Does Your Child Need a Nap?

The answer: it depends

Cute little nappers

Madison (right), age 4, and brother Robert, 21 months, of Fleetwood.

As every parent knows, when little ones don’t get enough sleep they get frustrated, cranky and prone to “meltdowns.” They also have trouble focusing and may even become hyperactive. “Long-term sleep deprivation can lead to developmental delays,” says pediatrician Rima Strassman, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network.

On average, infants age 4-12 months nap twice a day, anywhere from 20 minutes to three hours. After age 1, many toddlers transition to an afternoon nap that spans an hour or longer. Somewhere between ages 3 and 6, children give up napping altogether.

Not all children, however, are average. “Some children sleep so well at night that they need only a short nap or none at all,” Strassman says. Wondering about your son or daughter? Here are some guidelines:

If your child naps well during the day, sleeps well at night and is peaceful and happy — Do nothing. You’re experiencing parental bliss.

If your child naps for several hours but fights bedtime — Gradually shorten naptime by 15-30 minutes until you reach the point where your child is drowsy at bedtime.

If your child sleeps well at night, fights naps but is peaceful and happy — Create a “downtime” routine during the day. Have him rest (but not necessarily sleep) in his bedroom or crib for a half-hour or so.

If your child fights sleep day and night and is irritable — She needs more sleep. Enforce non-negotiable naps and an earlier bedtime.

Want to Know More about how to get a non-napper to sleep, what childhood snoring means or how much sleep your child needs at different ages? Call 610-402-CARE or click above.

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