ATTENTION: All Moms out there!! Need Opinions, Tips and Advice

[Tiggerlovinggrandma]

At what age did your children give up their naps?
Morning one?
Afternoon one?

DD and I are lovingly diagreeing as mothers and daughters often do. She says DS no longer needs to take a nap at 16 mos and I say he should still at least have his afternoon one for a while longer. HELP!!!!! We don't want to play who's right, who's worng we honestly just want to do what's best for son/grandson.

He normally goes to bed at 8-8:30 pm and gets up before 8:30 am. I say he should go down for a nap about 1-1:30 for an hour or two depending on how tired he is. If he doesn't nap at all he is on and off cranky by 6 pm even though he still has energy. DD says naps don't matter anymore as long as he is getting 10- 12 hours sleep at night. Perhaps I am old school but thought little ones still need that afternoon nap until 2 or 3.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I'll preface this by saying every child is different and there is a wide range of sleep and napping habits.

However, I think 16 months is still too young to completely give up a nap. DD moved from two naps to one around 11 months. Around 3, she mostly gave up taking naps at home on weekends. She's almost 5 and hasn't taken a nap for me at home in at least a year (unless she's sick). But she still takes a nap at daycare on most days. It just means it's a little more difficult to get her to go to sleep at a decent hour those nights.

Doing a quick search on toddler sleep habits, I found a couple references that toddlers should get between 12 and 14 hours of sleep per day. That usually includes a 1 to 3 hour nap. If your grandson is sleeping 12 hours a night, maybe that's all he needs. How is his mood/behavior? Does he act irritable and cranky? If so, then he definitely needs a nap. If not, maybe he's one of those rare kids that can go without.

But my gut feeling is he probably still needs one.

Here's one of the links I found: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/site/c.huIXKjM0IxF/b.2419295/k.5AAB/Childrens_Sleep_Habits.htm

ETA: I just reread your post and realized that you do mention he is cranky by 6. I think that confirms what you are thinking. He should probably be getting a nap. Maybe suggest that your DD discuss this with DGS's pediatrician?

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

my almost 3 yr old still naps in the afternoon.

 

[Mrs. M. Mouse]

I agree with PP. Sleep habits do differ with each child even...

dd 1 napped 2 naps until 1 year old. at 1 year she went down to 1 nap. at 18 mths fully potty trained (she did it herself) she decided no more napping. she was a bit cranky in the evening which is when we also moved her bedtime from 830 to 730. she is now 7 and still has a 730 bed time during the week.

dd 2 never really had 2 naps. she would have quiet time but no sleep. she would only nap 2 hours in the afternoon. she is 4 now and usually doesn't have a nap most days. there are some days where she is more active at dayhome and at home that makes her so tired she falls asleep wherever she is playing lol...it's funny. however she stopped wanting to take a nap last year at 3. her dayhome provider still has her have quiet time but knows she will likely not sleep unless she's really been played out.

 

[triplet_mom_2001]

My kids gave up their morning nap around 18 months, and even then it was a challenge. I remember our pediatrician saying that kids begin giving up morning naps around 15 months. My kids gave up their afternoon naps around 4.5 years. They will be 7 in October, and this summer they have napped several days a week.

Lisa

 

[Nicoleclaw]

DD never napped as well as DS, but I think she was still napping at 17 mo. DS naps for about 2 hours, sometimes in the morning, sometimes after lunch. He sleeps about 11 hours at night.

 

[lpberg]

DD8 gave up naps around 2 1/2 or 3. However, I was pregnant with DS, so we "forced" quiet time in her room for an hour (so MOMMY could nap!) - this included laying her bed if she wanted, or looking at/reading books - something to keep her quiet for that time. She's had a consistent 7:30 bedtime since that time.....

DS4 would nap all afternoon if I let him. He is the type of child that, although he could USE a nap, it messes up his sleep schedule if you let him sleep too long. That said, we can always tell when it's been 2 or 3 days without some type of nap....during the school year, he's pretty consistent with a 20 minute to 1/2 hour "nap" while we drive to pick my DD up from school (especially on his preschool days). Otherwise, he's a bear by 6:00. And again, his bedtime is 7:00/7:15 in order to keep him on track....he's an early riser.

