When do babies drop naps?

[purpleme12]

When did your baby stop napping? On Sunday my 14 month old baby refused a nap after dinner but by half 3 was very tired so went to sleep but really that's too late for a nap so I had to wake her up after half an hour. Tuesday and Wednesday she napped but then again each time we were out so she was in her pushchair. Today she's refused to nap too

[minipie]

Mine's still napping at 26 months despite not being a big fan of sleep overall.

She has gone through one or two nap refusal phases though, just as you describe she won't sleep at lunch but then conks out at 3 or 4 ish (and I only let her have a shorter nap then, just like you). Usually lasts a few days and then back to normal napping.

Right now she's doing the opposite - wanting mega long naps and then waking early in the morning, sigh. Going to have to start waking her up mid nap which I hate doing as she's so grumpy!

[stressbucket1]

She sounds like she still needs a nap. I think they have blips where they realise they don't have to sleep so start to protest a bit. I would try my best to keep the after lunch routine if I were you. I usually tell my DD she is having a nap after lunch so she expects it. either that or a well timed car journey or trip out in the pram!
My DD is 2.10 and still has one most days usually about 45mins but I know a lot of kids that have stopped long before that

[minipie]

Oh does your 14 month old still have a morning nap as well as a post lunch nap? If so then maybe she's ready to drop the morning nap, I think it was about 13 or 14 months when DD dropped hers and went down to one.

[purpleme12]

No it's just an afternoon one she has. Thanks all I'll keep trying to put her in her cot

[fishfingerSarnies]

I'd keep putting her down but maybe giver her some books or toys to play with too. Try and keep it going as long as possible. My dd is 2 1/2 and has 2 hours "quiet time" in her room if we are at home, sometimes she naps, sometimes she sings and plays. I love the time to myself and will keep it going untill she starts school ha or maybe even uni.

[IdaClair]

They sleep when they want to sleep really. If they look sleepy I put them in bed (or order them to go to bed depending on the age)

Depends on the child, my youngest was more than capable of staying awake for a good 14 hour day at six months. But some days would spend lots of time asleep. Also depends what you're doing, obviously if you are out and busy and a nap isn't convenient they have to stay awake and join in. But if I have tired or cranky kids I send them to bed, doesn't really matter what age they are or what time it is. My 2 year old was asleep yesterday until 6pm and went back to bed at 8pm. Then had a lie in this morning. I generally look at the child not at the clock (or calendar!)

[purpleme12]

Wow fishfingersarnies there's no way my baby would start playing in her cot for long at all never mind 2 hours! That's good going!

[PisforPeter]

DD 2.5ish still naps for 2-3 hours

[googietheegg]

Dd is 2.7 and usually naps for two hours from 1-3.15 then goes to bed at 8. I think you're more likely to keep the nap going if they go to bed later, rather than insisting on 7pm bedtime.

[LIG1979]

My dd up till 2.4 would sleep 7-7 and 2-3 hours nap. Then overnight decided not to nap. Now she still struggles without a nap (and is quite horrible by bedtime) but if she naps during the day she will be very difficult to get to go to bed in the evening. I would have liked a little more warning that naps were going to stop!