17 hours a day of sleep is extreme. It doesn't necessarily mean a problem, but it is so unusual that yes I would talk to a doc about it. I would bypass the pediatrician and find a specialist. If an adult slept 11 hours a day i would do the same.
If he really sleeps that much, he will indeed miss out on any activities planned past lunchtime. If that's what he needs, that's what he needs, but it is a strange and significant barrier, and you should not anticipate that people will work around it.

OP - I think the warnings about your child's sleep are bordering on absurd. If it makes you feel better, consult a doctor - better safe than sorry - but your DS' nap schedules sound a lot like my very bright, active, and thriving three year old's at that age. My younger child barely naps, unfortunately, but she's a different kid with different needs.

One thing I would say is that given the long nap schedule, it might be worth considering being flexible for special occasions. I am definitely a fan of sticking to the schedule, but I don't expect my entire family to work around it for special occasions like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etc. On those days, my kids nap when they can - in the car, on the couch, the ride home. We make it through no worse for the wear.

OP again- Based on the responses, I will call the doctor next week and ask if they think it warrants a sick visit, but I don't think I will tell my in-laws till I hear what the doctor has to say.

Just to be clear- DS napping during a 2pm dinner and 1pm get together didn't affect my in-laws plans. DS just happened to be sleeping in the guest room during the events. DH amd I actually had a chance to eat rather than chase a VERY active toddler around. Plus we did wake him to see the our of town visitors at 4pm.

I knew a kid like this. He did two two hour naps a day and 12 hours at night until well past three. He's 4 now, and he does seem delayed compared to my 4 year old. I don't think anything is wrong, but he just doesn't have the same amount of time to practice his skills. He will catch up eventually.

I'm surprised people are jealous of this schedule. The kid is barely awake!

OP, I can understand that you have talked to the pediatrician about this so there is nothing wrong, but you have to understand that a 2.5 year old sleeping 17 hours a day is unusual, to say the least. To me it DOES seem extreme, but I'm not your pediatrician so it doesn't matter what I think. From your inlaw's perspective, though, 12:30-5 is the whole afternoon. Infants sleep a lot, but they are portable, so it's not the same. Honestly, I can see how your inlaws would be annoyed about having to give up their whole afternoon to your son's nap.

OP here- Even if DS naps till 5 he is still yawning and ready for bed by 7:30. I do know it's unusual for a 2.5 year old, but I always thought we were lucky and he just needs a lot of sleep like I do (and did as a kid). If we wake him up early he is either very subdued or very grumpy.

We asked the doctor at 18 months about him sleeping so much since we thought he would move to 1 nap by then. The doctor checked his bloodwork, which was fine and just said we were very fortunate. Since I asked last year I feel weird making a "sick" appointment just to ask the doctor if he's sleeping too much.

To answer some previous PP's- the big Thanksgiving meal and a family get together were both at my in-laws house with family that we see often. DH put his foot down that his parents purposefully set events during DS's nap and since we didn't need to leave the house there was no need to wake DS.

They want to go to a diner during his nap today. Nothing special or that can't start an hour earlier- which would be a compromise and we would still put DS down for his nap a little late.

I am guessing the root of their concern is that like others have commented he is experiencing a little less life than other toddlers since be is asleep more often. When he is awake he is a whirlwind of activity and in constant motion. I guess after 3 days of constant comments I'm starting to get very stressed. I just feel like we won a sleep lottery and it seems extreme that they think something is wrong with him solely based on nap length, not behavior, interests or appetite etc.

Your Inlaws are nuts for suggesting a health issue but you also can flex a little on times occasionally. Like you stare trying to do. Not to say give up the nap, but most kids can shorten/delay/go early on occasion like a holiday without huge adverse impacts.

Not having a two year old at dinner isn't a bad thing.

Fwiw...my son had a schedule like yours too...it was heaven. At four he still naps two hours a day. My mil also thinks he shouldn't nap, and I politely informed her that her control over kiddie naps ended when her son gave them up. She just doesn't get a say in it and I don't discuss it with her. Ever.

My twins slept 12 hours at night with a 3-hour nap at that age. They are healthy and happy and doing great in first grade, but still need 12-13 hours of sleep every night. They are both very active and engaged, so I think activit level is part of it. I also worked as a nanny for years and years and saw many families whose kids "just don't need sleep" who in reality had kids who were chronically overtired and who napped well for me and were much happier and more focused when they did. Some of these incredulous posters have the rare kid who doesn't need to nap at age 2, but some don't know what a well-rested kid actually looks like.

What time does he go to sleep at night if he is still sleeping at 4:30/5?

We have one crappy sleeper and one awesome sleeper. But even the awesome sleeper is awake 10 hours per day. She sleeps 8pm-8am without budging and naps from 1-3. I wouldn't worry but i would raise it at your next dr appt

Is he grumpy if he gets less sleep? For a special occasion could he go down at 2 and sleep until 4? or do 12.30 to 2.30?

While he seems to sleep a bit more than most kids in his age range, I wouldn't worry about it OP.

I would just say that you won the lottery in sleep cycling regarding your child and you should be awarded the Gold.

As long as he is growing at a normal pace and meeting his developmental milestones on time, then what's all the fuss about??!

As for all these other parents who are saying he must not be normal because their own children do not sleep this much....Ha! Jealous much??!

Please do not stress about the sleep and consider yourself lucky to have such a great napper! My son (now 5) used to take super-long afternoon naps (average was 4 hours), sometimes getting up at 6:00 pm and going back to bed at his usual bedtime at 8:00 pm. You could try to alter your son's nap time for special days, but it might not be fun or worth it for anyone! lol

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's a lot of sleep! I could see how it would be annoying trying to plan around a 4 hour nap. My 2 year old sleeps 11-12 hours a night and naps 1-2 hours during the day. Have you talked to your ped? Does your child have healthy iron levels.

We talked to the Pediatrician at his 18 month check up sincs DS was still taking 2 naps a day at that point which we know was a little unusual. We also asked about his iron levels- which were fine. He's always slept for about 16-17 hours a day. I am guessing my in-laws expected him to start needing less sleep?

I've always required a great deal of sleep so I don't find it unusual that DS does as well.

So he is only awake for 7 to 8 hours a day at age 2 1/2. My kids were awake for around 11 to 12 hours a day at that age. It so interesting that he is getting 28 hours a week less of time to experience life. That's 100 hours a month. It is probably nothing but I would ask your pediatrician the question using hours awake. "Is it ok he is only awake for 7 to 8 hours a day?"

That sounds like a crazy long nap. It does seem weird that he sleeps all afternoon. But even if he's perfectly healthy, you can't expect everybody to schedule around it.

My son pretty much always sleeps for 2-3 hours around 1:30-3:30, give or take an hour. For special occasions (even long vacation weekends), we will alter his nap schedule as needed. If he needs his nap, and must sleep through a meal, so be it. But normally I put him down earlier, or later. We schedule our daily life around the nap, but I try to accommodate others' plans during the holidays.