3 Signs it’s time to drop a nap
This can be scary I get it. You don’t want to deprive your child
of a nap if they need it, but you also don’t want to try and force
them to sleep if they’re ready to move on!
So here are three signals to look out for that will give you
the A-OK to drop that nap and give your child that longer
wake window.
They have a hard time falling asleep at bedtime
If you child is taking that last nap and then bedtimes
start to take forever.. it might be time to cut that nap.
You put them down at their usual time and they’re just
hanging out, playing or just taking a while before actually
falling asleep. In this case they are getting too much daytime sleep
and just aren’t tired enough when bedtime rolls around.
2. They just will not nap anymore
You are putting them down for their usual last nap but they
are just done with it (singing, playing, talking, not showing any tired signs).
I know that sounds stupid… obviously if they won’t nap then
they’re ready to drop it, however there are many other reasons
your child might be fighting a nap so you’ll want to find a trend
before dropping the nap. What you want to see is a refusal of that
last nap for 5 days out of the week for about 2 weeks. That way you
know for sure it’s not something else.
3. Early rising
Have you noticed lately that your child is waking before 6am?
(Like waking at 3/4am and they are ready for the day)
Are they around that age where dropping a nap
might be coming? Again, they might be getting too much daytime sleep.
If they get all the sleep they need from that nap and going to
bed at the same time as usual… then they don’t need to sleep all
the way through the night because they’re good to go!
So there we have it! Those three things are the main flags to look for.
To drop the nap, just don’t offer it.
However, I suggest still offering a ‘quiet time’ so they still get a brain rest if they want it.
**Another big thing you’ll want to consider is that for the next few
weeks after you drop that nap your child will be tired and
not used to it. The best way to facilitate that? An early bedtime!
Anywhere between 1 and 2 hours early. This will change child to child
so try an earlier time and then if that doesn’t feel right go with your gut and tweak it.
Please let me know if you have any questions about this or want to triple
check that it’s. time to drop that nap. I’m just a DM or phone call away!
Your Paediatric Sleep Consultant
Marina Godard-Simon