I think it's a matter of personal preference. I'm sure your daughter will eventually figure out his sleep patterns and determine whether or not a short "cat nap" may need to be in order.....sometimes that quick nap makes all the difference in the world. Every child is different -she'll have to see what works best for him - you can't "force" him to nap, and yet, you also can't "prevent" him from napping! I can't tell you how many times in the car I'm playing Sesame Street music at full blast and singing and talking to my DS to keep him awake because I don't WANT him to fall asleep!!!

Good luck to both of you!

 

[mamaLori05]

I have to agree, every child is different. My dd is 3 and is just starting to give up naps. ds still takes 1-2 naps, depending on the day. He's starting to transition to one. He will be 1 next friday!

Anyway, my advice would be to just let it be. Your dd will figure it out, and if she thinks her ds doesn't need to nap anymore, than he just might not. I'm not trying to be mean, I really mean this as sincere advice, but just think back to when you were starting out as being a mom. Did you like it when your mom was telling you how to be a mom. I know it can drive me and my friends nuts when our mom's try and tell us how to...well...be moms. I know you mean well, but some things we just like to figure out on our own, just like you did. Yes, your advice is probably right, but just let us figure it out. Oh, and please don't rub it in when we find out you are indeed right!!! Now, if she asks for advice, well than that's a totally different story. Then you can give all the advice you want!!! Good luck, and I'm sure everything will work out just fine.

 

[mjkacmom]

Birth - 18 months - 2 naps (9 - 11, 2 - 4)
18 months - about 3 years (1 - 4)

Nightime - 8 - 7.

My twins gave up the nap right before 3, because they're together, and would have a party every afternoon. Ds10 was forced by me to give up his nap at 4 1/2, because he was waking so early.

 

[bas71873]

WOW. I'm lucky. While I don't "make" her take a nap, my 5 year old will still lay down and fall asleep on the weekends in the afternoon and then still be in bed between 830 & 900 (soon to change since Kindergarten is right around the corner). BUT, she's an early riser (like her momma) and has always been a great sleeper. I guess she gave up her AM nap around 18 months, but being a daycare/preschool baby, she's always had that 2 hour afternoon naptime (which I'm super jealous of and according to her teacher, she's always the first asleep....because she plays so hard

But, now that's I've gottn off topic, I think it depends on the child. Up until about a year ago, my DD still NEEDED a nap...otherwise, our evenings and nights were unpleasent because she would just be so grumpy

 

[The Disney Bunch]

16 months is way too young to be giving up naps - have your dd talk to her pediatrician about this. While each kid varies as to when they give up naps, they still need the sleep. All 3 of mine gave up traditional naps when they were about 27-28 months old but still needed the occasional nap in the afternoon for a good year longer. A friend of mine's dd still will take a quick nap in the afternoon and she is 4


That being said - I don't know the relationship between you & your dd but this is something she will learn. and probably doesn't want mom telling her what to do about. If he needs the sleep, he will pick it up in another area so he might sleep longer in the morning or go to sleep earlier at night. He might also give her issues throughout the day because he is tired. It is something that ALL new moms need to learn. This is her time - you had your time - she knows you tried to help but it is something she needs to do on her own.

My mother laughed at me because I wanted to follow all the books - I did learn that she did have some good ideas afer awhile but she told me I needed to learn that on her own. She went thruogh the same thing. good luck!

 

[bartleby1]

I agree with most of what has been said. Sleep varies GREATLY between children. My three were all different.

15 months is very young for no nap and showing signs of dinnertime crankies is probably proof of that. However, it probably isn't worth arguing with your DD over either. She may resent you for the advice and will most likely figure it out on her own. If not, she needs to deal with the crankies, LOL!

 

[coolbeans]

DS gave up morning naps around 14 months and now at 29 months if he takes no nap for some reason he is pure evil by about 6:30pm. But once he is out for the nite it would take an earthquake to wake him, sometimes if we have a busy day we torture ourselves, and him too by letting him stay up so he will crash earlier...silly parenting trick.

 

[antree]

My now 14yr old gave up her naps at 4yrs old. and that is only because she heard her friend playing outside evryday at nap time. My now 6yr old gave up naps at 18 mos. I have no clue why, but he did go to bed at 8pm and sleep all night.

