You probably don't want to hear this, but I stopped napping at 6 months.

I have no children, and therefore realize that I have no ground to stand upon in terms of giving advice. However, do you think it might be possible to ease her into skipping the nap, but going to bed earlier? The first week might very well be hell, but maybe you could transfer the nap time into sleeping an hour or two more at night.

Have you tried letting her cry it out? She's fighting every single day with you because it keeps you trying everything under the sun and she knows it. Try letting her just cry it out.

My daughter stopped with the naps at 2 1/2 because she was waking up at 4:30am going "Mommy....hey MOMMY! I UP! I HUNGRY! TIME TO GET ME!" LOL!

I can't put her to bed earlier- she already goes to bed earlier than most kids her age. She goes to sleep at 7:30 every night, and usually sleeps for 12 hours.

I have let her cry it out. A lot. I don't give up easily. It just doesn't work.

i think i stopped around age three?

my bf's nieces and nephews have all been different--one barely napped from age one on, another still napped at five. one had to be stopped from taking naps at age three (she would have gladly kept going) because it meant she couldn't fall asleep till 9 or 10 at night.

Stop napping? Um, 25.

I had regular naps/quiet time until I was eight and my younger brother was five. That way my parents could get both of us to be gone for a few hours.

Then again both of my parents are nappers and my brother and I still nap semi-regularly so I'm probably not the best person to answer this one.

My kids are 2 and 5 and they both still take naps. The 2 year old takes one every day (I do an almost identical routine to her bedtime routine) and the 5 year old takes one once or twice a week (on days where he doesn't go to school or only has a half day).
I will say that BOTH of my kids went through a period where they refused to nap and it was right around the age that Willa is at right now. Mainly (I think) because they were just beginning to realize that NAP=MISSING SOMETHING. I kept putting them down for naps, making it clear that they had to stay there (in bed) but they could look at books or do something else quietly while they did. 19 times out of 20 they would fall asleep anyway.

Crazy how when you're little you have all the time in the world to nap but it's the last thing you want to do... then you get older and it's the ONLY thing you want to do but you can't! Life kind of sucks like that.

Twelve hours of sleep per day might be all she needs. Try waking her up early so she doesn't sleep 12 hours. Wake her up after 9 or 10 hours. She might need a nap then.

First off, I'm delurking so hello.
In my experience each kid was different (I have 3)
My oldest never napped but he slept about 14 hours through the night after a few weeks.
My second child napped great until 3 and my baby is 2 and still naps pretty well.
I have been known to require rest time in the event of a nap refusal. I have my daughter relax with a book or movie in the event she is cranky but isn't likely to nap.
I hope things get better at nap time for you.
And finally, I love your blog title!

My 18 month old is fighting his naps everyday too. The only thing that works for me is bundling him up (we live in Minneapolis), sticking him in his car seat, and driving him around with Lite 105FM on and the heat cranked up. It's a major drag and I can totally relate to how draining it is for you, every single day. Maybe this is just a phase like most things with kids and she'll start napping again before you know it.

My kids stopped napping around... 2. They were so squirmy they couldn't fall asleep. We had quiet time, but no sleeping.

My LG stopped napping at some point between 18 and 24 months. I didn't know anyone else who had a kid like that. She has never needed as much sleep as most kids; I don't sleep much, either. However, when she was a toddler and I was a SAHM, I still needed that break. So I started "quiet rest time." I stopped trying to make her nap, and told her I didn't want her to nap, but I needed some quiet alone time, so I would take my quiet things into my room, and she could take her quiet things into hers, and we'd both take a break, same time every day. There were "special" books, puzzles, quiet toys that only came out during quiet rest time. Miraculously, perhaps, this worked for us. On rare occasion, she'd go to sleep, but mostly she just played quietly and I got a little break, maybe even a cat nap. She was still in a crib then, and she didn't climb out during QRT. Just quietly entertained herself for about an hour, hour and a half. Ambience is everything -- the music, the lighting, the routine beforehand, etc.

I have no idea about me or my sister, and Maggie's still doing okay with hers. But... and this is probably the LAST thing you want to hear... I have heard some kids quit the naps as early as 18 months or by their 2nd birthday. DUDE THAT SUCKS. How long as this been going on? Does she sleep good at night? Maggie went through a few months where she fought EVERY kind of sleep- nighttime, naps, all of it. Eventually she settled into her new routine, but during the transition? I WANTED TO DIE. I know your frustration. I hope that you get it figured out... and that she's NOT done with naps altogether.

