Outgrowing Naps Doesn’t Mean Outgrowing Rest

Does your toddler seem “done” with naps… but their nights are suddenly worse?

You’re not imagining it — nap transitions can seriously affect sleep, even if your little one seems too busy or resistant to rest during the day, I mean, what 2 year old wants to nap when there is so much fun stuff going on?!

One of the most common challenges I see between 2.5 and 3.5 years is this:

A toddler drops their nap (or starts resisting it daily)…
…and then starts waking up more during the night.

That was the case for a recent client of mine. Her 3-year-old had stopped napping and was waking several times each night. She seemed fine during the day — but was exhausted by bedtime, and her overnight sleep was broken and unsettled.

The solution?
We gently reintroduced a short nap — or if a nap wasn’t possible, we used a quiet time and shifted bedtime earlier.

Within a few days, her sleep improved dramatically.

Why does this happen?

Around age 3, many children:

• Start to resist naps — especially if they’re in childcare, have FOMO, or are testing independence.

• Still need rest to regulate their nervous systems and avoid overtiredness.

• Aren’t quite ready to fully drop daytime sleep.

If your toddler is skipping naps and then struggling to settle or waking at night, they might not be ready to let go of that rest just yet.

What can you do instead of forcing a nap?

You can offer:

• A quiet time with books, soft music, or lying down in a darkened room.

• A low-stimulation activity (not screens!) that gives their body and brain a reset.

• An earlier bedtime if no nap happens.

It’s not about forcing sleep — it’s about protecting the rest their body still needs.

Gentle support if you’re stuck in nap limbo

If naps (or lack of them!) are causing sleep disruptions in your home, I can help. Here are a few ways to work with me:

🟢 WhatsApp Support Group — £25
3 days of group support in real time to help you troubleshoot your child’s sleep. Starts first Monday of the month

🟢 Sleep Evaluation Call — £49
A 30-minute call where we look at your child’s day and night routine and spot what’s causing sleep issues. Leave the call with a written report and a plan of action.

🟢 Sleep Audit — £75
Analysis of a 3-day sleep log where you receive a full, written review of your child’s current sleep with bespoke next steps tailored to their needs.

👉 Book your support option by clicking the relevant link above or visit my website for more details.

Remember:
Outgrowing naps doesn’t mean outgrowing rest.
If you’re unsure what your little one needs — or how to tell if they really are ready to drop the nap — you don’t have to figure it out alone, I'm here to help you every step of the way.