No more naps... is this a fair thing to ask?

Leanna · May 16, 2006

No more naps!!

David isn't even two yet and he thinks that he doesn't need a nap. It has been slowly leaning this way for a while now but the past few days he has been sleeping longer at night and then is not tired for a nap. For example, yesterday he wasn't tired for a nap (I could hear him talking and talking and I finally went and got him) and then last night he slept 8pm until 9:30am. So obviously he's not going to be tired for a nap.....

So when naptime is over, did you guys switch to a quiet time? Even if he is not tired, I want him to take a break with books or smoething else relaxing. Do you think it would be cruel to make him stay on the double bed in his room with books for an hour everyday? I was thinking of doing it with him at first, bringing my own book and laying on the bed to show him how it is done. However, I know my David and he would fight me on that because he hates being restricted and the idea of taking a break is a struggle for him even when he is sick. If its a "battle" I'm going to pick, I've got to be sure I think it is a fair thing to ask because I will have to come through on it, so what do you think?

RooMama · May 16, 2006

I think kids phase in and out of needing naps. When Christopher was about David's age we switched to quiet time. He has to stay on his bed and be quiet for an hour and a half. It works pretty well. Now he's over 3 and most days he falls asleep during quiet time, so I know he still needs it.

Entertaining_Angels · May 16, 2006

I had a 'rest time' for my son until he was in kindergarten. Even if he did not want to nap, he had a quiet time pretty much the same time everyday for 90 minutes. He knew he could look at books or play quietly on his bed during that time. Many days he'd fall asleep after 30 minutes or so.

I think little ones really need that rest time whether they realize it or not. Seems like the little ones I see whose parents allow the kids to phase out the naps at only two or three, have very grumpy kiddos in the late afternoon.

JulySheMustFly · May 16, 2006

My 2 year old is leaning this way too. She naps now maybe 3 or 4 times a week. It isn't too big a deal for us because they all take "rest" time for 1hour in the afternoon. The "nap" word makes all kind of crazy fits break out in our house but "rest" is ok. They have control over it. They can play/look at books listen to music or a book on CD but it must be quiet and last for 1 hour. It also give me a break to have an uninterupted thought at least once before my husband gets home from work.

Leanna · May 16, 2006

So you think it is reasonable to ask a child under two to stay on a bed for an hour?

Entertaining_Angels · May 16, 2006

Definitely.

Seriously, my son had rest time until he was four and my daughter is close to three and gets the same thing although she still naps almost every day (all those temper tantrums really wear a body out, y'know)

CarrieAg93 · May 16, 2006

Leanna said:
So you think it is reasonable to ask a child under two to stay on a bed for an hour?

That might be a little unreasonable, esp. if he has other toys in his room to distract him. What about allowing him to play whereever he wants to in his room as long as he's quiet?

wanderingone · May 16, 2006

Leanna said:
So you think it is reasonable to ask a child under two to stay on a bed for an hour?

Depends on the child, we pretty much enforced a rest/quiet time, it didn't have to be the bed, they could choose a spot, a sleeping bag on the floor, a pile of pillows in the closet (yeah my kids had a fondness for curling up on the floor of the closet.. I promise I never locked them in!) between 30 minutes to an hour depending on the kid they had to have quiet time, they could sleep, "read" a book or stare at the ceiling, but they needed some "down" time.

Manna · May 16, 2006

Brea went through a stage of not napping, but she's back into the habit! Whew! =)

But I know that when I was a kid, whenever I outgrew naps, my mom started up "Reading time" where I laid in bed for about an hour with as many books as I wanted. It was just mandatory to stay in bed so I could get rest, but didn't have to sleep. And because I had books, I was happy!

Leanna · May 16, 2006

He just fell asleep.... two hours later than normal...

I had him lay down with books.... I have a feeling he's not going to be tired tonight. :o

Manna · May 16, 2006

I don't know...Breanna has a crazy way of stay on schedule even when it gets thrown off! She's DEFINITELY her mother's girl! We thrive on order! But even if she take an extra-long or extra-late nap, she'll still go to bed at the right time...could just be a weird Breanna thing, though! =)

Linnis · May 16, 2006

I remember not needing a nap, then I started JK(from 8:30-11:30) and went back to having naps afterschool. Finally was out of the need for them for good at 6.

My nephew wasn't having naps, during the summer, but with PreK, he went back to having naps. Sure he was okay until about 5:30-6pm then it was this torture of overly tired whining and screaming.

I had lots of "quiet videos", which usually we're soothing sounds etc. Some days he'd just rest and watch, while playing quietly, other days he was out within 5 minutes. Slept for an hour or so.

GolfingMom · May 16, 2006

AmyR00 said:
I think kids phase in and out of needing naps. When Christopher was about David's age we switched to quiet time. He has to stay on his bed and be quiet for an hour and a half. It works pretty well. Now he's over 3 and most days he falls asleep during quiet time, so I know he still needs it.

My four year old sleeps at night from 8 to 8. He still naps for about 2 hours...sometimes longer - if he's tired. He also went through a "no napping" stage however I made him stay in his bed and "relax" and he continued napping.
My two year old sleeps from 7-7 and he also naps at the same time his brother does. So far he hasn't put up a fight... :sleep:

Princessperky · May 16, 2006

try just moving nap later, it won't be the last scedule change you make

also try going for a walk (*where he does the work) that was the only way to get DS to sleep for ages

JulySheMustFly · May 16, 2006

Leanna said:
So you think it is reasonable to ask a child under two to stay on a bed for an hour?

\

Oops, I forget that my girls were in big girl beds before 18 months so they could get in and out of bed to get toys and books.

Although my 2 year old is usually the one who is not ready to come out and join the rest of us when rest time is over. I just leave the door open and she comes out when she is done.

No more naps... is this a fair thing to ask?

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