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Home › Articles › Development › If You Snooze, You Lose?

If You Snooze, You Lose?

Knowing When It's Time
to Give up Naptime

By Lisa A. Goldstein

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

When naps end, parents also need a transitional period. "Try starting a routine where the child partakes in down time," suggests Dr. Jana. Have coloring books, puzzles, simple arts and crafts, reading material and toys for imaginary play available for your child to entertain themselves quietly. This way you get a breather too, she says.

Sheedy Kurcinka doesn't recommend rushing to drop naps. She says even a 20-minute nap is good for all of us. That rest period allows the brain to begin integrating material into long-term memory and gives us the energy for the second half of our day. "It's usually because of conflicts – [like] school – that naps are given up ultimately, but there's nothing wrong with a siesta at any age," she says.

Keep in Mind ...

The real key to dealing with a child in the process of giving up a nap is to be flexible with schedules. Continue the siesta, says Mary Sheedy Kurcinka. If they need to nap, the opportunity is there. If they don't nap, the bedtime is moved earlier to allow for the full sleep need to be met at night. If they do, then bedtime is later, recognizing that they've napped.

If chaos is about to erupt because your child hasn't napped, Sheedy Kurcinka says to work harder at soothing and calming your child at naptime. Perhaps they're having trouble unwinding. Tweak the time of siesta and look for signs of sleepiness.


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