Nap question for experienced moms

amother

Wed, Nov 18 2020, 8:48 am

When my 3 year old takes a nap she usually goes into deep sleep for about 1 hour. I call it deep sleep because I can do stuff around the house, clean, cook, the baby can cry, and she'll keep sleeping.

I can keep her asleep for a total nap time of 1.5-3 hours, but after the first hour I have to be really quiet and she usually wakes up once or twice and I pat her back and tell her to go back to sleep.

Does that mean she should only be napping for one hour?

amother

Fuchsia

Wed, Nov 18 2020, 8:54 am

I’m just impressed your 3 year old naps! Mine quit before 2!

Fave

Wed, Nov 18 2020, 9:08 am

Do you want her to nap longer than 1 hour? Won’t it mess up with her night sleep?

Blessing1

Wed, Nov 18 2020, 9:10 am

If she naps for more than an hour, what time does she go to sleep at night?

Tzutzie

Wed, Nov 18 2020, 9:11 am

Depends how her days are scheduled. Is she happy? Tired? Some kids need more sleep than others.

amother

Wed, Nov 18 2020, 9:13 am

Blessing1 wrote:

If she naps for more than an hour, what time does she go to sleep at night?

Between 20:00-21:00, bit that's the same whether she naps 1 hour or 3.

She wakes up on her own around 6 in the morning.

Blessing1

Wed, Nov 18 2020, 9:24 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Between 20:00-21:00, bit that's the same whether she naps 1 hour or 3.

She wakes up on her own around 6 in the morning.

At 3 years old, I don't think you should be telling her to go back to sleep if she wakes up after an hour. You for sure shouldn't be telling her to go back to sleep after she wakes up a 2nd time, that's basically forcing her to nap.
An hour is usually enough for that age, she can go to sleep earlier at night.

amother

Purple

Wed, Nov 18 2020, 9:37 am

Cut her nap out.
She should be having fully nights of sleep. Going to sleep at 19:30/20:00 - 7/7:30

keym

Wed, Nov 18 2020, 9:46 am

It seems you're not in American culture.
In America, most toddlers cut their nap between 2-3. Even 3-4 year olds will rest for half an hour. But bedtime is usually between 6:30pm and 8pm with wakeup at 7 am.

So I can only work with the culture I'm familiar with.
The fact that she wakes up after an hour to me means that she's done. Rubbing her back and forcing to sleep longer seems unnecessary.
If you need quiet time, maybe tell her when she wakes up, she can read or listen to a story quietly.

Frumme

Wed, Nov 18 2020, 9:54 am

I disagree with cutting her nap out. If she sleeps soundly for an hour and still goes to bed easily/wakes up at a good hour and everyone is happy with the arrangement, I don't think it's necessary to end her naps. If you do, it may cause more trouble than good. She may need that hour nap. There are many 3-4 year olds who take 1/2 hr - 1 hr naps every day or every other day with no ill effects.

If, on the other hand, she seems to do well when she skips a nap, then I'd contemplate letting her drop the nap. But I wouldn't force the issue.

amother

Mauve

Wed, Nov 18 2020, 10:05 am

When my kids were 3 they went to nursery class that ended around 1, then I gave them a quick snack (they ate lunch at school), then put them down for a nap that was 45 minutes or max an hour. I think your instincts are right that your dd is ready to have a shorter nap. If for some reason you really need her to nap longer than an hour, then put on a white noise machine so you can stretch it longer—but then put her to bed later.

essie14

Wed, Nov 18 2020, 10:30 am

amother [ Fuchsia ] wrote:

I’m just impressed your 3 year old naps! Mine quit before 2!

Mine too!