When did your DC stop having naps?

[NumptyMum]

DS is 22mo, and I've always found it hard to get him to nap. Most times I take him out in the pushchair around 2pm... and if all else fails, hang around the chiller cabinet section of the local supermarket (zzzzz).

Since Easter he's had really long naps - 1.5-2 hours, and I've generally been waking him up after 1.5 hours. But yesterday he was REALLY awake still at 3pm and in the end I decided to see what would happen without the nap. He seemed OK, a bit tearful/grumpy later in the afternoon, but went to bed only a bit earlier than usual and slept fine overnight.

So today tried the same thing - but I'm wondering whether it's a bit too early to drop naps given he's been having LONG naps until now, and whether I should continue to try and get him to sleep.

When did other people's DCs give up daytime naps, anyone else do this before 2yrs?

[Seona1973]

dd was nearly 3 and by then I used to drive her in the car to get her to nap. DS gave his up around the age of 2-2.5years

[CacklingandBarking]

Well, DD was about 18 mths old and to be honest, we were all relieved to see the back of them. Me cause she was a nightmare to get to sleep and her cause she finally thought she wasn't missing out. She's now 3.8, sleeps all night (mostly) and is doing fine.

DS 4mths tomorrow and napping like a good un.

[moaningminnie2020]

DD 2.3 and nearly always has a nap but it's getting later and later in the day and she fights it.

But if she doesn't nap, she's really quite horrible extra screamy whingy crying over nothing and so tired she's falling over and bumping into things.

About once a week me and DH debate whether to bite the bullet and stop the nap but it also keeps me sane to have a little break, as DH works nights and only really helps on days off. I also tend to organise the tea while she's having a kip...I'm really going to miss it!

[NumptyMum]

Thanks for all the posts so far - I agree with moaningminnie that nap for DS keeps ME sane, I'm really tired without it!! And he did get more upset about small things (eg crying because he thought he had water in his red sippy cup, when actually it WAS juice but he couldn't tell because cup/juice were same colour...). However I do find getting him to nap can take a while, more so recently.

I think I'll play it by ear for now, try taking him out in the pram as usual in the afternoon (and hanging round in Somerfield...) but going with it if he doesn't sleep. He always naps much earlier the days he's in nursery, it's just ME that has the trouble! (But then I don't have the peer pressure of 12 other snoozing toddlers).

Thanks again .

[MrsBonJovi]

Numptymum...your son sounds like my son.

Same thing happened with us yesterday. No nap and he was ok. It is not something I want to happen everyday..I like the rest!

[shhhh]

both dd and ds would/do sleep for 2 hours in the afternoon..

dd (now 4) stopped when she started preschool at 3.4 yr.
Ds (now 2) is still napping.

I never do anything different other than putting them into their cot/bed to sleep so most of the time I make sure im home for their naps.

Both were never keen on napping in prams etc although on the odd occasion have been known to nap in the car on route from shopping etc.
hth x

[Mumwhensdinnerready]

15 months.
I gave up spending time and effort trying to get a child to sleep who was wide awake. Just brought bed time forward to 6.30pm.

[LovelyTinOfSpam]

DD packed hers in about 4 months ago - so 18/19 mo. I really really miss it but there was no point keeping trying. I percevered for a couple of weeks putting her up but she would just play for 10 mins and then yell.

Upside is she has always slept well at night and she sleeps quite late in the morning (usually til at least 7.30/8 or even later) and so i feel pretty pleased about that. If she napped in the day and got up at 5 or something I think that would be worse.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

dc 12mths and dc 3.5 both sleep 2hrs in pm - though i am weaning 3yr off it,as tbh he should be able to survive without, so now give him an hour, and eventually will be sleepless

he still sleeps 12hrs at night

have to say i do enjoy the peace, plus if he doesnt sleep at that time, if in car 6pm after swimming etc then will then fall asleep, which isnt so good

[VeraChuckandDave]

ds1 stopped at about 2.6 years, although still sometimes has them if he's had a busy morning (but then is wide awake at bedtime).

[NumptyMum]

Thanks for all the replies - seems the age that children drop their naps varies quite a lot! Still to decide whether we give up or not, I prefer DS to nap but then if he does, we don't tend to get out again afterwards as by that time I'm doing evening food. He still seems to sleep fine overnight even without the nap, from 7.15pm to 6.45am last night. Will continue to play by ear... Thanks again everyone.