Today is National Napping Day. I don’t think they make cards for this “holiday”, but if they did the cards would most certainly include a photo like this:
In honor of today, my little man napped. On the couch.
Sadly, he’s pretty much given up a daily nap routine. Trying to get him to nap turned into such a struggle that by the time he fell asleep (if at all) it was when he should be waking up. I gave up pushing a daily nap about a month ago. The benefit is that he goes to bed easily at 7:30 most nights. The negative is that he is grumpy by the end of the day and I don’t get a good chunk of alone time during the day. It’s been hard to accept that he’s over napping and days like today tell me maybe he’s just not ready to be done napping.
When did your child stop taking a nap? How do you know when a child is ready to stop napping every day?
Shana
March 15, 2010He looks so cute sleeping away.
My oldest stopped napping at 18 months (so uncool), my daughter is pretty much done napping now, she’s 3yrs old but will fall asleep if she is really tired, and my youngest better nap for two more years lol, he’s 1.5
Sarah Halstead
March 15, 2010My son just turned 2 and is still napping. It is a struggle most days. Since he moved to his big boy bed he likes to play. So no matter what I get 3 hours of Mommy time whether he falls asleep or not. He actually enjoys being alone in his room for quiet/nap time. Sometimes he falls asleep after 5 minutes sometimes it is an hour and half. Today I laid him down at 130 and he didn’t fall asleep until 245 and here it is 515 and he is still asleep. That is the only bad thing about him napping. But he will still go down at 8 for the night.
Sarah
March 15, 2010I didn’t even recognize him without all his hair!
My daughter stopped napping at 5–but she still does rest time (with a book) when she’s home from school. I pushed (sometimes hard!!) through multiple times of nap resistance–sometimes those periods lasted for a month or more–in order to keep her as a napper and it was well worth it.
My son still naps at age 4 and he *needs* his naps. I’ve also pushed through periods of nap resistance with him (although not as many as with my daughter).
With both my children, I suspect that other people would have allowed them to “give up” napping several years ago due to the level of resistance my children showed…however I’m stubborn. LOL!
Emilie
March 15, 2010All of us enjoyed a nice nap today and I didn’t even need it to be official to do it. I just was desperate after losing that hour.
Cute picture!
And seriously, I think we have the same couch, at least the fabric anyway. We got a new one a few months ago but this matches our old one now in the playroom. Small world.
Shannon
March 16, 2010Awww man! I missed napping day?
lol He is adorable!! 
Thank goodness mine still nap (Finley for long stretches) but Kieran has had a few days where he skipped lately… hoping not a trend!
Jana
March 16, 2010Oh my goodness, he looks so different without hair here!
My 4 year old still naps for an hour (or more) every afternoon. My 20 month old still takes two naps a day. We tried to cut out the morning nap, but that did not go well at all so now we just limit the morning to an hour and the afternoon to an hour and a half. I don’t know what I’ll do when they give up naps because I like the time!!
Cat
March 17, 2010Dude, how in the world did I miss national napping day????
My son stopped taking naps around 2 1/2, Kaydee still takes naps but only because I make her. If she doesn’t get one she’s a major cranky butt after 6pm. But I figure by the time summer rolls around, which is also her 3rd birthday, she’ll give up naps entirely.
Ouidad Blog
March 17, 2010This should be held at least twice a year! An annual nap is not nearly enough!
-Deb
April
March 18, 2010Kiefer (34 mo) is still taking a nap… but only when he’s at home. He is way too curious and afraid he may miss something at daycare so he almost never naps there.
When his napping days are over, we are going to institute quiet time in his room. He doesn’t need to sleep, but play quietly in his room for an hour/hour and a half. He needs a break and so do I!