My 6yo is being weird about naps now. Some days he's out in 5 minutes, other days he fights it for an hour. Are we close to being done with nap time? And is that a win or do I lose my only quiet hour of the day? Nervous about losing that window lol
The inconsistency is the worst part right? Like if he just STOPPED napping I could adjust. But the every-other-day thing is messing with your schedule too I bet
You're not losing it yet - that inconsistency is the worst part but it usually means the end is coming in the next 6 months or so. My advice? Don't fight the days he wants to nap. Let him nap when he asks. The days he refuses, make him do quiet time anyway. The transition is way smoother if you don't go cold turkey.
Don't let him nap after like 3pm if he's fighting it during normal nap time. My kid was doing the same thing and we shifted to no naps past 2:30 - helped her settle at night and made afternoon naps more likely. Worth trying?
the weird part is whether it's a win depends on what replaces it lol. Yeah you lose quiet time but does he suddenly have energy to do stuff WITH you? Mine just got grumpy and hyperactive for like 2 months before adjusting. Double-edged sword.
6yo is right in that transition zone. My oldest dropped naps around 6.5, but it was EXACTLY like your son - totally inconsistent for like 3 months. Some days asleep in 5 min, other days just laying there fighting it. Honestly? Losing the quiet hour was brutal but rest time (forced quiet time on the bed with books) saved me.
lol same, my 6yo was the WORST. Fought naps so hard but was absolutely feral by dinner without them. We're basically doing 'quiet rest time' now where he has to stay in his room for 45 min with books/audiobooks. Not the same as actual sleep but I get my peace and he gets downtime.
6yo here too and yeah it's chaos. Some days naps out in 10 min, some days full meltdown. We've basically said 'quiet time' instead of nap time - he doesn't have to sleep but has to stay in bed with books for an hour. Still gets us that window and he actually reads now so win-win?
honestly you might be losing the nap but you're gaining something else - he'll be able to do more stuff with you without the nap schedule dictating your day. bittersweet but not all bad
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Oof losing quiet hour is ROUGH. My oldest stopped reliably napping around 5.5 and honestly I grieved it lol. But real talk - I got that hour back in a different way. Now she reads or does independent stuff and I'm still getting peace. Not the same but... survivable.