When should you give up your toddler’s nap? Read a sleep expert’s insights and signs your toddler is ready to stop napping.
When my textbook sleeper began taking longer and longer and longer to fall asleep at nap time, I persisted with iron-clad determination.
She would sleep.
I had worked so hard to get my then 18-month-old and two-and-a-half-year-old to nap at the same time.
My toddlers’ nap time was my refuel time. I needed both toddlers to nap.
I could eat lunch uninterrupted, wash the floors, or nap with them. My son was a terrible sleeper and so I didn’t want to give up the only time I could get some R&R.
I remained hopeful that maybe there was research to suggest that kids needed to nap until at least grade school, if not longer…
Related reading: 15+ Calming Toddler Activities For When Your Child No Longer Naps
After way too long of desperately trying to get her to sleep, and after a few missed naps and a grouchy girl, I messaged one of my good friends. Chelsea is a Certified Sleep Sense Consultant. I messaged her in the hops that she could give me a few insightful tips to get my toddler’s naps back.
What I got back was that it was very clear at a few months shy of three, my little girl was ready to give them up. Nevertheless, I had to ask Chelsea, ‘If she’s ready, why is she so temperamental without one?’ Chelsea assured me this was normal, and to facilitate quiet downtime with a carb-rich snack such as fruit or bread to give her energy.
Related reading: Why you shouldn’t punish tantrums and what to do instead
So, When Should Your Toddler Stop Napping? A Sleep Consultant Weighs In
It’s a question I am asked often, ‘Is my toddler ready to stop napping?‘ I know they want to hear a ‘No’ from me. Many parents, myself included, enjoy the 2-hour break when their toddler snoozes away. They can get things done. But we can’t deny the signs that our toddler is ready to stop napping. – Chelsea, the sleep consultant
There are two signs to look for when decided your toddler is ready to stop napping.
For more reading on parenting toddlers, check out:
- Front-loading, redirection and connection: 3 strategies for parenting a strong-willed toddler
- 15+ Calming Toddler Activities For When Your Child No Longer Naps
- 10+ Tips for Mitigating Difficult Toddler Behaviour
- How to Conquer Your Toddler’s Potty Training Regression
- This is How to Stop Your Toddler from Hitting
- Why You Shouldn’t Punish Tantrums and What to do Instead
- (Affiliate product) The Good Science Guides Sleep Series
- The stress-free way on how to potty train your toddler
FAQ about toddler sleep
- How do you know when your toddler is done with naps?
Sleep experts say when the child readily postpone naps, naps get later and later in the day and/ or bedtime is delayed.
- How long should a toddler nap?
Toddlers need about 12-14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. So, if a toddler gets 12 hours of consolidated sleep at night and doesn't have the signs she is ready to give up her nap, her nap should be about two hours.
- Should you wake a toddler from his nap?
Generally speaking, no. However, if the nap is getting close to 4pm, this can interfere with his sleep at night and you may want to consider waking him. Also, if you have concerns about his health or wellbeing, then absolutely wake him. Observe your child's behaviour to see if she needs shorter or fewer naps.
Melissa Matters says
It’s really hard when kids drop their nap. Both my kids dropped theirs before three but it was good because otherwise they would stay up way too late. This is great advice.
Alana says
It is hard! It’s a part of parenting I would have been happier holding on to for about a decade or so 😛 Same thing happened with my daughter, she would nap but hen go to bed at 9:30!!! It’s a better balance now. Thanks for sharing your own experience, Melissa!
Rachel E. Bledsoe says
We are in your same boat with the nap time situation. I don’t want to let it go. But the boy is starting to fight back. If he does nap during the day, it is harder and harder to put him down at night time, and he’s approaching the two and a half age. I’m so glad and thankful to read this. We kinda have been struggling with what to do.
workingmommagic says
My kids never napped. When my son was younger they would put him in the age above his during nap time since he would wake up all the other kids trying to ‘whisper’ talk to the teachers. hahaha
mamabyfire says
I’m so glad I read this! To be honest, I really didn’t want to because I am not ready for my oldest to drop her nap. When I first started reading, I was able to come around. Maybe it would be cool to have some extra one on one time with my girl again. But by the end, I think it’s clear, she is not ready to give them up yet (phew!!). But she might be ready in a few months, and when she is, I’ll embrace it. 🙂
triciathegoodmama says
NEVER! haha My son will be two in August. I know the time will eventually come when he needs to drop his nap, but I’m not ready for it. Thanks for sharing these signs to look for though.
Natalie says
What about preschool? Some preschools give them naps if they stay in the afternoon. Mine took naps until they were 4 or 5. It depended on the child.
Alana says
Thanks so much for writing and commenting. These are markers to indicate a child is ready to give up their nap. The markers are meant for 2.5 on but it doesn’t mean at 2.5 they’re done, it just means when they hit 2.5 and beyond and start to show these signs they’re done. My daughter’s school facilitates naps but it’s just meant as quiet restful time as the majority at age four have outgrown theirs. For the ones who haven’t, they can sleep.