My 4 yr old niece still take a 3 hr nap and my 3 yr old cousin take a 4 hr. nap. Maybe it is a girl thing in my family the girls don't want to give up their beauty sleep.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I think if you are watching him and you think he needs an afternoon nap, then he should take a nap. Your DD might not want him to nap so he doesn't stay up so late, but if he is in your care and cranky, you should get to decide if you think it is best.

However, if she is watching him, I would defer to her and not think another thing about it. It's possible it works for her schedule better for him not to nap, and if she can get through the tough, tired evening hours and put him to bed earlier, I'd let it be. Even when my kids gave up their naps (they were both less than 3), we went through a tired, grumpy period around dinnertime until they adjusted. Perhaps your DD needs that time in the evening to get things done and to relax so she can be a better mom the rest of the day. Respectfully, I don't think this is a battle you need to fight unless you are caring for him during the day.

 

[disneybridetobe]

At what age did your children give up their naps?
Morning one?
Afternoon one?

DD and I are lovingly diagreeing as mothers and daughters often do. She says DS no longer needs to take a nap at 16 mos and I say he should still at least have his afternoon one for a while longer. HELP!!!!! We don't want to play who's right, who's worng we honestly just want to do what's best for son/grandson.

He normally goes to bed at 8-8:30 pm and gets up before 8:30 am. I say he should go down for a nap about 1-1:30 for an hour or two depending on how tired he is. If he doesn't nap at all he is on and off cranky by 6 pm even though he still has energy. DD says naps don't matter anymore as long as he is getting 10- 12 hours sleep at night. Perhaps I am old school but thought little ones still need that afternoon nap until 2 or 3.

Thanks for the help.

DD (now 13mo) *refused* to nap from around 3mo to... well, about June. Seriously. She does one long nap around noon or so, sleeps until 3-ish.

The thing about DD is, if she's tired, and wants to nap, she'll just fall asleep. She falls asleep on the floor, in the exersaucer, in the highchair, carseat, you name it!

My honest thought is to follow your son's cues. He's gotta get tired sometime!

 

[frtchr]

My DD gave up her morning nap at 11 months. She's now almost 19 months, and she takes one nap around 1:00 each day. Depending on her morning activities, she'll sleep between 1-2 hours, but she also loves to play in her crib on her own, so she's usually in her room for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. She goes to bed around 7:30 or 8:00 each night and usually plays quietly for 30 minutes before falling asleep.

I think it's kooky to give up naps at 16 months, but your daughter IS the mom, so she gets to decide. I personally would milk nap time/rest time for as long as I could!!

 

[Dizneycrazy3]

I guess it depends on you and your kid.My DD is 8 now and I can't remember when she stopped her morning naps.But she took a two- three hour afternoon nap until she was 5 or 6.She really needed these.If she missed a nap she was very crabby.But I have a nephew that will be three and he stopped taking his naps all together after he turned 2.When he was taking his naps he would not sleep through the night so they had to give up his naps.I guess you have to decide what is best for your DD.I for one am so thankful DD needed her naps.It gave me time to get things done and gave me a break too.

 

[laughinplace199]

I have three kids and they all went from 2 naps to 1 nap at 18 mos. The older two stopped taking an afternoon nap at 3.5 yrs old. The youngest is now 21 mos and naps once a day for 2-3 hrs. I can't imagine having him not nap. He would be miserable and so would I! I love nap time so I can have some time to myself.

 

[Ellester]

My kids have all been poor nappers. My two girls gave up their morning naps before 12 months and their afternoon naps well before age 2. They would still take a PM nap if I forced the issue, but then they would be wide awake until 11pm! (even if I woke them after 1 hour of nap) My son held on to his PM nap a little longer but was done with them by 3. At 4 1/2 he will still just conk out once every few weeks in the afternoon, but then he will be up until 10 or 11. I used to say that my girls just didn't need sleep. We homeschool, so I let them all sleep in most mornings but they are still up by 7 most days. Bedtime is 9 pm. My kids are often cranky right at dinner time (we call it the witching hour) and they are 10, 6, and 4!