At what age should my child stop napping?

At what age should my child stop napping?

Gary Feldman (Medical Director, Stramski Disorders Center, Miller Children's Hospital ) gives expert video advice on: Should I ever wake my child from a nap?; What do I do if my child resists napping?; Should I stop my child from napping to help him sleep more at night? and more...

Generally children will not need to nap from about four years of age onward. Again, it's not a fixed rule. Four years of age is not the time for "You've now graduated! You're now four years old, this is now your fourth birthday, no more naps! You don't have to nap anymore." They may still need to nap; again it's an individual, case-by-case basis. But between four to six years of age, kids will begin to slowly let go of needing to nap. It's important for parents to know that, because some parents think "My child still needs to nap" but as long as they're getting enough sleep in a twenty-four hour time slot, napping is not necessary.