Hi Torrie-

My daughter is about the same age as yours. I also have a 5 year old son who just recently gave up naps. There is a sleep book that changed my life with the kids sleeping habits. Mark Weissbluth's Healthy Sleep Habits, happy Child. This book taught me to put my kids to sleep earlier for better results, and I tell you, my son has always been a massive sleep challenge. Anyhow, my daughter who is 20 months, goes to bed usually at 6-6:30, and sleeps 12 hours, naps twice a day, the first one 2-3 hours after she wakes in the morning for about 1 1/2 hours, and the second nap about 3 hours after that...for the same amount of time. Lately, she has been switching it up to one nap that is massively long, so if I can make it more towards the middle of the day, then we are good to go till bed time, but if the one nap is too early and she refuses a second nap, she is a mess and begging to go to sleep by 5:30, which sucks, cause then daddy does not get to see her. Anyhow, I loved the book...hope it helps if you should choose to read it...email me if I can be of any help, it's cool that our girls are reaching their milestones similarly; I have always enjoyed your blog...take care. ps. i also let her hang out and cry/fuss do whatever if I know she really needs to sleep, and if she chooses not to, it's her deal...but she generally goes back to napping after a rough day or two. If Willa is getting her molars, this could have alot to do with it...I give my little one motrin when I see a big ugly mean molar poking up like half way...cause that's gotta hurt!

I thought Tori was going to stop napping at exactly that same age. But it passed, and now she is napping gloriously again. :) She's 31 months, btw.

I napped until age 4. Yeah!

Elli, who is five now stopped around two years old. Kali who is two and a half is still napping. I would actually like Kali to stop the naps so that we could have the afternoon hours back to do something, but she must need it so there's not much I can do.

Do you think Willa just doesn't need the sleep or is she still cranky or fussy without it?

My twin girls stopped napping at 3. My son still naps at 4.5, and sometimes doesn't make it til he gets home from pre-k. I have often found him lying on his mat, drooling while a whole classroom of kids are screaming all around him. I'm very worried about what will happen in full-day kindergarten this fall. Can I cry narcolepsy?

Sam and I went through several HORRIBLE months during which he would not nap until late afternoon, at which point he would nap for hours and hours and HOURS, and then he wouldn't go to bed until super late and his nighttime sleep was HORRIBLE. Nothing was making anything better. NOTHING. I finally stopped letting him nap, which was hard because he would get so tired in the late afternoon, and he started going to bed between 6 and 7 (so early!) and sleeping really well at night. He was about 29 months when he stopped.

Have you tried lying down with her? I know it is probably not a popular suggestion but this is how my son takes a nap (19 months). I lie down with him and if I am really exhausted I'll sleep the whole time with him. But usually he falls asleep in about 5 minutes and I can sneak out.

Is she cranky like she should take a nap, or is she happy enough to just continue playing? My daughter will be two this week and she still takes a nap but like previous posters, each child is different.

Will she lay down next to you if you tell her you are napping too? Is it a fear of being in the crib thing for her? Maybe try converting the crib to a toddler bed if the crib has that capability?

My daughter quit napping at 18 months. I nearly pulled my hair out with frustration. She's only napped 4 times since she gave it up. However, she now sleeps 12 straight hours every night. Still, though, it was ridiculously frustrating.

My first two stopped napping right around two years old. I'm now dealing with a 2 year old who is trying, just like yours, to cut out her nap and I WILL SIMPLY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

My kids stopped napping sometime around the age of 3 - 3 and 1/2. Their naptime was usually 2pm and they went to bed at night around 7:30, 8ish. Both of my kids went through phases where they just didn't nap. It was just a phase. Be consistent and tough and hopefully the nap will return.

Evan went on a nap strike around the same age as Willa (he's 3 y.o. now). After that, he would nap at daycare, but not at home and now he hardly ever naps. He sleeps about 12 hours at night as well. We still make him do quiet time, where he can read a book to himself or play with stuffed toys in his bed. At daycare, they still try to get him to nap, but don't force him.
Me? I could nap every day, twice a day. I think I was a good napper all through child hood too.
Try to keep your wits and you'll find a routine that will work for both of you!

