What to Do When Your 2 Year Old Won’t Nap
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Are you pulling your hair out because your 2 year old won’t nap?
Girl…I have been there.
It is so immensely frustrating when they just won’t sleep but you know just how much they NEED to.
You’re sitting there wondering what the heck to do because instead of them peacefully napping, they’re banging on the wall with their feet. Or, they’re singing at the top of their lungs.
You just know how delightful they’re going to be come 4 pm.
The good news is that you’re not alone. This is a common issue and one that many other moms have been frustrated over as well.
Despite your carefully tailored daily routine for your toddler, things just aren’t going well.
Keep reading below to find out why this happens and the best way to deal with it.
Why Your 2 Year Old Won’t Nap
One minute they were taking predictable naps every single afternoon and now its turned into a 2-hour battle of the wills.
Why on earth won’t your 2 year old nap anymore?
Honestly, there are a few reasons, one of which is the 2.5 year sleep regression which you can read more about here.
Some toddlers outgrow certain sleep needs, while others require more physical activity to tire them out.
There’s also teething to consider.
And there are also times when you just won’t know why, and that’s okay.
Troubleshoot your toddler’s schedule and tweak things here and there. You may find it a really simple fix.
Otherwise, the points below are super helpful.
#1 Be Consistent
DON’T stop nap time just because your toddler isn’t sleeping. This is the biggest mistake that you can make.
The reason why you don’t want to do this is that for the vast majority of 2-year olds, this is a phase.
If you suddenly stop encouraging nap time, your toddler won’t have the opportunity to nap if they need to.
Be consistent with nap time.
If they’re not napping, you can call it rest time.
Regardless, they need the consistency for when they will (most likely) go back to napping.
#2 Don’t Start Habits You Don’t Want
If you don’t want your 2-year old to be in front of a screen, don’t start that habit now.
If you don’t want them snacking all afternoon, don’t start that now.
If you don’t want them being noisy during rest time, don’t let them start that now.
You decide what habits get established whether they be good or bad. This is a time to be intentional or else you may find that you have a much bigger battle down the line.
Related: Making the Crib to Bed Transition
#3 Set Clear Expectations
Your toddler is by no means too young to understand expectations.
Keep them simple and firm.
Tell them it is nap time (a toddler clock can really help with this as a visual aide.) and keep that expectation.
We have used this toddler clock for years and it is still working perfectly. I highly recommend them to all moms of toddlers.
You cannot make your toddler sleep, but you can still require quiet time.
When my children were still little and they didn’t sleep, I required an hour of time in their beds with no toys or books.
If after that time they hadn’t fallen asleep, I gave them some quiet toys and books to keep them occupied for another 30-60 minutes.
#4 Be Flexible
Oh, how I wish I understood this with my first child! Isn’t that what it’s always like though?
Seriously. Be flexible.
I don’t mean start habits you’ll regret, but understand that this is a phase and your toddler not napping will likely pass.
Even if it doesn’t, rest time is a great alternative and provides many of the same benefits.
Don’t be so rigid and strict that you put immense strain on your relationship with your child.
Related: How to Transition from Nap Time to Rest Time
#5 Realize It Isn’t the End of the World
It may seem like the end of the world but really it isn’t.
When your 2 year old won’t nap it can feel frustrating, especially if you’re pregnant or have another baby.
You’re tired and you just want a break.
Trust me, this won’t last forever and you will get back to normal again.
Most 2-year olds will go back to napping regularly, but even if yours doesn’t. Rest time is something that will work as well.
Only 1 of my three kids still naps in the afternoon, but all three of them have rest time for 2 hours.
Related: How to Get Your Kids Napping at the Same Time
#6 Bring Bedtime Forward
If your toddler isn’t napping and especially if it has been for consecutive days, you need to bring bedtime forward.
They may seem fine on day one or day two, but I can guarantee you that their little body needs more rest.
If you don’t want an unreasonable, overtired toddler on your hands, bring bedtime forward by at least 30 minutes (preferably an hour) so they can catch up on the sleep they missed out on.
#7 Try Not to Stress
If I could go back and talk to my first-time mom self I would tell her not to stress so much.
That she’s doing a great job and this is such a small thing in the scheme of things.
Your child will pick up on your stress and it will make the situation worse. I know this because I’ve seen it happen with my own kids.
The more wound up I got about their lack of sleeping, the less they slept and the more unhappy they became.
Show a cheerful face. Be firm but kind and I promise you things will get better.
I remember thinking it had to be all or nothing with my firstborn. Once he stopped napping, that was it. Naps were gone.
I took a different approach with my now 3.5-year old. Some days she napped, others she didn’t but she always had the opportunity.
While she very rarely naps these days, there is the odd occasion (maybe once a month) where she will fall asleep.
I never regret that she has the opportunity to do so because she obviously needs it.
Conclusion
Most children go through sleep regressions and it can be really tricky once they’re toddlers because there’s often a little more willpower at play.
However, regressions don’t last forever.
There’s room for grace, but consistency and clear expectations also make a world of difference.
Things to keep in mind are that you’re doing a great job, your child is going through normal toddler behavior, and this too shall pass.
