Child refuses afternoon nap: isn't she too young to drop it?
⚡ Short answer: At 20 months, the need for a nap continues — resistance is often a missed sleep window; shift the nap earlier by 30 minutes; if it doesn't work after 2-3 weeks, try a shorter nap plus earlier bedtime.
Anonymous
20 aylık bebek annesi · Sleep
My 20-month-old refuses her afternoon nap but has a terrible evening without it. Isn't she still too young to drop naps?
Maiyko AI ADVISOR
The real reply from the in-app AI advisor
Most 20-month-olds still need their afternoon nap. Your child's resistance but then difficult evenings tells me fatigue is building — she needs that rest but may be fighting it.
At this age, the two-nap-to-one-nap transition is usually done, and now there's sometimes a phase of "sleep resistance" with that single nap. This isn't always about needing less sleep; sometimes the nap window has shifted.
Try moving nap time earlier by 30 minutes. Overtired babies resist sleep more, so catching her earlier in the tired signals (before she's exhausted) often helps. A quiet 10-15 minute wind-down routine (book and soft talking) also helps.
If after 2-3 weeks she still won't nap despite your efforts, and evenings are very difficult, you might try a shorter nap (20-30 minutes) combined with an earlier bedtime (30-45 minutes sooner) instead of fighting for a longer nap.
⚕️ Health note: This answer is for general information only; it is not medical advice. Every baby is different — for decisions about your baby's health, consult your pediatrician.
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