Quiet Time for Toddlers — Dropping the Afternoon Nap

Dropping the afternoon nap in favor of quiet time can bring a big transition for the whole family. Many families ask about the appropriate age to drop their naps for good. On average children give up their afternoon nap at 4 years old. That being said, many 3-3 1/2 year-olds who are sleeping through the night successfully give up their daily afternoon nap. Watching your child’s behavior is always more important than averages. You have to look at:

• Readiness
• Developing quiet time
• How does it work?

When Is My Child Ready for Quiet Time?

With a two-and-a-half or three-year-old, you still need to be vigilant about daily naps. He can skip it occasionally, but put him to bed earlier that night.

Naps also remain essential for older children who aren’t sleeping through the night or who are obviously tired during the day. Even when your child stops napping, quiet time in the late afternoon or before dinner is a must for three and four-year-olds, and a wise idea for five-year-olds, unless you actually like watching your child melt down.

Need more information on dropping a nap?
Read: Drop to One Nap — Is My Toddler Ready for a Single Nap?

The simplest way to tell whether a preschooler or kindergartener needs a nap is to watch him. If your child is getting about eleven hours of unfragmented sleep at night and seems well-rested, cheerful, and easy going during the day, it may be time to go from naps to quiet time.

Car behavior is also a good clue. If he conks out every time you start your engine, he probably still needs that afternoon snooze. Children who were good nappers but who now take a very long time to fall asleep in the afternoon may also be ready to phase out the nap.

Alternate Naps and Quiet Time

You might want to cut out naps every other day, rather than eliminate them completely, or you may find that he naps great on the days he’s with his sitter or at preschool but won’t nap on days he’s with you (or vice versa). If he is cranky or teary or frequently melting down, he probably needs at least a few naps a week.

What Is Quiet Time?

Quiet time is exactly what it sounds like. It’s about forty- five minutes of structured, solitary play, preferably at about the same time every afternoon. It’s a time for children to rest their bodies and, to a lesser extent, their minds. It helps pave the way for a peaceful dinner hour and easy bedtime.

Thinking about your child’s schedule?
Read: Sample Schedules: Sleep and Naps From 6 Months to Preschool

What Are Good Activities to Encourage?

Good activities include looking at books, watching an age-appropriate, calm children’s video (leave fast-paced, action-packed cartoons for another time), coloring, or playing in their room with dolls, trains, trucks, or the like. The activity should not need a lot of adult interaction or mentorship, so make sure the child is in a safe place. Some parents use a timer or alarm clock in their child’s room or in the hallway so their child knows when quiet time is over.

Quiet Time Recharges Everyone

Remind your child that in all-day preschool, all children have to lie down on a cot for quiet time to read, relax their body and brain, or snooze if they need to. Don’t forget quiet time can be a powerful tool to recharge parents, too!

Make sure you take time to practice what you preach and enjoy the quiet time away from your child. Dishes and laundry do NOT recharge our minds and bodies no matter how hard we try! Find a quiet space to go to and enjoy your own piece of peace!