What Age Should Kids Nap Until?
Ask a Question
My daughter is 21 months old and she has been terrible at going to bed lately 
She has an hour nap in the afternoon but they are getting later and later. Which means that her bedtime is getting later because she isnt tired. Normally if she doesnt nap by 3pm i try to keep her awake until bed time but then shes falling asleep at 6pm and waking up through the night 
I read online that they should nap until their 3 but i dont know. Any advice?
I was told never to let them nap, as it disrupts their sleep patterns, so it becomes a nightmare to get them to bed at night.
I try my hardest to keep my nearly 3 in 4 weeks awake it's so easy when off school but go out in car and she flat out so I avoid taking her out after 2 
with back to school coming up it a good mile and half round trip so she goes in pushchair but that makes her sleepy my others stopped napping by 3 and in bed by 7 but this one is such a hand full a nap some times gives me a break
Mine is the same in the car if she falls asleep at nap time im like ah a little break which is lovely at the time but we pay for it at bed time 
If the kid wants to sleep, let him (or her) do so. They're fragile beings who are just getting used to being alive.
I know a dead @ss beat dad who actually woke up his kid, if the kid was with me he wouldn't pull that bs.
Try putting her to bed earlier. It will be a struggle for a while as she will resist but it will hopefully teach her that bedtime is earlier, so her nap should then start being earlier too. If she needs to nap let her, otherwise she will become over tired and that will also make bed time a nightmare. Unfortunately you have to suffer lack of sleep for a bit till its sorted.
I work in childcare, sone children can take naps at 3 or 4 years old and still sleep at night and some toddlers have to have naps restricted. If you're going to restrict a nap it has to be a minimum of 45 minutes for their sleep cycle and you're best cutting it off by something like 2pm. A good routine like bath, wind down time then bed.
Thanks everyone for your advice, i will continue allowing her to nap and try to get a better routine for bed time 
You just say it is nap time and they take it until they just don't. Every kids is different I am sure. Once you have a period of time where they just don't want to or can't settle then just don't offer. You can just tell.
If there still needing a nap I'd happily let them. You know more than anyone like our almost 2 year old still has to nap but we always put him down by no later than 11am. And never let him sleep past 1 otherwise he wont go down at night properly.
Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community
Chief Bargain Hunter
