My big girl will be 4 in August. A few days ago, we just changed her crib to the toddler bed version of it. She has always been a strong napper. But three days into the new freedom of the crib, she will not nap. She's a good girl and sits on her bed and sings and plays, but she won't sleep and will only stay in there about an hour. So, does end of crib mean no more naps? I'm sad for her, but mostly for me.
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I think it’s really age specific. Bed changes are usually a mess on sleep anyway but kids who need naps will still nap eventually. At 4 though she may not need a nap anymore so it’s possible but I’d keep an eye on how she’s behaving without a nap and if she’s not handling it well by late afternoon/evening, it might just take time until she adjust to the bed.
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She’s probably just adjusting so I’d give it a little time. She might be done with naps, but I feel like that’s usually more of a gradual transition.
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DD was in a crib until just after 4 (we had moved at 3.5 and she was having a ton of anxiety and sleep issues - she asked to keep sleeping in her crib until then). She started with just a mattress on the floor and the first week or so was rough but she went back to napping her normal amount. But she’s always been high sleep needs - even now at 5.5 she still naps 3 or 4 days a week. Even on the days she doesn’t sleep she has to stay in her room though.
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We switched around 3 to and it was hard for a while then they napped again.....persistence!!!
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Both my kids switched to a big bed at 18m. Lo1 stopped napping at 3y and I think Lo2 will be at 2..5.
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That’s a tough one at 4. My oldest switched to a bed at 2.5 and kept napping until I cut it, but she always slept more for her age. My son switched a bit before 3 and for him it was definitely the end. The consolation prize for me is always earlier, easier bed times!
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We just switched my 5 yo to a bed about 6 months ago. She still naps for about an hour a day. There is hope for you In our house quarantine naps are are not optional
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@agold: can you add some extra physical exertion in the AM?
I took my kids on walks (with big hills) last summer at 3yo to tire them out more after we switched to beds
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Mine switched to a bed at 2.5 and hasn’t napped since
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Thanks for all of these responses! She has napped once since we made the switch almost a week ago. She have otherwise been sneaking around upstairs and playing quietly. Fine, I suppose. She gets tired, though, and her sister wakes up from her own nap refreshed and wanting to play. Makes for a *fun* new witching hour at my house.
@meadow: Absolutely. I did that a while ago for my other girl. And I've been working from home so not always a lot of time to get outside for long. This has all certainly been an interesting time.
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Naps weren’t affected by converting to beds. Both my kids moved to a bed at around 3 or 3.5. My youngest is turning 4 in a couple of days and he is totally dropping the nap. The only reason I try to nap him these days is if I have to teach a Zoom class and it is easier if he is resting. He sleeps much better through the night at this point if he doesn’t nap... end of an era
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@Alba4: I agree about sleeping better at night if no nap. I like to have the quiet time during the day, though!
I have a gate at the top of my stairs, so I now still nap both girls are the same time. My big girl will sometimes run around the upstairs and I've added some toys up there for her to play with. But she will eventually lay down in her bed to nap more days than not. So its all worked out just fine.
I have a gate at the top of my stairs, so I now still nap both girls are the same time. My big girl will sometimes run around the upstairs and I've added some toys up there for her to play with. But she will eventually lay down in her bed to nap more days than not. So its all worked out just fine.
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