What to Do When You’re Done with Naps… Quiet Time How To!
The early years of parenting it can often feel like everything revolves around naps! We joke about being nap trapped or in nap jail, we plan meals and outings around when they need daytime sleep… but what happens when it’s time for our toddler to drop their nap completely? Allow me to introduce you to QUIET TIME! In this blog I am going to cover the signs that it is time to drop your toddler’s nap completely and how to implement quiet time with your kiddo so you can both still enjoy a little down time and independent play!
When to drop naps completely?
Somewhere between ages two and a half and four, you may notice that they have a harder time falling asleep for nap or that they nap well and have a hard time falling asleep at bedtime. These are our big clues it may be time to transition soon! I like to try to wait until after age 3 to transition if I can, aiming to stay in the crib until age 3 also helps with this. Making sure that you’re kiddo is getting themselves to sleep independently BEFORE you work on quiet time is also very important (reach out here if you need some support with that!).
Why teach quiet time when you drop the nap?
When you drop the nap, you may wonder why bother with teaching quiet time… obviously it creates some calm in your home for you and your kiddo but even beyond that it is a time of significant growth and development. Toddlers develop cognitive, emotional, social and physical skills during this independent playtime!
A few of the benefits for quiet time include:
Needed rest after a half day of learning and playing
Growth in self-regulation by spending time alone in a calm environment
Stress reduction by taking time alone after the exploration of the day
Sustained attention with concentration through quiet activity play
Confidence from problem solving and engaging in activities independently
Reliability of daily routine for predictability and stability
So how do I get started?
1- Start small!
When the naps start to become an issue, continue with your normal routine. Start referring to nap time as rest time and remove the pressure to sleep. Offer an early bedtime to help prevent overtiredness as they transition. In this beginning stage, offer the naptime with the lights off etc. just as usual. If your little one doesn’t fall asleep, begin to offer quiet toys if needed for them to play with in the crib. This could include stuffed animals, dolls, books, trucks, etc. It’s okay if they don’t make it the full “nap time” but if they are calm, let them do their thing.
2- Set them up for success and be consistent!
Being clear and consistent is critical to support your little one in a new skill. You can use a hatch light or a timer to let them know how long it will be until you come back. If your toddler fusses or becomes upset, just remind them confidently when you will be back – adjust the time and start small! We want them to succeed! I recommend starting with 5-8 minutes and building as they succeed.
3- Baby-proof and move to the room when you are ready!
Confirm items are well secured to the wall, you can watch via monitor, there are not objects to get hurt with, etc. and then allow baby to use the room for their rest time. You can include new toys or keep certain toys just for rest time! If your little one tries to leave the room just walk them back and remind them it is rest time and you will be back soon. Connect it to the reward and be consistent!
4- Use a short quiet time routine that mimics the naptime routine.
This can be diaper, potty, book, sound machine or music or story playing then leave the room.
5- Offer a reward and get some one on one time afterwards to celebrate the success!
A reward can be something like a sticker or M&M or it can also be lots of hugs and verbal praise! Choose what will work for you little one!
A few tips before you start…
DON’T feel guilty! This is good for them, not just you!
DO make a plan - have a rhythm and toys and boundaries though about ahead of time!
DO stay consistent with your expectations - just like anything, this is something you will need to train your little one to learn how to do to.
DO allow them succeed - we all need space to learn a new skill!
DO start small - build up to a full rest time by starting with 5-8 minutes!
My favorite quiet time toys:
Dolls / figures
Trucks / cars / dinos
Search and find books
I recommend the parent providing 1-2 of these items and the child having access to a few others in their room if possible. Rotating quiet time toys can also be helpful!
As always, if you need support building up these independent sleep skills, check out our packages here and reach out for one-on-one help!