Naptime for Three and Four Year Olds: What to Do When Your Child Outgrows Naps

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Naptime for Three and Four Year Olds: What to Do When Your Child Outgrows Naps

Tue, 11/03/2009 - 7:31pm
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I have a feeling my almost 3-year old is starting to phase out her nap. I found this article on switching naptime to quiet time. Does this really work in practice? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Naptime for Three and Four Year Olds: What to Do When Your Child Outgrows Naps

Every parent faces the crisis when their three or four year old just won't seem to go down for a nap anymore. That midday recharging time slips away into an energy-sucking hour of crying and complaining, leaving your child fussier than ever. Even worse, it takes away those couple hours that you had in the middle of the day to recharge yourself or get some work done.

One of the best solutions for this dilemma is to switch nap time to quiet time. It still looks much the same, in that your child is in a different room from you, being quiet. However, he or she can, instead of napping, participate in quiet solitary activities. These next few sections will describe how you can transition from nap time into quiet time.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1995030/naptime_for...

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Comments

Simone

Quiet time works for us. My almost 3 year old dropped her nap around 2 1/2 - very inconveniently when I was 8 months pregnant with number 2!

Initially I tried insisting on a nap but this generally resulted in a battle of wills and much frustration on both sides. When she exhausted herself and gave up she would fall asleep but then be up 'till all hours at night. I eventually decided it wasn't worth the battle.

We have insisted she goes into her room for quiet time ever since and I must say that since I stopped calling it nap time she has been quite happy to co-operate. She reads or does puzzles on her bed and is usually happy to stay in her room for up to 2 hours.

You could do quiet time anywhere but I would recommend the bedroom at this age. I find that the benefit of having quiet time in her room is that if she is particularly tired she will hop into bed and have a nap. This usually happens once a week or so. If she isn't in her room I find she resists the idea of a nap all-together - being in her room gives her an option.

We have a gate on her door as she tends to roam the house otherwise but she doesn't complain about being in her room and if she wants anything she just stands in the doorway and calls me.

It isn't quite as relaxing as nap time but it helps and I think at this age they really still need quiet time.

Good luck!

Wed, 11/04/2009 - 3:01pm

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allisonm

Thanks, Simone! Your post was really helpful. I tried quiet time today, and it wasn't that successful since about 15 minutes into it she had to go the bathroom, then she wanted to go downstairs. She wound playing in my room while I worked on the computer, but I think I'll try the gate at her door and keep insisting she stay in there. Do you recommend I encourage her to play on her bed so it will be easy for her to nap if she wants? Today I set her up on the floor with coloring books, puzzles and blocks and told her that if she wanted to sleep she could go to her bed. She's actually in there coloring right now :)

Wed, 11/04/2009 - 3:33pm

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Julie E.

Good advice Simone, take it from a mom who didn't do this and so wished I had!!!

Thu, 11/05/2009 - 10:22am

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allisonm

I totally agree that they need quiet time (as do I!) especially after an activity-filled morning. I'm trying it again as I type this. Today I set her up on her bed with puzzles, books, crayons, etc... and so far it's been about 15 minutes (better than yesterday!). My daughter is very social and not the quiet type, so I seriously doubt she'll ever stay anywhere for 2 hours by herself, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Thu, 11/05/2009 - 2:31pm

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Kayla

that was interesting, mine gave up naps at 19 mos...totally, but I still did quite time!

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 10:35am

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Musingsfrom...

I had three different experiences with naptime.

Child #1 and #2 needed to nap as I freelanced form home. With Child #3 I used naptime to get household tasks done or used the computer.

Child #1 was a supreme nappper. She had a late bedtime ~9:30 p.m. as my husband worked late. She started fighting her nap when Child #2 was born. I got Child #1 back napping until about 3.5 yrs. Nap became quiet time. I switched her bedtime to when the baby went to sleep ~7:30 p.m. I did my freelance work in the evenings.

Child #1 watched a short DVD every day. I needed her to be quiet so that Child #2 could sleep plus I needed to get work done. Due to Child #1's fidgety-ness and Child #2's early bedtime ~7:30 p.m., child #2 started fighting, then quit napping at 2 yrs. I never succeeded in getting Child #2 to do quiet time. I found crafts, activities, and movies to while away the afternoons while I worked. She would read books for about 20 minutes, but I needed her to be occupied for at least an hour while I edited/returned phone calls. By time the kids were 5 and 3 I quit freelancing as it was too hard to manage kids during the day AND work during quiet time and after kids went to bed.

Child #3 was a great napper. Around 2.5 he was strong enough to hoist himself out of the crib. I fought the good fight but I was too worried about leaving him in his room unattended. I let him play quietly in familyroom. He and I joined playgroups, did classes, visited the library, and he watched a little TV.

Wish I had a tried and true method...but each kid is different as you know!

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 10:58pm

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Kayla