Anyone else have a first grader who still needs naps?

[Spinning]

My DD is in first grade and is soooo tired! I don't know what to do. On the weekends she takes a nap but if she takes one on Sat and Sunday it seems to make the situation worse for Monday morning. She is and always has been an early riser, doesn't matter what time she goes to bed she is up by 6:30 but on average 6. She has room darkening shades. She goes to bed no later than 8:30 but we are pushing it back and now the standard is 8 and sometimes 7:30. We stay with this even on the Weekends.She isn't in a lot of activities, ballet, once a week from 4:15 to 5:15. Brownies every other week 3:30 till 4:30 and the only late night is Tue for our church adventure club which is over at 8:00. If I think she is too tired she doesn't go to adventure club. It isn't madatory to go each week. I would hate to pull her out of dance and brownies, she loves them and I don't know if it would helpl. I just don't know what to do. I almost felt like keeping her home today! She cries easily when tired and her feelings can get hurt quickly.
This summer we cut back her naps she was only taking one about every other week. SO I thought she would be up for the long days at school.
Her school work is fine. The teacher isn't feeling/seeing any problems on that end.
Anyone else have this problem? I really thought by now she would be use to it and not require naps.
The only funny part, she didnt' start napping or sleeping until she was 2!

 

[RoqueC]

This may be unhelpful, but I'm nearly 17, and I still need naps. I just get so tired too often.

 

[Beauty]

J.C. naps almost daily. He comes in from school and naps until about 5 and then gets up and does his homework. Heck I'm 30 and I still nap

I think with all that is going on that a nap is definatly fine!

 

[luvwinnie]

and I need naps! To be safe, maybe check with her dr.

 

[whirlsy]

I have a second grader who could still take a nap if I let her~ she snores at night and tosses alot, we just had her tonsils and adnoids out and the doctor said it should improve her sleeping habits so we will see.

 

[Spinning]

I know I could use a nap now than then too! She sleeps great at night for the most part. No snoring or tossing and turning. On a few occassions she will have a bad dream but it usually happens when there is a big change/excitment...etc. We had some of that in the beginning of the school year and then again when my mom left for Florida middle of Sept.

Beauty what time does your son then go to bed? She usually comes home from school, gets a snack watches TV, plays outside (usually swinging )and then does her homework. Evenings are very low key around here.

I am sure she is fine we are going in for her 7 year check up and I will ask then.

 

[WDW2002]

My 4th grader has been extra crabby (tired) ever since school started. I would love for her to be able to take a nap in the afternoon after school BUT it is virtually impossible. I have taken to trying to get her in bed earlier but that isn't very easy either.

School can be hard on our little one's. Especially first grade, if they are not used to all day school.

 

[dizneenut]

My first grader occasionally takes naps after school. He just took about an hour nap today. He goes to bed at 9 during the week, and wakes up at 7. I think he is still adjusting to being in school all day.

 

[debknight]

According to "Growth and Development Charts", a six year old should be getting 10 and 3/4 hours of sleep per night, with no daytime sleep needed. You should take into account the time it actually takes them to fall asleep, this is extra than the 10 and 3/4 hours.

 

[browneyes]

Sometimes my 1st grader takes naps. There are times when I need him to take a nap. When he gets irritable, I encourage him to lie down for awhile to chill out, he'll sleep a minimum of 2 1/2 hours when he does that.

His bedtime is 9 pm.

 

[melk]

Spinning,
Reading your post, you could have been describing my oldest(also in first grade). In fact today she stayed home today just because she was so teary and I felt, overtired. (We had been out late Monday night at a friend's house and she's still catching up). She likes first grade but in her words, "It's just sooo long." I didn't even sign her up for any activities this fall because I just think she's so tired. I have to go to the pediatrician's in a few weeks for my baby's checkup but I'm going to ask her(the DR) about it, see if maybe my dd should be checked for anemia. I have started giving her a chewable multivitamin in the morning, I figured it couldn't hurt. In fact, I better go get her ready for bed right now, we're trying to have her in bed by 7:30, because, like you're daughter, she's up by 6:15 every day, no matter what time she goes to bed.
So anyway, you are not alone!!!

 

[Pam]

RoqueC - I'm cracking up here!! My 17 yr. old DD also crashes almost every afternoon for a nap after school! Even if it's just for half an hour.

Pam

 

[wvjules]

My daughter stopped taking naps when she was 3-ish. If she did take a nap she didn't sleep at night. She gets about 9 hours of sleep now and never takes a nap, and I might add, is NEVER tired.

 

[piratesmate]

A lot of kids need extra sleep once they start school - whether at night or in the form of a nap. You'd think they need to run around outside when they get home - after sitting all day at school. For some, the mental activity wears them out more than physical activity would.

DS stopped napping at 6 months (yes, I was ready to tear my hair out!) although I put him down in his crib anyway. He would just play there for an hour & never close his eyes! I was very surprised when he started school and would come home, lie down & sleep for 30 minutes.

I'd definitely ask the doctor while you're there, but letting her take a nap for 30 - 45 min after school couldn't hurt.

Deb

 

[tiggerlover]

My 6 year old 1st grader stopped taking naps at about 4. He goes to bed at 8 p.m. every night and is gotten up for school around 7 a.m. Sometimes on the weekends when we have something going on he goes to bed later, but then we adjust his bed time to 7:30 or 7:00 the next night to compensate.

I am not sure what the normal is, but I would definitely discuss it at the next doctor checkup just to get the doctors take on the situation.