tried cutting them down but that will be a good idea, thanks! I feel almost cruel withholding sleep from them all day..
Wow 18 months, I guess mine are definitely old enough then, they go to a daycare but they are allowed naps there too, so will have to talk to them about cutting them down and then out.

[AStreetcarNamedBob]

Ds is 4 next week and had a 45 min nap

I'd cut the nap not remove it. They'll struggle to suddenly have no sleep after 90 mins is what they're used to

[DontDeadOpenInside]

My son is the same age as your twins and I dropped his nap a long time ago as he was doing the same. He would still be up at nearly midnight then would wake up at 7am anyway. He was draining us. I started by reducing his nap time, so he wasn't going cold turkey, then as he sometimes started to flag late afternoon I'd do something really noisy and fun at around that time to keep him awake just that little bit longer until it was 7 then I'd let him go to sleep. I also wouldn't let him nap after a certain time in the day. It's got to the point now that he doesn't bother napping at all he just does 7/7 30 - 7/7 30 7 days a week.

[bikingintherain]

Just after third birthday here, for exactly the same reasons.

But we did it gradually, firstly dropping it to only 45 minutes, then after a while dropping it every other day, and then introducing quiet time instead ( i,e sat in bed with books or a few toys).

6 months later naps are gone, but DS copes much better without and sleeps much better at night.

DD had naps until she was 4 but in hindsight had chronic tonsillitis so was always fighting infection which made her tired.

[Strawclutching]

20 months here. She would only nap in the pushchair if you took her for a walk. The walks got longer and longer until we would walk for an hour an a half to get her off. The first few days were hard work but she adjusted quickly and it was quickly a relief!

[Blueredballoon]

About 2.5 here. He basically just refused to have a nap- and then if he ever did have one it was taking ridiculous amounts of time for him to get to sleep. Sometimes he falls asleep in the car still and if that's too late then it's a really nightmare bedtime!

There were a few grumpy weeks around nap time but he's mostly ok with it now. I miss the nap time though

[winchester1]

Now mine is older (almost 3) if he falls asleep in the car I put him up normal time with his little sis but let him have a couple of books and favorite toys and just explain he can read to the toys and talk to.his sis. Sometimes it takes a while for him to drop.off but he seems calm and happy to be in his room even if not tired.

[Metalhead]

DD1 went from napping for anything from 1-3 hrs to refusing to sleep at all in a pretty short time when she was 2.5 - I was distraught!! She was very cranky in the afternoons for a good couple of months afterwards and as a result watched more telly than I would have liked, but hey ho... I think 3 is a pretty average age to drop the nap.