Topic: GIVING UP NAPS Posted By: PCBSAW Date: 11 Nov 2002 12:14 PM
MY SON TURNED 3 IN SEPT AND ABOUT THAT TIME IT JUST BECAME TOO HARD FOR
HIM TO SETTLE DOWN FOR A NAP, SO WE'VE DROPPED IT, BUT HE TELLS ME HE'S
TIRED ALOT. wHAT IS A HEALTHY AGE TO DROP NAPS - SHOULD I TRY TO
REINSTITUTE IT? hE DOES GO TO BED EARLIER WITHOUT NAP SO HIS OVERALL
SLEEP TIME IS STILL THE SAME
Responses:
Subject: Naps From: Heather Date: 11 Nov 2002 3:46 PM
It's been my experience that naptime is different for different kids.
I have 3 daughters and they have all given up naptime at different
ages. My middle daughter, now 8, would still benefit from an afternoon
nap. My youngest is 5 and she was ready at 3 to give up the nap. We
noticed that she was having a harder time settling down for bed at
night and could not fall asleep until late into the night if she had
taken a nap that day. When we took the nap out of the equation she was
able to go to bed a little earlier at night and slept very well. She
too complained of tiredness some days so we still use a 'quiet time'
each afternoon. She can lay on the couch and watch a movie or look at
books or do puzzles. She stays calm and quiet usually for about 30 -
45 minutes. If she falls asleep during that time I'll let her sleep
for a little bit and if not at least her body has had some 'down' time.
You may try that with your son and if he truly is tired he may fall
asleep and get the little boost to make it through to bedtime.
