Ask Jill & Jennifer - Modern Mom's Sleep Experts

Tanya -

Age 3 is when many kids begin transitioning out of their nap, and there is an inevitable "yuck zone" where they still seem to need the nap but will either have trouble settling at night or wake early (with lots of energy) if they take it.  If the current nap is more than an hour long, you can try making it shorter by 30 minutes and see if that makes a difference. If it helps but he's still waking, take off another 30 minutes. Don't just skip the nap entirely until you've tried this - he may be able to take a shorter nap for several weeks or months before giving it up altogether.

If the nap is already short - or if he's still waking at night even after these changes - it's time to give up the nap. It's OK to let your child fall asleep in a car or stroller in the late afternoon initially, but don't let him sleep for more than 30 minutes and not past 4 pm at this age. Then, adjust the bedtime earlier to compensate for the loss of daytime sleep - even by as much as an hour. This will help prevent him from becoming overtired, which can cause night wakings and early risings.

By the way, if your child has just started preschool (or summer camp) and is separating from you for the first time, sleep issues may have more to do with his anxiety than with scheduling. Offer your child plenty of emotional support during this transition, including extra comfort at night if he needs it.