help me settle a 'discussion' with DH... how many 3 y/o boys still have a daily sleep?

[hairymcleary]

I think My DS (3) is begining to drop his sleep. He'll sleep for 2 hrs-ish every two to three days. On the days he doesn't sleep, he will spend an hour or so in his bedroom either reading books in bed or playing quietly.
I'm quite happy with the quiet time on the days he doesn't sleep, but DH thinks we should be trying to get him to sleep every day, by taking the books away and going in to lie him down every time he gets out of bed. This generally results in some crying and most times, DS won't sleep anyway.
DH thinks that three year olds still need a sleep every day, but I think we're quite lucky to have one that will sleep every few days and even luckier to have one that will play/ read quietly in his room on the other days.
So, to settle the 'discussion' between me and DH, please let me know how many of you have three year olds that sleep every day.

[CMOTdibbler]

My DS is just 3, and mostly needs a sleep every day. But wouldn't play quietly if he wasn't.

DS is pretty unusual though - at nursery only 1 or 2 others have a sleep regularly

[daisy99divine]

My DS of 3 sleeps every day about 1 1/2 hours but some days misses his sleep and is exhausted by end of day - never lies quietly when not sleeping though!

[SuperBunny]

Mine is 3.9 and sleeps maybe 3 or 4 times a week for an hour or two. The other days he has quiet time so I can MN he can rest

[SofiaAmes]

It totally depends on the child. My ds still often takes an afternoon nap and he's 8! His biggest complaint about kindergarten was that they didn't have naptime. But my dd gave up a regular mid day nap before she was 3. If your ds isn't going to sleep when you put him down, I don't see the point in forcing the issue. Especially if he's not tired or cranky during the day.

[Shells]

You're so lucky. Both my DS's gave up their mid day sleep not long after they were 2.

Quiet time is good. Enjoy it while you can.

[Astrophe]

My DS hasn't slept since he was about 20 months or so, and my DD gave up her naps just before 2.5. Depends on the child of course - my friends DS is 3.5 and still sleeps most days...but I that seems to be the exception rather than the rule IME.

[WowOoo]

Mine stopped his just before age 2.

Good that he'll still have quiet time. Mine, age 3, is like a jumping bean til bedtime.

Do think naps or little siesta is good idea.

I'd love one anyway!

[thirtypence]

Ds gave up a sleep when he was 18 months - but continued to have quite in his room time after lunch until about 6 months before starting school. If he fell asleep I knew to get a bucket out because he was obviously brewing a bug!

[HuffwardlyRudge]

It doesn't matter a jot what other three-year-olds do. If your ds is dropping his daytime nap then he's dropping it, and 'forcing' him to sleep (how?) is not helpful for anyone. Your dh should listen to the very clear signals your ds is giving him. (And wow! What a sweet little boy to play quietly in his room!)

[tribpot]

My ds (just turned 4) will have a nap in the day only if he is in the car or very tired. No point forcing the issue, many 3 year olds don't have a nap and quiet time is just as good.

[BonsoirAnna]

You cannot force your DS to sleep if he doesn't want to. My DD was like your DS for quite a while - she wouldn't have an afternoon nap for a few days and then would have a huge "catch up" one.

I am totally unfussed about children's sleeping - I think that they have to be allowed to follow their own rhythm, and DD's life is far from routine and some days are just much more exhausting than others. She'll still nap (at 4.7) if something particularly tiring has happened - yesterday she had an optomestrist's appointment in the afternoon and crashed in the car on the way home.

[BonsoirAnna]

OTOH, a very good friend of mine has a DD six months older than mine plus a DS three years younger. She insists they nap after lunch at the weekend - as a very busy FT expat WOHM that is the only quiet time she ever gets.

[Tambajam]

Stopped here around 2.5. He was dropping it around the same time his friends were. When a nap did eventually happen towards the end it then meant he wasn't ready for night sleep until around 9pm and I lost my evenings.
You are getting the quiet time. You can't force it. The absolute last thing you want is to develop a negative association with going to sleep/ his bedroom/ his bed. That will make evenings and bedtimes a whole new ball of wax.

[purepurple]

I work in a pre-school room and of the 30 three year olds that moved up in September none of them had sleeps.

Of the new lot about to move up this coming September, about 30 again, 2 are currently still having sleeps. 1 is a tiny child who was very premature, she has a nap evry couple of days. The other sleeps for 2 and a half hours because she stays up till 10 at night, keeping mum company.
If he is not tired, he will not need a sleep.

Both of my own children stopped having afternoon naps before the age of 2.

[JackBauer]

DD1 (3) still naps at the weekend after a week od school, DD2 is only 20 months and only naps every other day, although she will lie in her cot for an hour and play quietly.

[idontbelieveit]

dd1 (just 3) only naps very occassionally now, usually if she's been swimming/soft play in the mornings otherwise she doesn't need it.

[buggylovinmummy]

My ds is almost 3 and hasnt had naps during the day since he was just over 2.He will have the occassional nap if we are in the car for a longish drive( maybe once a month)

I would definatly just let him do what he,s doing now. If he doesnt want to have a nap but is willing to have a bit of quiet time i would let him do that.

I wish my ds would have quiet time, hes on the go from the time he gets up to the time he goes to bed.

[pooka]

My ds is 3 (will be 4 in sept). Hasn't had an afternoon nap (as in a scheduled sleep) since he was about 20 months. Will occasionally fall asleep if opportunity presents itself and is super tired. But rarely and not for long - have to collect dd from school leaving at 3pm and that seems to be his tired time so no luck there.

[Bleatblurt]

My 4.7 year old still has a nap every day. It's bliss.

[becstarlitsea]

DS (just 3) has a daytime sleep every now & then - about 7 times per month. Tends to go in bursts where he sleeps every day for four or five days, then doesn't sleep again in the day for another few weeks. So I don't put him down for a sleep as that might turn into a battle. If he looks tired I put a DVD on and give him his bear & blanket. Sometimes he falls asleep watching the DVD, usually he doesn't. I miss him having a regular daytime sleep... Those quiet times were bliss!

[flamingobingo]

A 3yo that still naps???

Mine all dropped their naps before they were two!

[HuffwardlyRudge]

My 3yo still needs a nap every day, and I really mean needs. She is dreadful without it.

[mistlethrush]

My 4.2yo is at nursery during the week, so can't nap - but is shattered by the weekend and often has a nap - although we now suggest he has a quiet time in his room - if he needs to sleep, he will, otherwise I think a little quiet time with books (or lego ) is fine.

[LovelyRitaMeterMaid]

DS stopped having naps about 2 (not long after DD was born )

DD stopped having naps about 18 months.

I'd say that if he has quiet time when he doesn't sleep, that all is fine.

[bubblagirl]

my 4 yr old ds stopped naps at 12 mths i know school children whop need naps still if he doesn't need the sleep i wouldn't make him unless he gets really over tired and naughty and terrible without a sleep