When will my child stop needing a nap?
By the age of two, most children have given up their morning nap but still need an afternoon snooze to see them through the day. Most children stop napping altogether by the age of four.
That said, napping needs differ from one child to another. How much daytime sleep – if any – your child requires depends in part on how many hours he sleeps during the night. Many kids, though, need to nap no matter how much sleep they get at night.
But in general, children this age do best with a total of 12 to 14 hours of sleep in each 24-hour period. So if your preschooler goes to bed at 7pm and sleeps until 7am, he may get his full quota of rest all at once.
Don't be surprised if he goes back to taking a nap weeks or even months after stopping, especially if there's a change in his routine, he's more active during the day or he starts preschool on some days.
If your child gets fewer than 12 hours of sleep at night, then ideally he should continue to nap. But you may find that as he gets older, it's increasingly difficult to get him down to sleep during the day. Toddlers and preschoolers are so intent on discovering their world that they hate to miss out on anything going on around them – even when they're running out of steam.
If your child is usually at home with you during the day, make sure he naps in the same place he sleeps at night, since he already associates that spot with sleep and he's more likely to doze off there.
If he normally naps at childcare, keep your weekend routine consistent with theirs and tuck him in with the same stuffed animal he usually sleeps with.
If a child under four refuses to nap, at least try to enforce some quiet time every day. Tell him that he needs to rest after lunch so he has the energy to play later on.
Let him take some toys and books to bed with him, then dim the lights or draw the curtains and leave the room. Although he won't feel as rejuvenated as he would if he slept, a break from rambunctious play will help build up his energy – and yours!
Read more about how much sleep your preschooler needs.
That said, napping needs differ from one child to another. How much daytime sleep – if any – your child requires depends in part on how many hours he sleeps during the night. Many kids, though, need to nap no matter how much sleep they get at night.
But in general, children this age do best with a total of 12 to 14 hours of sleep in each 24-hour period. So if your preschooler goes to bed at 7pm and sleeps until 7am, he may get his full quota of rest all at once.
Don't be surprised if he goes back to taking a nap weeks or even months after stopping, especially if there's a change in his routine, he's more active during the day or he starts preschool on some days.
If your child gets fewer than 12 hours of sleep at night, then ideally he should continue to nap. But you may find that as he gets older, it's increasingly difficult to get him down to sleep during the day. Toddlers and preschoolers are so intent on discovering their world that they hate to miss out on anything going on around them – even when they're running out of steam.
If your child is usually at home with you during the day, make sure he naps in the same place he sleeps at night, since he already associates that spot with sleep and he's more likely to doze off there.
If he normally naps at childcare, keep your weekend routine consistent with theirs and tuck him in with the same stuffed animal he usually sleeps with.
If a child under four refuses to nap, at least try to enforce some quiet time every day. Tell him that he needs to rest after lunch so he has the energy to play later on.
Let him take some toys and books to bed with him, then dim the lights or draw the curtains and leave the room. Although he won't feel as rejuvenated as he would if he slept, a break from rambunctious play will help build up his energy – and yours!
Read more about how much sleep your preschooler needs.
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