When your kids lay down for a nap, do you wake them up or let them sleep until they wake up on there own? I have always let both of the girls sleep until they wake up, but now I am starting to question it...because they sleep 3 HOURS!! They get plenty sleep at night and wake up on their own at like 7 or 8 in the morning. Katelyn has always been my big sleeper though she will sleep from 9 pm until 9 am, and take a 3 hour nap during the day.Hailey will sleep from 9 pm until 7:30 and then take a 3 hour nap during the day. What should I do? I know in daycare we used to wake the kids up after 1 1/2 hours (I think). TIA

By Trina~moderator on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 06:40 pm:

As long as they're still able to sleep through the night, I would let them sleep. My DS was a good sleeper. He slept 12 hrs. straight at night and still took a 3 hr. nap. DD was a different story, however! Starting at 2, if she took a nap during the day she would not sleep all night. She rarely slept 12 hrs. at night regardless. They're all different. Follow your mommy instincts.

I've worked in daycare in the past and also taught full day Kindergarten, which required an afternoon nap. In a structured school setting it's necessary to keep all the kids on the same schedule. Otherwise chaos would set in. LOL!

By Debbie on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 07:06 pm:

Ditto, Trina.

By Amecmom on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 07:14 pm:

Double Ditto
My son was always very cranky if I woke him from a nap.

Ame

By Meltonmom on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 07:20 pm:

AS long as they will sleep through the night, I would let them sleep. I have read on more than one occasion that as a nation we are sleep deprived. MM

By Dawnk777 on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 09:04 pm:

I hated waking my kids up, so I usually just let them sleep.

By Reds9298 on Monday, April 4, 2005 - 09:34 pm:

I wouldn't wake them up unless it was causing a problem at night/bedtime. My Natalie often takes a late afternoon nap (5-6:30, bedtime is at 8 or 8:30)but it doesn't interfere with her going to bed or how long she sleeps at night so I don't worry about it. Let sleeping babies (kids) lie!

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 06:39 pm:

I agree with all above. One of my main rules, when my children were under 4 or 5, was "never wake a sleeping child" The corollary to that rule was, lie down next to the child and catch your own nap.

By Fraggle on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 06:46 pm:

I agree with the other posters, if it isn't interferring with night time sleep then let them sleep. My youngest DD would not go to bed until 10 or even later if she had a nap so we had to start cutting down on nap time and make sure if she did take a nap that she went down right after lunch.

By Emily7 on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 06:48 pm:

I also agree & feel a little envious. My dd will sleep 2-3 hours, but my ds no longer wants a nap unless he is sick.