Is It Normal for a 3-Year-Old to Still Take a Nap? Our Experience
My son is currently 39 months old, and lately, I’ve been wondering whether he still really needs a nap.
For a long time, his schedule was pretty consistent:
6:30 AM — Wake up
1:00–3:00 PM — Nap
9:00 PM — Bedtime
But around 38 months, something started to change.
He suddenly became even more energetic. And now that it’s summer break, he seems to have endless energy.
“Mom, let’s go to the playground!”
“Can I ride my scooter?”
“Let’s go outside!”
Honestly, I feel like there is no break. 😂
Around 4 or 5 PM, I Know He Needed a Nap
The funny thing is that he often refuses to nap.
At daycare, he still naps well. But at home, especially on weekends, getting him to sleep is much harder.
I’ve noticed that many toddlers around us seem to stop napping sometime after turning 2. Of course, every child is different, but many parents I know also struggle to get their toddlers to nap on weekends.
There’s simply too much happening!
But when my son skips his nap, I can usually tell by late afternoon.
Around 4 or 5 PM, he starts getting tired and cranky. Sometimes he cries over the smallest things, and everything suddenly becomes a problem.
And honestly?
That’s usually when I’m getting tired, too. 😅
I’ve also noticed that many toddlers around us seem to stop napping after turning 2. Some of my friends’ kids—especially the girls—don’t seem to nap much anymore.
Of course, boys are no different! 😂
And weekends seem to be the hardest time to get toddlers to nap.
Our Weekend Nap Strategy
If we have plans, I don’t always force him to nap.
Sometimes he falls asleep in the car while we’re driving somewhere, and even a short car nap can help.
But if we’re staying home—especially on a rainy day—I usually try to get him to sleep around 3 PM.
He often says he doesn’t want to sleep.
Sometimes he even cries because he wants to keep playing.
But we usually lie down together and read a few books. Eventually, he relaxes and falls asleep.
And when that happens, I finally get a little break.
Sometimes I take a nap with him.
Other times, I catch up on the housework I’ve been putting off all day.
Our Sleep Schedule Is Changing
These days, his schedule often looks more like this:
6:30 AM — Wake up
No nap
9:00 PM — Bedtime
When he doesn’t nap, I try to get him to bed before 8 PM.
But honestly, that’s easier said than done.
By the time we come home, eat dinner, take a bath, and get ready for bed, it can already be much later than planned.
So even without a nap, bedtime sometimes ends up being around 9 PM.
And somehow, he’s still awake again at 6:30 the next morning.
I honestly don’t know where all that energy comes from. 😂
Maybe He Still Needs Naps… Just Not Every Day?
For now, I don’t think my son is completely done with naps.
He doesn’t seem to need one every single day anymore, but there are definitely days when I can tell his body needs the extra rest.
So we’re trying to be flexible.
Some days, he naps.
Some days, he doesn’t.
And some days, the car does the job for me. 😂
But What About Diapers During Naps and Bedtime?
While we’re talking about sleep, there’s another question I’ve been thinking about.
My son is currently potty training.
He can practice using the potty during the day, but he still wears a diaper for naps and bedtime.
And honestly…
How do parents know when it’s time to stop using diapers for sleep? 😂
Do we wait until he consistently wakes up dry?
Do we just try without a diaper and hope for the best?
I have so many questions!
I think I’ll have to share our potty-training journey in another post.
If you’ve been through this stage, I’d love to hear your experience.
Does your 3-year-old still take naps?
