To nap or drop the nap??

My three year old loves to sleep hence her nickname among family and friends is "Sleeping Beauty." She started sleeping through the night when she was 3 weeks old and took 2-3 naps a day as an infant. Once she turned two and started preschool a couple days a week, her morning nap disappeared but she looked forward to cuddling with her blankie and teddy bears for her afternoon nap.

I am more relaxed about her napping if we have plans or have been busy until too late but I always 
regret it. When my daughter misses her nap, she is a hot mess. It is like she has been invaded by an 
extraterrestrial. Our evening is filled with crying fits instead of a fun family dinner, dance parties and 
story time.

Several of my mommy friends have dropped naps and at times it is very clear those sweeties still need their naps. Too many times moms put their needs in front of what is best for their kids. Naps can interfere with errands or plans that occur mid afternoon, but our sweeties need to rest. Three year olds play hard, burn so much energy throughout the day and need to be able to shut down midday to recharge.

Napping is an important part of your toddler's day as well as yours. Your child needs to recharge and reboot or everyone will suffer the consequences. And you count on nap time to get things done you need to do.  To grow, we need adequate calories and ample sleep so naps are very important even for toddlers.

Tips from Dr. Sears

"As a rule, naptime should be a pleasant oasis in the middle of a busy day and not a time when you have to struggle with your child to get him to fall asleep."

Here's how to tell whether your child is ready to stay awake all day:

Get to know your napper. Chart your child's present nap schedule. If he seems cranky and tired in the afternoon, chances are he/she still needs a nap  -- even though he/she resists it. If, on the other hand, he/she seems to be generally happy for most of the afternoon and willingly drifts off to sleep in the early evening and sleeps well through the night, then he's ready to drop his afternoon nap. Try going several days without a nap, and monitor his/her evening and nightly sleep habits. Let his/her level of alertness and behavior during the late afternoon be your guide.

Do you need your child to take a nap? Many parents try to juggle their child's nap schedule to fit their
lifestyle. Some parents want their child to go to bed earlier. Perhaps they give their child a lot of attention
during the day and would like more couple time in the evening, In this case, skipping the afternoon nap can lead to an earlier bedtime. Other parents-usually those who are busy or employed-prefer a later bedtime. Away all day at work, they look forward to extended quality time with their child in the early evening. In this case, a mid- or late-afternoon nap is best. Parents should request that the daycare or preschool caregiver put their child down at around 3 P.M. or so. Otherwise the anticipated evening "happy hour" will consist of a tired and cranky child who's no fun to be around!

Wind-down the reluctant napper. If your toddler doesn't seem tired or consistently fights sleep at what used to be his/her usual naptime, take it as an indication that he's/she's ready to drop the nap. It's best not to force the nap. But if you're convinced he/she still needs it, you can try what we in our family call moving naps. Try to schedule toddler's nap with the afternoon carpool- the driving may put them right to sleep. Another option is to replace naptime with quiet time. An older toddler or preschooler can often get the rest he needs by lying down and listening to a tape or story. Market this as a special time - when mommy, daddy, or a caregiver rest and nest with the child in a quiet room. Some days this will result in a nap. Other days, it will just be a time to relax and rejuvenate.

Bottom line, you know your kids and you are the ones to decide when to drop naps. But I can say from first hand experience that your evenings can be filled with a lot more fun, pleasant family meals and smooth bath time when toddlers have a nap or a rest period. Plus, I am sure all of us moms could use some down time for ourselves.