30 October 2026Sleep
My two-and-a-half-year-old refuses to nap, then is a wreck by teatime. Are they ready to drop it?
Maybe, maybe not. Most children drop the nap somewhere between 2 and 4, and the in-between months are messy: some days they need it, some days they don't.
Try this tonight
Swap the nap for quiet time: same room, dim light, books or soft toys, 45 minutes. If they sleep, fine. On no-nap days move bedtime 30 to 60 minutes earlier.
When to check in
Talk to your GP if they snore loudly, seem to stop breathing in sleep, or are very sleepy in the day despite enough night sleep.
Official guidance: NHS: Sleep
You're not alone.
