naptimes with multiple children at home?

[cldetary]

Just wondering what everyone else is doing or has done in the past?

Do you let your 3 yr old wean from naptime on their own or do you do it for them when there is a older sibling still at home with them?

Carol and Mary are 14 months apart and they share a bedroom (and bunkbeds), so most of the time they do everything at the same time... but Carol (the oldest 4 going to be 5 in two weeks) has not taken regular nap for about a year.  Mary (who is 3 and will be 4 in May) still takes a nap  if I put her down for one.  For the last few days we have missed naptime and Mary has been a very whinny... so I am not too sure what to do.  Carol will lay down when I tell her that it is nap time and she will be in her bed reading books or resting quietly for about 45 minutes. (but is becoming more of a wiggle worm)  Mary is still taking a nap when I put them down and can sleep anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours.  Should I still do what I am doing with putting them down at the same time or should I put just the 3 year old down to nap.  The problem that arises is that Mary (the youngest) thinks she is being punished if Carol (the oldest) is not talking a nap too.

Not too sure if napitme should stop and bedtime should become earlier in the evening?  Right now naptime is between 1-2 pm and bedtime is at 8:30 pm.

[Mimomof3boys]

Feb. 5, 2009 at 3:29 PM

Hey your better then me! LOL! I have not got the k ids to nap past three (except Alex, but since he was the oldest!) Can you just have Carol lay in bed till Mary falls asleep? Will Carol be in k inder next year? maybe play that in to saying she has to do "homework" to get ready for school? Or try napping every other day (that works best for Gabe!)

Good luck.

[allisonsmommy]

Feb. 5, 2009 at 3:54 PM

ha! Allison gave up daily naps the month she turned 2!! If she napped she would be wide awake and wired until 11 at night..so no more daily naps for her! When allison started giving up her naps she would be so cranky about 4pm. I just dealt with it for a couple weeks. When she gave up her naps I did move her bedtime to 7/730ish.

My girls share a room also and they don't go to bed at the same time yet..close though! Usually Abby goes first and 30min later Allison follows. If they both go in there it turns into a huge ordeal right now!