You said she sleeps 12 hours a night - that is probably why she doesn't take a nap. And there's nothing wrong with that if she is refreshed enough to go all day long. But most kids don't get 12 hours of sleep a night, hence they take naps mid-day. She is probably getting enough sleep all at once to not have to take a nap. And that is probably healthy. If you need her to take that nap for the break for you - wake her up earlier in the morning. That might do the trick.

To answer a few questions-

1) Yes, Willa sleeps 12 hours over night, but I don't think it's enough. She's acting tired and cranky if she doesn't nap, and from what I've read, kids her age are supposed to get about 14 hours of sleep a day.

2) Willa hasn't napped in her stroller since she was about 11 months old, and sometimes she will nap in the car but that isn't the best situation for several reasons-
a) Driving/sitting in the car kills my back
b) She tends to take a shorter nap and wakes up hysterical because her sleep cycle is all out of whack
c) Her naps are the only time I get to eat, shower, return emails, etc. So, if she naps in the car I don't get to do any of those things.

3) Believe it or not, Willa will not sleep in our bed with us. She just refuses. Believe me, I have tried. The last time Willa actually slept in our bed was when she was 10 months old and had a 104 fever.

Those of you who are telling me your kids stopped napping at around Willa's age are freaking me out.
Those of you who are telling me that it is just a phase are giving me hope.

i have no idea when i stopped napping. i asked my mom and she said, 'who remembers?!'

i am sure you have heard this already but tons and tons of crazy play activity all morning really helps my daughter take a nap in the afternoon. if its not a crazy day she will fight a nap too. sometimes i lay down with her until she falls asleep. she likes to hear music during this time too.

oh yeah - she naps in our bed. has been for months now. its part of her daily routine - an afternoon nap in mommy and daddy's bed. i think she really likes it because its a special different place than the crib. and when she wakes up she can get down and come find me by herself.

have you tried that?

My daughter Adeline is 17 months old. She goes to bed between 8:30 and 9:00 at night, then wakes up at around 8:00 or 8:30 AM. Sometimes she'll sleep as late as 11:00! But no matter what time she gets up, she will be tired again about 3 1/2 hours after she gets up. So her nap time varies, but she'll still take a nap.

She went through a nap strike a couple months ago, which had me pulling my hair out. I have high levels of anxiety like you, and I needed that time to unwind myself. I figured out that for her, it was about being in control. She was very upset about me making the decision for her to take a nap, so we started a routine that let her know nap time was coming. I did the exact same routine as we do at night so she would associate it with "sleep time."

I would get her a sippy cup of milk and tell her she had a few more minutes to drink and play, then it was time to take a nap. So she would drink it while playing, then I would tell her we were going upstairs to brush our teeth. We both brush our teeth in the bathroom, then go into her room. She would choose a book to read while I started her music CD that she has listened to since birth everytime we put her to bed. We would read while she would cuddle her favorite baby, a stuffed pig.

She sleeps with a few "babies," so when I put her in the crib she would arrange them where she wanted them. Then (and I know not everyone will agree with this) she finds her nuk and lays down.

She gave up her nuk when she was around 8 months old; she just quit cold turkey. From the moment she was born, she had either my breast or her nuk in her mouth so we were surprised when she gave it up. A few months ago she found an old one and started carrying it around and got attached to it again. So we quickly made the rule that she can only have it at "sleep time" and she understands that. She evens waves "bye bye" to it when we leave the room after naptime and in the morning.

So what this long winded answer boils down to is we do the same routine that we do at bedtime, minus the bath. And we also give her some choices to make so it doesn't become a battle of the wills. She will still cry when I leave the room, but she stops after a minute or so. I also will leave 1 or 2 books in bed with her and she looks at them until she falls asleep. That decision to let her keep books helped tremendously, because I think part of the reason she was fighting naps is it takes her so long to fall asleep, and she would be bored. But she can only have board books, otherwise she rips the paper out.

I hope for your sake you find something that works. Even though you read that babies her age need 14 hours of sleep, every baby varies. I read that whatever amount of sleep your own child needs is set for them...and that whether they get that entire amount at night or part at night and part during the day depends on the child, too. Does that make sense? Meaning, if Willa's body has decided that it only needs 12 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period, she will be physically unable to sleep anymore than that. Maybe try to put her to bed later but still get her up at the same time. Or vice-versa, get her up earlier in the morning but still have the same bedtime.

