WHAT! No More Naps!!!!

It seems like just when you finally figure out your baby’s napping, it’s time to eliminate them.  Although some children can still take a nap at 4 years old, most children are ready to lose their naps between 2.5 the 3.5 years of age. Parents really need to monitor the child’s sleep habits so they can see if eliminating their one nap a day is something their child could benefit from. 

Here are a few signs that could indicate your child is ready to stop napping in the day.

 1. Does he resist  nap time
 2. If he misses nap time does he fall asleep better at bedtime and seem more settled overnight
3. If he has a good nap does he resist bedtime 
4. If he has a good nap does he seem more restless overnight

 If you have answered yes to any of these questions it may be time for your child to no longer nap in the daytime. Although this may make many moms out there upset as this is when many of our chores get done, it’s the inevitable that is going to come. It’s better
to skip the nap and have your child have a great overnight sleep then to force a nap and find that he struggles overnight. If you are concerned about taking the nap away all together, you may decide to just limit the length of the nap  perhaps by reducing it by half an hour each week or two until it’s gone. 

Keep in mind that every child is different. Even within the same family, one sibling may have lost their nap at 2 whereas the second sibling still needs it. Try to watch your child’s cues and let his body tell you when it’s time to start limiting or removing his daytime napping. Regardless, if daytime napping is a thing of the past, just
think about the extra 2 hours a day you will have making memories with your child!

Happy Sleeping
Debbie Fazio
Certified Sleep Consultant
www.preciousmomentsbabeez.com