At what age do most kids STOP taking naps?

Question

I take care of a 3 (gonna be 4 in November) year old. He is a BIG napper. He sleeps 2 1/2 to 3 hours every afternoon. His mom recently decided to try to forgo the naps and perhaps have a "quiet time" where he can lay in his bed, with the room dim, and watch maybe a movie or something. Is this a pretty good age to make the transition to having no naps? He will start nursery school in August, so he wont really have naps then either. His normal nap time is any where starting from 1:30/2ish and last until 3:30/4ish. I try never to let him sleep more than 2 1/2 hours.

Any ideas/opinions are appreciated.

Also, its worth noting that the reason she is giving up on the naps is because he WILL NOT go to sleep before 11 every night. Then he is really grumpy in the mornings.

Answer 1

I think by the time they start school nap time is a thing of the past....at his age he NEEDS a nap.....I think he is sleeping way to long.....try waking him after only an hour and a half....

Answer 2

I'm 17 and still take naps! At least 3 or 4 a week. I babysit a 4 year old who still takes a nap everyday. He starts kindergarten this fall and his mom requested morning school so he could still take his afternoon nap.

And that is really unhealthy for a kid that young to stay up that late.

Answer 3

I'm 32 and I still takes naps now and then. My daughter just turned 5 this month and she naps as often as I do. She started NOT napping at about 4 and half years old.

As far as the child you watch, my two and half year old occasionally does the same type of thing. That child's mother should ask the pediatrician if that is a good idea actually. From an article I read, I suggest she should do as the headline put it; "Just let them sleep".

Answer 4

I stopped giving my daughter "scheduled" naps at about 3 and a half.  If it was a big day, or she was just really grumpy, I would give her one if needed.  If I let her nap too much after the age of 3 and a half, I had a terrible time getting her to sleep.

Answer 5

My 5 year old was getting a one hour nap in pre-K. I know that in kindergarten they also get a one hour nap. I'd still have him take one, just not as long as he was.

Answer 6

Kids stop napping when THEY are ready, however, it sounds as if he's getting too much sleep during the day to throw off his nighttime schedule. Maybe move his nap time a little sooner in the day to about 1ish, and only let him sleep for about an hour to 1 1/2 hrs. It won't matter once he starts school in the fall, school will keep him busy and wear him out so maybe he will go to bed at a more normal time and wake up in a better mood in the AM. Good Luck to you and his mom!

Answer 7

My daycare stopped giving my 5 year old naps at school because in September she will be going to kindergarten and will not be taking naps.  She gets grouchy around the same time everyday and still needs one.  When she's home, she'll often take a nap still.

Answer 8

My boys all gave up their naps around the time they turned 2.  If she wants him in bed earlier at night, shortening his daytime nap while moving back his bedtime in small increments will probably be the best way to go.  Ultimately she'll end up with no naps and a much more reasonable bedtime.

Answer 9

My daughter still took naps everyday until she was 5 and in school all day.  Now she only takes one every couple of days.  She is 5 1/2 btw.

Answer 10

Hi,

I have a three year old daughter who still has naps in the afternoon, at about 1pm for about 2 hours. She still goes to bed at 7pm although she wakes up at 6.30am (not that bad I suppose!). Most of my friends' kids who are the same age have dropped their naps though.

My daughter no longer has a nap on the days that she is at nursery but it doesn't seem to make any difference to what time she will go to bed or get up.

I am the only person I know whose child still naps at this age so I think it must be around the right time for him to drop his nap. Having said that the reason none of my friends' kids have naps anymore is because the kids dropped them naturally, most of the mothers I know would give their right arm for a two hour break in the middle of the day!

Perhaps in this case it would be worth letting him drop his naps and see whether he will go to bed earlier - just because it didn't work for me doesn't mean it won't for this little one and a toddler up til 11pm must be hard work for everyone!

Maybe a reward chart for going to bed at the right time, a strict bedtime routine and also making sure he wakes up earlyish in the morning would help (sure you've thought of this already though!)?

Hope this is of some help

Answer 11

I have a son the exact same age (turning 4 in Nov). He gave up naps just recently, about 3-4 weeks ago. I knew it was time because he took a very long time to fall asleep both at nap-time and at bed-time.

If the little boy you're caring for can get through the day with getting grumpy or crashing in the early evening, then you know he's getting enough sleep. If you find that after giving up his afternoon nap, he's getting sleepy at 6-7 pm then it's probably not time to give up naps just yet.

Answer 12

My flatmate is 24 and she still naps. Its totally down to whether you need to sleep or not.

Answer 13

I take a nap when I'm tired and I'm a kid anymore.... I'm 21.

Answer 14

Dude I took a nap yesterday... got home from work, ate dinner, nappy time....

Answer 15

Mine stopped at 2 years and 3 months old she has on occasion, if she does then she does not go to bed until midnight

Answer 16

Kids that age sleep 10-13 hours a day, so if he is still up at 11pm, he needs to be getting up lots earlier.  

If they need a nap they will have one.  If not, they stop napping on their own.  Watch the child and determine their natural schedule of sleep and wakefulness.

Please consider putting the child to bed with books instead of television.  Sleeping with the television on can cause sleep disturbances.

Answer 17

there is no certain age to stop naps i'm 16 and i still take naps. its a good way to reenergize your body. my 5 year old niece still takes naps. she starting kindergarten in a few weeks. and last year everyday after preschool she would come home and take an hour long nap. i suggest not stopping naps completely just cut them down. everyday after school he's gunna be really tired and grouchy anyways. and your gunna want him to lay down

Answer 18

the should stop around 4 or 5!!