And there are still some days that Adeline won't fall asleep, even after that routine. I have been lucky enough though that she knows she still has to stay in her crib for "quiet time" even if she doesn't sleep.

consider yourself a lucky one. My kids stopped napping before the age of one. Yeah. WTF??

This is totally a phase. She needs 14 hours now, I think. You have at LEAST another year of naps, hopefully more! Hang in there, be consistent, and don't give up. The naps will come back!

One more thing I forgot to mention: Adeline finds a lot of comfort in her sippy cups (Born Free) no matter what is in them, so we let her have a sippy cup of water in bed with her. We won't let her have juice or milk, since we've just brushed her teeth. But she can lay there and drink water and that helps with putting her down.

Mine are 3 & 4 and if either one fall asleep during the day, they're BOTH up until well after 10. No naps here, unless you count the ones I sneak in 'playing' on the floor.

They really stopped napping around 2 1/2 but two years later I sometimes still press the issue if they seem like they need it.

I would KILL for a nap right now.

I know that's not really an answer to your question or anything.

My child stopped napping by age 2. At 20 months it was a struggle. I used to drive...and drive...and drive...he always slept in the car! What I did start when naps were definately over was 'alone time'. He was to stay in his room until the timer (that I put in the hallway) went off. First day it was only 5 minutes, each day it got longer until I was up to 45 minutes. The best 45 minutes EVER!!!!

Good luck.

Hi, I'm delurking, too. My daughter is 9 months old, so I really don't know what I'm talking about, so take this with a grain of salt, obviously. My baby is not the best napper. Two, maybe three half-hour naps is all I get during the day -- she pops up immediately, wide awake and perky, like clockwork. I've read all the books and tried maaaaany things to get more, but I think she's just a catnapper. She's generally in a good mood all day. BUT, the good thing about it is she's ready for bed super early -- she's been asleep by 6:00 lately and she goes for a good 13 hours every night. I'd try putting Willa to bed really early and see what happens.

What's worked for me and some other parents I know is just to take a break from it for a while. Stop pressing the issue for a few days or weeks and (hopefully) the phase will pass on its own. If it doesn't (god forbid), at least you'll both be happier not "fighting" about it. (Apologies if somebody already made this suggestion--I didn't read through all the comments.)

My mum says that my brother and I stopped our naps right on 12 months, so I braced myself for my daugter to do the same. She's 17 months now and is slowly growing out of it. She can sometimes go a day without a nap, other times she couldn't last past 3pm.

To be honest, I gave up. If she's going to work with me and let me put her to sleep when she's tired, great. If not, she can just wait it out until bed time at night. It can be annoying, but I'm slowly getting over it. It helps me, because I'm not stressing out that she is not sleeping, and she actually doesn't get as cranky because I am not trying to force her. Only a couple of times has she become so upset and exhausted that I have put her in the stroller (my very, VERY last resort, that I am not suggesting because I read where you said Willa doesn't do that).

I don't think that is much help, but that's how it goes in my house. But also, don't go by what the books say, it is a very rough generalisation (trust me, I worked in child care). Some toddlers sleep 8 - 10 hours a night and that's all they need to get by. I know you have said Willa still acts tired, I'm just saying don't let the books add to your stress.

Hmmm, sounds awful. How long has this been going on? My son, who is the exact same age, did this for a few weeks while he was cutting three molars. The nights were crappy too. But then they came through and he's back to napping. Not that I'm giving advice, but for me I just kept putting him down and it seemed to work (eventually) for us. Best of luck.

dude. I feel yr pain. Some kids are just mofo's.
My 1st son was a wonderful sleeper and 2nd sleeps like NEVER! and he will be 2 this week. HE sux! I am saying a wee prayer for you! xo

I'm 47 and STILL need an afternoon nap! LOL

Our younger son is four and transitioning out of the nap thing. He does fall asleep in the car, though. He does wake up cranky depending on the length of the nap. Sometimes 10 minutes is OK but 30 minutes is not. He can also fall asleep in front of the computer if there is a video on.

You are right not to let your kid sleep in your bed with you. Our younger one didn't, but now he does wake up early in the morning (since kids his age don't know from weekends). He brings his panda with him and wants to jump into our bed. Depending on the time, sometimes we let him stay and sometimes we march him back to his room.

