My three-year-old son gets very tired when he doesn't have a day sleep but goes off to sleep nicely at night. When he does have a day sleep it is really difficult to get him to sleep at night.
My feeling is that he probably needs the day sleep but I am tending to deprive him of it to have better nights.
My son (now 6) would not sleep during the day from about 2 years of age, but he slept soundly all night. A kid that sleeps all night is a blessing. Don't worry about the daytime nap. He probably sleeps at kindy because all the other kids lie down and he has nothing else to do, while at home he has a million things to do!
My youngest was like that and he didn't want to sleep at home. I made sure tho, that just like Kindy, if he didn't want to sleep, he still had to have a 'rest' and lay on his bed with one toy or a book. And I made sure that he was only in there for a limited time, whether I had to wake him up or just let him come outside. But he had to stay on his bed if it was rest time.
ur son is getting older, he will know when he needs a nap during the day. It is not an obligation for him to sleep just be happy that he sleeps his nights. There is nothing to worry about it is just normal.
My daughter has just turned 4 and gave up the day sleeps at 3. I had a very grumpy child by about 5 or 6pm, but like your son she would go to bed early. I shuffled some things around her doing this such as having her dinner by around 5 and bathed by 6pm and she was settled for quiet time and asleep by 7pm. This is wonderful for hubby and I to have the nights to ourselves! She always sleeps right through until around 6.30-7.00am, so I figure she is still getting the same amount of sleep in a 24hr period as she was getting with the day sleep, except not broken up.
Children need routines and the same patterns. If he sleeps at Daycare, let him sleep at home. If you prefer him not to sleep during the day, let the Daycare know - he doesn't have to have a sleep. My eldest stopped having sleeps before she was 3 - it suited her and myself better as she slept better at night. Not all kids need a daytime sleep.
Every child is different and I agree with what you have written. My child was 18mths when he stopped arvo sleeps and my other child still has a sleep at daycare and he is 4 1/2. Everyone is different so we have to learn what suit the child and if it means we can get a sleep in so be it. If your child needs a sleep just place them in their rom and say that it is rest time with a toy or a book and they might stay there for ! hour whether they sleep or not at least they have had a rest.
I noticed your question and have to say that I completely understand what you mean! In fact, I have just written an article on it. Please have a read and see whether you agree with me. Good luck!
My now, 4 yr old daughter, takes a nap maybe once or twice a week but not every day. Nonetheless, even if she doesn't sleep she spends quiet time in her room for about an hour (at the same her 2 yr old sister is sleeping) just to give me a small break. They both go down by 8:15 pm or so, naps or no naps, same time. The nap starting being phased out at the age of 3 1/2 and as long as she is in a good mood until about 4 pm, she doesn't have to nap. If she's grumpy after 4 pm, they go into the bath by 7 or 7:30 pm.
My daughter refused from about 2 1/2, it was more stress trying to get her to nap so I gave up, she goes to bed early and sleeps really well. On the odd occasion is she has had a late night or a few busy days whe will usually fall asleep by herself on the lounge.
If your child is getting a nap at daycare, then that sounds more than enough of a nap during the day. I wouldn't worry about him getting any more naps at home. But if he is absolutely exhausted at home and just looks ready for a nap, I suggest limiting the amount of time he sleeps and controlling when he naps.
My son is 21 months now and I have found that if he naps after 3pm, it makes bedtime very challenging. So I wake him up at 3pm no matter when he happens to nap - whether he goes down at 1pm, or 2pm.
Perhaps by doing this, you can give him a rest when he is exhausting and yet minimizing the difficulty of getting him to bed at night.
I too have this problem with my 21 month old, she flat out refuses to go to sleep during the day, and on the odd occasion that she does she wont sleep at night till well after 10pm. If she gets really really grumpy I'll either run her a bath or take her for an half hour drive, the car is a foolproof way to get her to sleep!! not good practice but it works. She wakes up again as soon as the car stops and is much nicer to be around!!. But at 3 next year he'll be 4 and possibly be in kindy, so his body may just be adjusting to not having a sleep. good luck. i hope he becomes a nicer boy in the evenings for you soon
Breanna is 2 and still has a 2hr sleep in the middle of the day......luvvv it.She goes to sleep 8.30 at night.Which is good for us as she can spend more time with her Daddy. Perhaps you can reduce the nap time and find a happy medium.Hope this helps regards Merle
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