https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:11:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap/page/2#post-2770989 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 16:01:03 +0000 Eminthevalley 2770989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: just saw this after I posted the same thing! I swear at 38 I need the nap more than the 4 year olds do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap/page/2#post-2770988 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 15:59:36 +0000 Eminthevalley 2770988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It seems to me that kids sleep to fit their family's schedule, whatever that is. If you want to hang out with this family, I would plan around the nap. Like do stuff in the morning. My 4.5 year old twin boys nap almost every day and though I wouldn't skip a birthday party, I do leave stuff early sometimes for their nap. Otherwise they're super cranky and unpleasant and that's no fun for anybody! I don't think there's really a certain age that's "too old" for a nap...heck at 38 I feel like I could certainly nap every day :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770986 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 15:54:38 +0000 Purpledaisy 2770986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@magnolia: @erinbaderin: ok, yes, I would still love a daily nap also 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770985 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 15:53:09 +0000 Purpledaisy 2770985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This has been so interesting to me, I didn't realize kids still often napped up until the 4-5 age range! I feel like most people that I know have their kids stop napping around 3.5ish age range. </p> <p>For the ones who still have their kid napping, do you want your kid(s) to nap or can they not go without it?</p> <p>We cut the nap out when we did because it was interfering with overnight sleep. She would have a really hard time falling asleep before 10 if she napped. My grandma will occasionally have her take a nap at her house and then I will always see her still tossing and turning in bed until at least 10. And I really liked the no napping because it gave us more flexibility during the day (of course that doesn't matter anymore because now LO2 needs a nap :silly: ). </p> <p>It would be different to me if their kid took that long nap and still slept a decent amount over night... I would be exhausted in their situation. When he's getting up from his nap we are finishing dinner or even starting bedtime already. By that time I'm DONE for the day!</p> <p>ETA: on the other hand, they think our early bed time is nuts :silly: so, to each their own! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770925 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 13:15:33 +0000 snowjewelz 2770925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine is like 3 months from 3, she is super borderline. In the first half of the year, 2-2.5, she def needed a solid nap. Around 2.5, if we skipped it for some reason, she is fine but is cranky in the evening. Now, on no nap days she isn't too crabby and just goes to sleep early. We have to cap her nap b/c a long/late nap always affects her night sleep. Note: she has low sleep needs since baby-hood. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770886 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 09:40:23 +0000 Beehive 2770886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, a 3-4 hour nap seems like too much at any age actually - that's definitely interfering with overnight sleep! Our 4.5 year old stopped taking naps when they started interfering with his bedtime, which is 8pm. Now, if he takes a nap during the day, he'll toss and turn until 9pm or so. I think a good, solid overnight sleep is more important than naps, particularly when you get closer to 5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770884 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 09:35:29 +0000 Adira 2770884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My oldest is 4.5 and still naps for 2 hours at daycare (he doesn't usually nap at home). Some kids have higher sleep needs than others.</p> <p>Also, my guess is these parents are fine with this schedule (nap during the day and then later bedtime). They are making a priority to stick with this schedule, so it's probably working for their family. It sucks that it makes it hard to plan events with them, but it works for their family unit and it won't be for forever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770876 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 09:20:59 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2770876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>woah, that kid sleeps overnight from 10-6? I agree with @gingerbebe that they should shorter (or cut) the nap and get him on an earlier bedtime. 3-4 hours of nap seems excessive, and is interfering with overnight sleep.</p> <p>DS turns 3 in a month, and generally naps for 90 minutes now. I wish he'd sleep longer, but no such luck. He usually sleeps overnight 8:30-6:30 (give or take....he's in bed by 8 but often has trouble falling asleep). That's 11.5 hours total. I would prefer his overnight sleep was 8-7, but he fights that hard. We've maintained the same rigid bedtime routine since he was a baby, but it is very hard for him to fall asleep before 8:30 :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770856 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 08:38:29 +0000 looch 2770856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think if you have a kid in full day kindergarten, the schedule kind of prohibits the nap.</p> <p>Other than that, I don't think naps are a big deal. I would take one every day if I could. I go to bed super early because I wake up early, but if I could take an afternoon nap and go to bed later, I would love that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770855 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 08:36:36 +0000 kes18 2770855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>kindergarten lol. My 3.5 year old still naps for a couple hours. She can skip it but then she's out of control by 6pm. So she naps and she goes to bed at 9pm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770849 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 07:50:47 +0000 Ajsmommy 2770849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dd is 3.5 and naps at daycare but I've dropped it at home bc I got sick of fighting her for it. She probably still needs it but at home she'll fight or for an hour or more but then fall asleep and nap for 2-3 hours!!! Making her wake up way too close to bedtime. So I just gave napping up </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770848 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 07:33:22 +0000 littlebug 2770848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our 4.5 year old still naps 1.5-2 hours a day. He sleeps from about 8:30p-6:30a. I'd love to drop the nap and move bedtime up and/or have him sleep in a little later, but on days when he misses a nap, his nighttime sleep isn't affected at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770835 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 00:15:08 +0000 birdofafeather 2770835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sometime before Kinder. My 4.5 year old still naps from time to time (enforced quiet time in her room) but she can easily go without. We do cut it short though because long naps would lead to a 10 pm bedtime. Which is no bueno. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770822 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 20:51:55 +0000 Shantuck 2770822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 5 year old just started kindergarten so no more naps at school but we nap on weekends to help catch up on sleep. We will skip a nap if there is something important going on but otherwise we will try to squeeze one in when we can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770820 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 20:49:05 +0000 winniebee 2770820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sisters kids all napped until 4 or later. They would go to bed at like 9 though. My oldest stopped napping completely before 3. My second is 2.8 and only will nap at school since we ditched his pacifier. I know he needs one every day but he just won't do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770814 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 20:02:41 +0000 erinbaderin 2770814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@magnolia: Ha! Great minds! