TODDLER
When Do Toddlers Stop Napping?
Learn the early signs that the nap is waning.
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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TODDLER
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Bestsellers
Like big, clumsy birds that plop back to earth a few times as they run, trying to get airborne, some toddlers take many weeks—bouncing along—before they are definitely able to take flight and say au revoir to their last nap. They struggle to stay awake during play and fall fast asleep the instant they are put in the car. And they become wild during afternoon play—melting into tearful streams of ‘no, no, no!’—yet keel over in the high chair before they get even halfway through dinner.
About 20% of 2-year-olds have stopped all naps—although you can be sure those parents wish they still had that little break during the day! By the 3rd birthday, 43% of kids no longer nap. And that increases to 74% of 4-year-olds and 85% of 5-year-olds. An early sign that the nap is waning is when your child sleeps at preschool but skips it on the weekend.
Most kids take this final step over several weeks—napping some days and not others. Ultimately, your child will completely switch to an afternoon quiet time.
When your toddler gives up her last nap, expect her to start running out of petrol earlier in the evening. So be prepared to slide dinner and bedtime an hour earlier.
A telltale sign that your child is ready to drop naps is if they are not sleepy during the day, or if their naps make it harder for them to sleep at night. If your child is able to skip naps without any sign of crankiness or exhaustion, then they may be ready to stop napping.
Surprisingly, your 4-year-old will go to bed earlier than she did at 18 months! But that is what she must do to continue getting 10-12 hours of sleep a day after napping is finished. (And do not be surprised if, during this transition, your love-bug also awakens in the morning a little earlier than usual.)
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
