Why Your Toddler Is Refusing Naps (And How to Fix It)

Key Takeaways:

• It’s common for toddlers to refuse naps, even when they’re sleeping well at night.
• A few simple changes to your routine can help get your toddler back on track.
• Hatch Baby can help you overcome nap time and bedtime struggles by creating consistent sleep cues for your toddler.

If your toddler is suddenly refusing naps — treating their crib like a play zone instead of a sleep space — you’re not alone. Nap resistance is one of the most common challenges during the toddler years, and it can leave parents wondering what they did wrong.

Maybe your toddler napped beautifully yesterday but is wide awake and singing today. Or maybe they’ve been on a nap strike for weeks, leaving you desperate for a little midday quiet. The good news? There are clear reasons toddler nap regressions happen and practical ways to fix it.

Here are four common reasons toddlers reject naps, and how you can help yours get back on track.

Table of Contents

1. Common Reasons Toddlers Refuse Naps
2. FAQs
3. References 

Common Reasons Toddlers Refuse Naps

Every child is different, but there are some common denominators when it comes to toddlers refusing naps. 

Their Nap is at the Wrong Time

One of the most common culprits behind nap resistance is timing. When your child first transitioned to one nap around 13-15 months, the nap may have been at noon. But as your toddler grows, their wake windows naturally lengthen. A nap time that worked months ago might now be too early.

If your toddler is around 20-24 months old, try pushing nap time 15-30 minutes later. Think of it this way: Toddlers, like adults, need enough awake time to build up “sleep pressure” before they can rest. Too little awake time means they’re simply not tired enough to fall asleep.

When you make schedule adjustments, be patient. Give the new nap time at least a full week — ideally seven to nine days — to see if it makes a difference. Toddlers thrive on consistency, and their bodies need time to adapt to schedule shifts.

There’s Too Much Time Between Lunch and Nap 

Here’s a sneaky one: Your toddler might be catching a second wind between lunch and nap. If your child eats lunch at 11:30, and nap isn’t until 12:30 or later, that extra hour of awake time after eating can give them just enough energy to power through nap time.

The fix? Go straight from lunch to nap. Try to make nap time a seamless transition right after eating. Clean them up, change their diaper or have them use the potty, and head straight to their sleep space. By shortening the gap between lunch and nap, you prevent that post-meal energy burst and make it easier for them to settle.

Within about a week of keeping this consistent routine, you may notice your toddler falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer.

They’re Missing Clear Sleep Cues

Just like bedtime, naps work best when your toddler’s body and brain know what’s coming. If you go from playtime straight to the crib, your toddler may not have enough cues that it’s time to rest. Adding a short, predictable nap routine helps signal the transition. This doesn’t need to be elaborate. Focus on a a few calm, repetitive steps:

• Use the potty or change their diaper.
• Read a short book or sing a quiet song.
• Close the blinds and turn on the sound machine.
• Say a simple phrase like, “It’s rest time.”

You can also use a toddler clock, like Hatch Baby, that changes color to indicate sleep time. For example, red can mean “time for bed,” and when nap time is over, the clock can switch to blue with a gentle sound. These visual cues help toddlers connect the dots and understand when to sleep, even before they can read a clock. Consistency with these signals creates an environment that helps your toddler’s body recognize it’s time to nap.

It Might Be Time to Drop the Nap

As much as parents may wish it weren’t true, some toddlers simply outgrow their nap. Between 2½ and 3½ years old, many children naturally transition out of daytime sleep. If your toddler is consistently skipping naps, but still happy and energetic throughout the day and sleeps 11 to 12 hours at night, they may be ready to say goodbye to napping.

A few signs it might be time to drop the nap:

• They consistently stay awake the entire nap period.
• They lie in their crib happily singing or playing for an hour.
• They skip naps several days in a row but aren’t cranky in the afternoon.
• Bedtime has become a struggle because they’re not tired enough at night.

If that sounds familiar, it might be time to move toward quiet time instead of a full nap. Offer them a break in their room with books or soft toys to help them recharge without sleep.

Nap struggles can be one of the most frustrating parts of toddlerhood, but they’re also incredibly common. With small, intentional changes (and a lot of patience), you can help your child get the rest they need and reclaim a bit of calm in your day, too. Sweet dreams, and here’s to making nap time peaceful again.

Struggling with naptime battles? Learn how Hatch Baby can help you take care of yourself and your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I try nap changes before deciding they’re not working?

Give any nap adjustment, like a later nap time or a new routine, at least 7-10 days. Toddlers need repeated exposure to new patterns before their bodies adapt, and short trials often aren’t enough to see real change.

Is it OK if my toddler doesn’t actually sleep during nap time?

Yes. Even if your toddler doesn’t fall asleep, quiet rest still has value. Lying down in a calm, low-stimulation environment can help reset their nervous system and prevent overtiredness later in the day.

Will skipping naps affect my toddler’s development?

Occasional skipped naps are not harmful. What matters most is total sleep over 24 hours and how your child functions during the day. If your toddler is generally well-rested, regulated, and sleeping well at night, development is not at risk.

References

1. Nemours Children’s Health. (2024, March 11). Naps. KidsHealth. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/naps.html
2. Cleveland Clinic. (2024, April 15). When do kids stop napping? Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/when-do-kids-stop-napping