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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Stupid question...at what age do children drop the afternoon nap?

15 replies

Sallypuss · 16/04/2009 20:25

Dd (23 weeks) is much more awak ein the afternoons now but still has a 30 minute nap in the afternoons. Over the last few evenings she's been wide awake after her bath and milk routine...am wondering whether I should be attempting to drop the afternoon nap or whether it's way to early. Any views greatly appreciated. Thanks

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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noonki · 16/04/2009 20:27

I thik each child is different.

DS1 stopped at about 2 and a half.
DS2 is still loving his at 2.

Sounds quite young to me, is she sleeping ok at night? if so how long?

nowwearefour · 16/04/2009 20:27

i think it totally varies between children. IME it seems to be around 3 that most children are ready to drop their sleeps. what time does your dd sleep? you might find it is just a bit too late? i find that my dds settle much better in the evening if they havent slept past 2.30pm (no matter how long the sleep is the time of waking is the crucial factor). but some dcs i know of certainly have dropped their sleep by 2 so it wouldnt be totally ridiculous for your dd to need less sleep than the average child!

Original poster

Sallypuss · 16/04/2009 20:28

Please forgive me the typos in the above...it's been a long day

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Original poster

Sallypuss · 16/04/2009 20:29

Sorry, should have said. She has c. 40 mins in the morning, 1.5-2 hours at lunchtime and then 30 mins at c.4pm. It's the 4pm nap I'm thinking about dropping.

OP posts:

ohdearwhatamess · 16/04/2009 20:40

Both mine dropped their afternoon nap (4pm ish) at that sort of age.

accessorizequeen · 16/04/2009 20:46

My dt's are 28 weeks (I think, I'm losing track) and they both still had a short nap at that time today. It's quite nice having them a bit more awake after bath really, dp gets to chat to them. If she's still going off to sleep fine I'd leave it if it were me - perfectly normal to drift off to sleep on her own rather than fall instantly into deep slumber! But then I am grateful for any naps I get from them

nowwearefour · 16/04/2009 21:45

just try dropping the afternoon one and see what happens... you might find you are in a transition period where she cant quite manage without it but still is disturbed in the evening with it. it will take her a few weeks then she'll adjust. hope it goes well!

CakeandFineWine · 16/04/2009 21:48

My DD stopped at about 2 1/2 of her own accord!

herbgarden · 17/04/2009 13:19

I remember my DS dropped his afternoon nap of about 30 mins between 5 - 6 months - he just got more difficult about doing it so you should find that they sort of do it of their own accord. If we were out in the car he would invariably drop off but if we were at home he wouldn't bother and I might just put him to bed a bit earlier. With the morning nap it went right down to about 20 mins at about 13 - 15 months and then again, he might just drop off in the car if out and about but otherwise he didn't bother with it. We then cut his lunchtime one at 2 years 3 months when he started to decide that waking at 5am every morning was a good idea !!....and he then went back to sleeping well - it was pretty hard this one but I had to weigh up whether I needed the sleep at lunchtime or 5am more...Now though he just sits in front of cbeebeis for an hour or so instead of being asleep so it doesn't make a huge amount of difference. Sorry for rambling post !

HolidaysQueen · 17/04/2009 13:23

My DS dropped it for a few weeks around 4mo, then picked it up again. Dropped it for good at around 6-7mo I think (apart from, even now at 12mo, the odd day when he hasn't slept well at other naps). All my antenatal group had their babies drop it somewhere between 5mo and 7mo. So I wouldn't worry if your DD looks like dropping it - seems perfectly normal to me.

Acinonyx · 17/04/2009 13:27

Gradually between 2 and 2.5 - by napping every second or third day.

MollieO · 17/04/2009 21:24

Ds stopped all day time naps just before he was two. I tried really hard to make it continue but he wouldn't.

insywinsyspider · 17/04/2009 22:06

just to add ds1 will be 3 in May and still has at least 1.5hrs in afternoon and sleeps 7pm-6.30am (can't make the wake up any later as I have to be in work by 7am ) he'll nap for this long at nursery too so I figure he still needs it for the moment and since ds2 is 16mo and dc3 is due in June I'm just making the most of it!

nannyL · 17/04/2009 22:07

IMO most children drop a day time nap anywhen between 2 years and 4 years

littlebellsmum · 17/04/2009 22:25

Early on mien had about 3 naps a day ( up to about 6 months I think) - at about 9.30am, 12.00 and the 4pm. The 4pm one went first, followed bu the 9.30 one and finally the lovely 2/3 hour lunchtime nap disappeared at about 3 yrs.
My dc's are 4 and 5 - how I wish they still had the lovely lunchtime nap!!!

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