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770813 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 20:02:14 +0000 erinbaderin 2770813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm 38 and I would totally take a daily nap if I could, does that count? :wink: B is 3.5 and doesn't nap at home but still does at daycare. Once he moves to the kindergarten room when he turns 4 they don't nap anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770812 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 20:01:25 +0000 magnolia 2770812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm 33 and ideally I would nap every day if I could :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770811 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 19:42:56 +0000 skipra 2770811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My oldest gave up his nap shortly after turning 4 but it doesn't always mean he goes to bed easily! As in it's almost 9 and he is still calling for us. Ugh! I say it's their kid and they know him or her best so I wouldn't judge! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770809 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 19:38:44 +0000 yerpie110 2770809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: it is amazing! My kid is the one where I have pictures of her sleeping in the most random of places - tables, floor, steps (outside no less), etc. sometimes I think my 20 mth old is going to drop her nap before her big sister 😵 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770807 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 19:36:17 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2770807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My guess would be 5 yrs old. Growing up Kindergarten had nap time and we were a bunch of 5 and 6 year olds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770806 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 19:34:15 +0000 Foodnerd81 2770806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yerpie110: amazing how different kids are. I can count on one hand the number of times my 4 year old has fallen asleep outside of her bed or car seat or stroller (after the first few weeks). She just does not fall asleep without being in a sleeping place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770803 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 19:23:14 +0000 yerpie110 2770803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My oldest is the same age and on a similar schedule. We are not as rigid with naptime at this point, but forcing a child to drop a nap isn't always as easy as it seems. I wish dd1 wouldn't nap, and we do our best to keep her up so she will go to sleep at an appropriate time, but when she's tired, she will fall asleep anywhere at anytime. She will literally just drop, and it doesn't matter if she sleeps 10 minutes or 2 hours - she will be up until 10pm. Because of that, I will let her sleep for at least a little to let her catch up on her hours. I also think that once they're on a napping schedule, it can be hard to break because she sleeps late, wakes up at the same time regardless of when she goes down (around 730am), is tired because she slept late, needs a nap, and the cycle continues. It's nice as our nights are more flexible, but I look forward to the day when she stops napping finally (or is old enough that I don't care anymore!)! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770802 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 19:21:32 +0000 caterw 2770802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine is 3.5 and she naps about half the time. If she is in a good mood after lunch or we have something to do, she can definitely skip it. Sometimes she really needs it though so I will put her down from like 2-4ish. She goes to bed between 8-830 usually and sometimes a bit earlier on days when she doesn't nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770801 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 19:15:34 +0000 honeybear 2770801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO napped (not daily, but multiple times a week) until 5, for sure. It probably did give him a later bedtime, but we were fine with that. It gave us more flexibility for doing things in the evening and at night (examples: astronomy events/campfire/movie night/dinner out). I figured that there aren't that many things that I want to do with him that start at 6am, but there are things we want to do that start at 7pm, and his later bedtime made them possible without hiring a babysitter. I wouldn't have left an event he was enjoying just for a nap after age 4 unless he seemed really tired and likely to start having massive behavior problems. </p> <p>In this case, I'd assume that their schedule works for this family/child. That's all that matters. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770792 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 18:47:45 +0000 bhbee 2770792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know a 5yo (close to 6 when she quit) who napped right up to kinder. She also stayed up late with her parents though and it worked for them. My 5yo might like to nap but it keeps her up waaaay too late for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770789 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 18:41:12 +0000 SweetiePie 2770789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely know 4yo who nap but not sure of 5yo (they may I just don't know their schedules). I know my ped says at a minimum quiet time in a darkened room is needed till 5, ideally still a nap. </p> <p>My nephew is 7.5 and he could still nap every day. He doesn't because of school, obviously. But he'll often fall asleep in the afternoon on weekends or even after school. Sometimes he'll come home from school and just crawl into bed. </p> <p>I also think a change in night time sleep is an indicator that he prob doesn't need the nap, he just needs an earlier bedtime. So skip the nap and do a 7pm bedtime instead. My son is high sleep needs and I'm sure he'll be a later napper. He's 3 next week and naps 1:30-3:30/4 and overnight 8-7/7:30. If his nightsleep changed I would drop or shorten his nap for sure. Like a 10pm bedtime wouldn't fly here. I wanna keep it at 8pm max as long as humanly possible for multiple reasons. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770784 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 18:25:17 +0000 youboots 2770784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: yup. As long as daytime sleep is not causing problems with night time sleep. </p> <p>I'm not very privy to others nap schedules I guess- We have 4 close families that are friends (one childless, one no more naps) plus my sister so I guess my nephew is the oldest at 4.5 but I don't think it's daily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770781 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 18:23:54 +0000 Foodnerd81 2770781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My older one just turned 4 and I would say most of her friends don't nap most days, but many still have some kind of quiet time in the afternoons (probably related to the fact that they have younger siblings who do nap). I just dropped the quiet time because she was fighting it like crazy and on the rare times she did nap, bedtime was terrible. So 4.5 seems late but not insane. But yeah, if she was only sleeping 10-6 I'd have a problem with that!</p> <p>ETA: i would have a problem with that sleep schedule because I need some alone time and time with DH in the evenings. Not because of the amount of sleep overall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-old-do-you-think-is-too-old-for-a-daily-nap#post-2770779 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 18:21:32 +0000 Corduroy 2770779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Purpledaisy: I think naps are fine until K/1st grade. My DD is 4.5 and naps about half the time. When she does nap she naps about 2 hours. </p> <p>I know several families that let their kids stay up late to have more time with working parents or so they are less of a burden on whoever watches them during that day. </p>