When do babies/children usually stop having afternoon naps.?
The general rule in pediatrics is 3-5 years. I was talking to my pediatrician about this last week, because my incredibly sleep sensitive 26 month old is suddenly trying to ditch her nap, and I don’t think it’s in her best interest at all- or mine. At the least, a child who gives up naps on the younger side of the spectrum at least needs to adapt to an hour of ‘quiet time’, where they can lay in bed, lights dimmed, and at least ‘rest’ with a book, relaxing music or both. Anyway- the pediatrician did agree with me that at 26 months it’s not the healthiest time to give up a nap (which is proven by the 6 pm melt down when Miss I-don’t-need-a-nap doesn’t take one). Those little bodies need naps until at LEAST age three. Unfortunately, of all my kids, three have given up napping before three years old, one as young as around 18 months. One did take naps until about age four. One is way too young to know yet 🙂 Those who quit napping, I did make them adapt a ‘quiet time’ of 45-90 minutes var
