2yo suddenly not napping!

[Nyunya]

So up until about a week ago, DD (2.1) slept for 2 hours in the day, going down about 11.30/12. On Saturday we got up to her room and she just didn't seem tired, so no sleep on Sat. Sun was normal, then Monday and yesterday, she didn't go to sleep again and then slept in the car on our way somewhere. Its not that she's fighting sleep, just that she doesn't seem tired!

I can't think she's going from needing two hours of sleep in the day to nothing all of a sudden, and I seem to remember a friend thinking her daughter was giving up naps at a similar age (and then she went on to continue for almost a year.)

Is there something developmental that happens at about this time that messes their naps up? Anyone else had this experience and the DC has gone back to naps? Please give me hope, the house is a state already!

I don't know if there is anything scientifically proven, but when dd was just about 18mth I noticed that if she napped in the day she wasn't going to sleep at night until about 9.30. That was not going to happen so I got rid of the daytime nap.

Sorry, my just-2 year old did the same. Or rather, his naps got suddenly later and later (with bedtime following suit), and then he just started going through the day without a nap. He only has one now if he's up before 6.30am (woken by his brother) or unwell.

I got accustomed to it pretty quickly - it coincided with his imaginative play coming on leaps & bounds so he can amuse himself with cars whilst I do jobs I used to do doing nap time.

One tip is to alternate a quiet/indoor play morn with activity/outdoor afternoon, whilst they're still getting used to no naps - then you'll hopefully avoid a 4-5 o clock meltdown... ;)

My DS did this I'm afraid. Went from a full couple of hours to nothing. He never napped again!

He is now 5 and still has a 'rest' in his room for an hour at lunch time. He gets the chance to read books quietly or play with Lego and I csn do jobs while his little sister sleeps.

DD1 is now 2.9. A few months ago she was still having a long nap at lunchtime and it was hell if she missed it - complete meltdown by 3pm. About a month ago she stopped napping again. We've avoided the afternoon meltdowns, but she does fall asleep in the car very easily in the afternoons. Fortunately the car naps don't seem to affect her going to bed at night at the usual time. Unfortunately, she has always been an early riser and this still hasn't changed - still up between 5&6am....

I know some people who have gone through this, they have said that they sat and read books until the child went to sleep. Then after a while it was back to napping as normal.

Well that gives me hope, ThisIsYourSong, although the majority seem to have experience of his beig more permanent! It's playing by ear, as usual!

EyeDear did your DD go through other spells of not napping? Did you keep giving her an opportunity to nap, or just wait till she seemed tired again?

I think introducing a 'quiet time' at lunchtime is a great idea, so will try that when DD doesn't sleep.

She seems pretty tired this morning and we're off to quite a busy group this morning too, so I'll be interested to see if she has a nap today.

DD did this. I read this article: www.thesleepstore.co.nz/sleep-information/toddlers/sleep-articles/changes-to-toddler-day-sleeps

and persisted. She went back to day time sleep for at least 6 months. We did quiet time for a while after that too.

Nyunya - DD1 has always been a very reluctant napper (and sleeper in general). We'd had increasing battles getting her to go for a nap, particularly of DH was around and we got to the point where she would only nap when I put her to bed during the week, but never if DH tried at weekends. With a new baby we decided it wasn't worth the battle one weekend and she coped ok, so I just offered a nap each day from the Monday. This was the first time she'd gone more than one day without her nap. It actually makes life easier for me now she isn't napping, which I hadn't expected!

My DS is 2.3 and very rarely has daytime naps. Hasn't for a few months now. Sorry, I know that's not what you want to hear!

It may well be a phase, but you may have to start accepting that from now on you are going to have to get all your shit done whilst she's awake.

Good luck with that

EyeDear, yes I can actually see the benefits of not having to always be home at a particular time and having the day split so much in two.

giantpenguin I have read that webpage and it has given me hope! I think I'll try putting her down much later - more like 1 o'clock or 1.30.

She actually didn't go to sleep today at 12 when I took her up, but has just fallen asleep whilst I was holding her talking to my neighbour (hence being able to type now - she's asleep on me on the settee!) So I think I may be able to hold onto naps a little longer if I put her down much later!