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Home › Articles › Toddlers › Pillow Talk

Pillow Talk

Does Your Child Need a Nap?

By Laurie L. Dove

Pages:  1  2  

It's the golden hour of silence. Time to start the laundry, read a book, perhaps make a cup of coffee you don't have to worry about spilling on anyone. It's your child's naptime!

And although it may have been a struggle getting your tearful darling to sleep, the "coffee break" is worth it for you and your child.

Why Nap?
A good naptime routine assures a child gets enough rest. "On top of their boundless energy, children work hard at growing. They really do need the rest," says Dr. Charles Shubin, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland and director of pediatrics at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Md.

Regular naps also provide a predictable schedule (read: break) for caregivers. Brad Plummer, a stay-at-home dad in Littleton, Colo., began scheduled naps for his two daughters when each were about 6 months old. Now at 4 and 2, his daughters take only afternoon naps, but for much of their first year, they took a nap at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day. Naptime, says Plummer, was just as important for him as it was for his daughters. "Kids need naps and parents need a break," he says. "A set naptime makes it easier for both of you."

Start Early
As soon as a child has established a biological rhythm of waking and sleeping usually by 3 months of age parents and caregivers can start encouraging a naptime pattern. Usually, timing play and mealtimes ensures that an infant will be ready to nap when you want them to. Keeping a scheduled nap schedule may become more difficult as a child enters the second year of life.

"In the 'terrible twos' we are often dealing with some negative and controlling behaviors typical of this age," says Dr. Shubin, who notes that this may result in a toddler simply refusing to take a nap. Dr. Shubin suggests quiet play rather than a strict rule that the child must sleep. Often, just looking at a book or playing quietly will soon have a toddler falling asleep on her own. However, Dr. Shubin cautions, if a child consistently refuses to take a nap, he shouldn't be forced: His body simply isn't ready for sleep.

Toddler Timing
Toddlers who don't want to nap either don't need to biologically, or are in a controlling mode of behavior, says Dr. Shubin. Either way, the best approach is to avoid a naptime war. Parents can modify their goals to include physical rest, not necessarily sleep, although sleep frequently occurs once a child is quiet and settled down. "Toddlers love rewards," says Dr. Shubin. "If you want a toddler to have quiet time in her room, and she complies, give an appropriate reward." Promising an outing to the park or reading a favorite book aloud can do the trick, he says.

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