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# Dorie Meek: Getting a 3-year-old to nap without a car ride
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/dear-dorie-20060606/
- Published: 2006-06-06T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T00:11:55.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Malibu, #archive-import

*Asleep behind the wheel Dear Dorie, Driving Dozer*

*By Dorie Meek*

I have a 3-year-old daughter in preschool. She is healthy, active and sleeps well at night. I have noticed that if I am driving with her around 1:30 in the afternoon she will fall asleep for at least an hour. But if I’m not driving, she won’t take a nap. Since she falls asleep easily in the car, doesn’t this mean that she still needs a nap? How can I get her to nap in the afternoons without driving?

Dear Dozer, Your problems would be solved if you could drive one hour every day right around 1:30 p.m. There is something about the motion of a car and the restriction of a five-point car seat that just knock tired toddlers right out. However, assuming you have a normal schedule of errands, and with gas prices what they are, that’s just not realistic.

At 3 years old, your active toddler probably does need a nap in order to stay healthy. She’s also transitioning to life without a nap, so putting her to sleep midday becomes more and more difficult. My suggestion is to establish a quiet time every day at the same location with the same calming ritual for the same amount of time — in your case, one hour. Make sure she’s eaten a good lunch and then start with a quiet, comfortable place — it doesn’t have to be a bedroom — as well as a few age-appropriate books, some soothing music and dim lighting. Turn off the phones and television and lay down with her if you can. She may or may not sleep, but she will definitely rest, and so will you. This should keep you, your daughter and the car healthy. Good luck.

Dorie (Dorie Meek is director of the Infant & Family Support Program, provided by Saint John’s Health Center in partnership with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Meek answers questions concerning children ages birth to 5 years old. Submit your questions to “Dear Dorie” at, or call (310) 452-6132; fax (310) 452-6392).

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 6, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/060606.pdf?ref=smdp.com)