My twins are 4 and one of them is less inclined to nap then the other. I try to do the same routine as at night (story, cuddles, sleep). Sometimes I sit in the rocking chair in their room to keep them quiet. Sometimes I set a timer for 30 minutes and ask them to be quiet. Every time I have to go in and remind them to settle down I add 10 minutes. They either fall asleep or I get 30 minutes of quiet time and that helps.

Hi Torrie,

I don't have any other useful info, other than the above posters. But....all kids are different.

My son stopped all naps at 18 months. Drove me nuts.

My daughter is 5 and still needs a nap. She actually complains that nap time at her school is "too short." (nap time is an hour each day).

I'm thinking of you. I promise, it WILL get better.

Torri,
This is what causes gray hair, cataracts, wrinkles,stooped backs,cankles,vericose veins,gum disease,age spots, anything that signifies old age. It is why I took all the incriminating photos of mine when they were babies so later in teen years we could revisit them around their friends. It was the best I could come up with at the time.
I have four children, all different.
My oldest, who is now 17, still naps. He came home from the hospital sleeping through the night. Next son NEVER napped and barely slept at night. He was my little poltrigist(oh but we loved him)! You never knew if, when and where he would spew(or from which end). He screamed at the sound of my voice. Not anyone else's, MINE. I had to literally put him in bed with me at night and hold his hands and MAKE him be still before he would fall asleep. He is 13 and only sleeps about 5 hours a night. So a few therapy sessions, lots of pediatric visits and several bottles of antidepressants later(and apparantly not enough birth control) came my next child who is 12 now. He would fall alseep in his food(made really nice blackmail pics!) or we would find him hanging off a chair or sofa like he fell asleep in midrun. No need to schedule nap time, if he was quiet he was asleep. He doesn't nap now but goes to bed early and wakes up early.
Finally my little Emory. She is 4. She stopped napping before she was a year,yep just stopped, not "hey I'm just not a napper" but from perfect napper to NOTHING. I TRIED EVERYTHING but nothing worked. Then when she was 2 I started working at a private school and she started their preschool program. After a couple of weeks I walked down there for something(don't remeber now) and it was naptime. I asked the director how they handled the kids that "don't nap"? She looked at me like I was a crazy talken crazy talker(I can be). All our kids nap, that is what she said, psh,ahh,what? psh, crazy woman all kids nap,right. I laughed as I informed her Em hadn't napped since she was very young. She informed me that she couldn't believe that because Emory was always one of the first ones alseep every day. Now you want to talk about feeling FRIKEN GYPED???(turns out my little sweet angel will do anything the other kids do, what a great personality trait for her teenage years!)
Well, so what am I telling you? Good luck and God bless. This will pass and they will be grown up, in the blink of an eye, and if I understand right, the sooner you start botox the better!
xoxo-rebekah

Hi Torrie~

I have lurked long enough. We have a few similarities. I have been a pastry chef at The Broadmoor Hotel, I love photography and trying to get my pictures published, and I have a baby who is 5 months old. This sleep thing is really tough..and I want to share my info with you! I read Baby Wise and How to Solve you Child's Sleep Problem to prepare for my little guy Max. We implemented at 10 weeks and he is sleeping through the night (12 hours) and he still takes 2-3 naps a day. I REEALLYY recommend the both books, but I would read the second one first. I think it will be the most help now with the sleeping. It takes a little bit to implement, but I think you are right that Willa should still be napping. Sleeping is the best for her and you. The book explains sleeping cycles and habits and how to get them on track with a schedule. Then there is a Baby Wise for toddlers..which is probably more applicable for Willa. I hope this helps! I also read your next blog...IF you need someone to talk to or email I am also staying home right now. I realize some things are as they seem and cannot change but know it is OK to feel like this. You have a lot of things going on! I hope you are doing better..I hope the books help!

Hi Torrie - Delurking to give you one idea to maybe help with naps. Have you tried room darkening shades? Does she nap better on rainy days? I have heard this can help. Have her help lower the shades and itr is time to nap. Kids are nuts though. Good luck.

I don't think anyone has mentioned this - have you tried white noise? My daughter is 20 months and will wake up if she hears me moving about during nap. Usually we play a soothing CD (shuts off automatically) along with static on a clock radio to drown out the household noises. She is fighting naps too (I hear it's common at this age) but I'm determined to outlast her!