When Do Toddlers Drop Their Nap?
BY Natalie Myre Hart, Sleep Consultant
Today I am going to talk to you about when is the right time for your toddler to bid farewell to their daily nap. Scary I know! I know from my own experience, it's a bit intimidating. Currently, I have a 16-month-old, and nap time holds great importance in our routine. But don't worry because there are actually several advantages to be gained when your toddler outgrows their nap. By eliminating this daytime nap it actually means you can do more activities during the day, you’re not totally tied to your house, and also you get your evenings back. Because this means that your child can have an early bedtime and probably sleep all the way through the night, as the nap can disrupt their sleep patterns starting around 2.5 to 3.5 years of age. My son Jake, dropped his nap right at 2.5 years because it was really starting to cause issues.
Determining the right time for your toddler to drop their nap is often an intuitive process.
You can start noticing your toddler is ready to start dropping their nap if they are over 2.5 years, and it takes them longer to fall asleep at bedtime. That’s usually a sign that they are ready for it.
D E C I D I N G W H E N T H E T I M E I S R I G H T
Another sleep consultant Meg, gave me a really great tip on what to do in that in-between time. She recommended this product called Zenimals, that you can use as a meditation tool for your child to listen to. She calls it “independent time” instead of quiet time.
Here's what I recommend:
Encourage your child to "lie down and rest for 20 minutes, and use this time for some independent activities."
Set the timer for 20 minutes and consider incorporating a soothing sound machine like Zenimals.
If your child falls asleep within this period, it indicates they still benefit from a nap and may not be quite ready to abandon it. This technique serves as a helpful interim solution if you're not yet prepared to eliminate the nap entirely.
However, if your child remains awake after the initial 20 minutes, inform them that you will extend the timer to an hour, and let them know they can play independently by themselves, in their room, to play some calm, quiet games.
This provides you then with an hour of personal time while your child is "resting." By implementing this approach, you can strike a balance between meeting your child's needs and carving out essential time for yourself.
T H E P R O C E S S
So when you are ready to drop the nap, there really is no easy way to do it. This process may not be seamless, but it’s a decision you’ll have to make.
Choose a day when you have some additional support because chances are by 5:00 pm, they will be tired.
Do not let them fall asleep at 5:00 pm for a nap, because they will not sleep at night.
If they're struggling to stay awake, try gradually pushing their bedtime to 6:00 or 6:30 pm for that particular night.
For the next week, focus on establishing an early bedtime and gradually extend it by 15 minutes each day.
A bedtime of around 7:00 pm tends to be an ideal sweet spot, which can last for a few years after they've dropped their nap. My son is 4 and when he doesn’t nap, 7:00 pm is still his bedtime. It's a really perfect bedtime for a few years once they drop their nap.
Y O U G O T T H I S M A M A !
They will get adjusted, you will have your evenings back, you will sleep through the night, and have a happy rested toddler in the morning.
I hope these suggestions prove helpful as you embark on this journey of dropping the nap. Wishing you success and happy nap dropping!
We Are Here to Help!
If you're still struggling with your toddler’s sleep, feel free to set up a complimentary discovery call with either myself or someone on the Kelly Murray Sleep Squad and we would love to chat with you more about other options for your newborn, safe sleeping habits, and how we can help get you and your child better nights sleep.
All team members have completed training with Kelly and have learned the Murray Method. Kelly continues to support, guide and oversee the Sleep Squad as they work with the families who trust in us. This way, all clients are able to experience the same amazing results (and lots and lots of sleep).
Sweet Dreams…
Kelly Murray is a certified sleep coach and an award-winning pediatric sleep consultant based in Chicago offering sleep coaching services nationwide.