Anete says
My girl is not 20months old yet, but her sleep schedule is 9,5 hours per night and ~2h per day. She doesn`t want to go to sleep during the naptime lately. But she falls asleep within 10 minutes. Her nighttime sleep seems really short. Is it possible, that it really would be better at this age to take away her nap time, so she gets 12 hours of consolidated sleep even before she is two years old? (+we`ll have a baby boy by the time she is two… I bet he`ll wake her up, even if she tries to nap, cause her sleep is not that tight during the day time)
Chelsea says
Thanks! This was a great insightful. My son is almost 18 months ( I hope I have a little time)!
Marina says
Wow my son is 4 1/2 and still naps u m trying to stop the naps but he end up falling a sleep by himself in the couch or the carpet!!! I m trying this I hope it works!
Alana says
Of course, every child is different. But I hope this helps!
Amanda says
Here is where I am stuck. My son is 3 and just wont nap. I get that at this age they can give it up, but there is no room in our day to adjust for an earlier bed time or a later wake up. He is so cranky in the morning, and there has been a very negative change in his behavior. Im just stuck!
Nuraan says
Hi
My son is 3 and naps consistently for about an hour problem is he went fall asleep before 8 and only sleep 9.5 to 10 hours for the most what should I do? Please advise
Cyndi B says
Hi, thanks for the advice. My oldest napped consistently til 5 and still slept 12 hours at night but my second son doesn’t seem to require as much sleep. He is only slerping 8-9 hours at night regardless of bedtime (between 7:30 and 9; we would prefer the former). So, some days he is awake at 4:30 am and ready to get up for the day. He naps 2 hours in the aftetnoon, so I am guessing he needs to give up naps but please weigh-in. Thank you!
Alana Pace says
Oh my goodness, that can’t be easy. I really recommend The No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers. He likely does need to give up naps though. Some children give up naps as early as 18 months and some as late as 5 as you said. I hope the book helps. I found it so insightful.
Kelly says
What if my son just turned 2 and a) won’t nap, either yells or plays the entire time we try. And b) if he does nap, even to just fall asleep in the car, he won’t go to bed until 10, 11 or even later. He sleep 12 to 13 hours a night when he gets to bed at a decent time.
I know it’s signs of dropping his nap, but also could be the 2 year regression thing. So we keep trying For a month now. So here I sit, trying to calm and get to sleep a crazy 2 year old who keeps taking his clothes off and laughing and playing and we are approaching 10pm.
Just came across this article as I was googling by night light and saw some great replies so I thought I would comment. Thank you for the article.
Nicole says
My daughter is right At 2.5 and has started not wanting to nap. She even tells me “but I don’t want to take a nap.” 😳 she’s started playing with her toys and a few times over the last couple of weeks I have just let her play. Then when bedtime rolls around she starts telling everyone goodnight on her own. We just started potty training a week ago too and it’s going great. Not sure if we should drop the nap so she’ll go to bed earlier while we are potty training. Seems like a lot at once.
May says
I came across this site in desperate search for any help. My son is 4.5 and has always needed naps. He is transitioning to kindergarten where they do not nap and it has been tough. He is showing signs of crankiness, personality shifts, and increasing aggression which I believe are all due to lack of sleep. I commute far for work so drop offs at school must be around 7-730 and pick ups are at 5:30 so with dinner the earliest I can try to get him I to bed is 8 if I am lucky to be on top of a schedule. I am at a lost for what to help with this transition.
Michelle says
This is exactly our situation, except that our almost 5 year old is in Pre-K 4 due to a late birthday, so he still gets a 1 hour nap at school. On the weekends he could nap up to 3 hours and still go to bed 8/8:30. We have a 2yo as well, who naps at the same time at home on the weekends. 4yo gets to school by 7:45am and pickup is after work at 5:45pm, home by 6:45 and hope to get both kids to bed by 8:30. More often than not, 4yo gets to bed closer to 9pm and I wake him up at 6am.
I think he still needs naps as he tends to get cranky and unruly if he doesn’t get a nap, and we’re also dealing with aggressive behavior at school, but not at home.
Brandi N Blackburn says
My son is about a month away from being two, and has started showing all these signs. So, I’m guessing hes probably ready to let go of the naps, he usually sleeps from about 7:30pm to roughly 7:30 am and has since he was about 6 to 8 months old, always been a good night time sleeper. It was obvious enough when it was time to dump the morning nap, guess it’s just as apparent, that the afternoon nap is a thing of the past too. I definitely don’t need the fight in the evening for bed time that’s for sure, thank you!!!
Tara says
My son is only 20months and starting refusing his nap twice this week at home (but did nap at childcare). It seems way to young to drop his nap right?! Any tips on how to get back the nap?