to not force my 19 month old to nap?

[jinglemel]

For the past month or so my 19 month old has been showing less signs of being tired during the day. She's averaging around two napping days per week where she naps for 2 hours and on the other days she's up for 12 hours straight. She doesn't get grumpy or cry at all, she's just busy all day. I could make a point of stopping her playing and getting her to nap but if she doesn't seem to need to, I don't see the point in trying to force it. She sleeps fine at night either way but does settle better and more quickly when she hasn't napped.

My sister has a daughter who's 5 months older than dd and she makes a point of being indoors from 1pm everyday so her dd can nap (which usually means being left to cry until she naps) and my sister thinks I'm being cruel by not getting my dd to nap. Aibu not to force her or should I do as my sister says and try and encourage her to nap more?

Yanbu. My dd stopped napping at 18 months. I didn't force the issue either?

Depends of if she really isn't tired and is getting enough sleep at night. My eldest still naps half the week at 4 years.

Does she get a lot of excercise in the day? If you still use a buggy for example you may find she needs to nap again once she is actually walking everywhere. We walk 2-3 miles most mornings and 2 year old here def needs a nap after, same with eldest. We do the same most afternoons as well as swimming/ parks/ scooters/ bikes etc so they still sleep 12 hrs at night

No yanbu. If she doesn't seem to need a nap don't force her.

All children are different but I'm not sure you're sister's way sounds that great.

yes follow your wee one's lead

(my youngest still napped at reception age )

You don't have to go home to get them to nap (your post sounds a dig at your sister).

I'm a great believer in day naps. I don't know any children who've stopped napping before 2 and my two still nap (4&2).

If we're out they can nap in the pushchair/sling.

She gets lots of exercise Art but mainly indoors - she isn't keen on walking outdoors. We do get fresh air and she goes in the sling but she doesn't seem any more tired afterwards.

so do you have a garden or park where DD can explore using and challenging her whole body in the fresh air? walking in a straight line sucks when you are two, of course!

My dd stopped having naps at 18 months old- entirely her choice, I was heavily pregnant at the time and was desperate for a nap myself...

My ds is just 2 and he's also starting to go without a nap some days (he won't nap in his cot during the day, only ever in the pram/car/in a heap on the living room floor!).

If she seems happy and she's getting lots of exercise and fresh air etc, just go with it.

Pedlars yes she loves going to the park/feeding the ducks/pottering in the garden and will walk if she can see the destination but doesn't seem to see the point in walking otherwise. She literally doesn't sit down all day even on no nap days. When I try and have some quiet time with her and read or draw she is still super excited and bouncy!

we're all different and need different amounts of sleep - children are no different. DD1 was doing the same as yours at the same age and didn't affect her night time sleeping. DD2 naps more during the day than DD1 did but some days doesn't (she's 13 months). If she's not tired, not grouchy and not showing the signs, surely it would be cruel to force her to nap and put yourselves both through that pain? Go with what feels right for her and ignore you well meaning DSIS.

If she's not tired or cranky towards the evening then it's fine. My DS is 2 next week and he still can't function happily without his afternoon nap if he wakes up at 7am. All children are different.

If shes getting good sleep at night and doesnt seem interested in napping in the day, then follow her cue as she just doesnt need a nap.