What are the signs that lo is ready to give up nap?

[Carys' mom]

Hi,

My dd is 2 years, 3 months old, which I feel is young to give up naps. However, I know that some kids do give it up early like that. Lately, she has occasionally skipped naps - mostly when she falls asleep in the car even for a few minutes - it's then impossible to get her to nap. Also, she has been taking longer to fall asleep at night - she is in bed by 8pm usually and lately has been taking a half hour or more to go to sleep. (She chats to herself, then falls asleep finally.) Previously she was asleep within a few minutes. Lately, her naps have been as long as 2 hrs, 20 minutes - should I shorten them? Although even if she skips a nap one day, it doesn't seem to affect her nightime sleep length (9 hours). I know 9 hours of nightime sleep is short, and we've tried everything to get her to sleep more, but it hasn't worked. So...just wondering how you know when they are ready to give up naps?

Thanks in advance!

[Carmela's Mom]

I would definitely shorten that nap.  Easier said than done, I know!  I am having a hard time with my daughter lately and she's the same way.  But at 2, I believe that a 1.5 hour nap is suffice.  IF that doesn't help at all, then let us know and we can work with you, but I'm willing to bet she'd sleep at least 10 hours at night if you put her down for 1.5 nap

[*Natasha*]

When does she get up and go down for her nap?

[Layla]

One of the signs is taking longer to fall asleep at night. But I think in your case that has more to do with the length of the nap. I would definitely shorten it to 1.5hrs. I don't think 9hrs is enough. It could be that she is too wired up to fall asleep. What time do you do bedtime when she skips naps?

[Carys' mom]

Hi ladies,

Thanks for your replies. Well, this morning she woke up at 4:45am and wouldn't go back to sleep . Her usual wake up time is around 5:30am (not good, but better than this morning's). So, today, I put her down for her nap at 12:15pm and she slept for 2 hours. She's usually asleep for her nap by 1pm (1:15pm at the latest). When she skips naps, dh takes her up at 7pm and she's usually asleep by 7:30pm. I had a feeling her long naps are part of the problem with her falling asleep at night, but haven't wanted to wake her because she doesn't sleep enough at night. But we can try cutting it down to 1.5 hours and see what happens.

Thanks!

[Layla]

If her usual wake up time is around 5.30am, then a nap starting at 1pm is really too late. I would bring it up to 12pm for about a weeka dn bedtime 7pm to let her catch up on sleep. Also if she is missing a nap, you'd really want her asleep by 7pm to again avoid overtiredness

hth
Layla

[Carmela's Mom]

My daughter is the same exact way!  She gets about 9 hours overnight and then wants a 2.5 hour nap.  So after finally putting my foot down, I am now stopping naps at 1.5 hours.  If I still find that she's not getting enough sleep at night, then I'll move it to an hour.  Then maybe even stop it all together.  We'll see when we cross that line.