Rest for the Weary

While parents look forward to their child’s afternoon nap as an oasis of solitude, a preschooler may tend to view it as an unwelcome interruption of playtime. But the fact is, most kids under five need that afternoon snooze to meet their requisite 11 to 12 hours of sleep per day.

Signs that a tot may be starved for sleep include difficulty getting up in the morning, routinely falling asleep in front of the TV or during a car ride, irritability, bad behavior, and trouble concentrating on a task. Sound familiar? Getting a reluctant napper off to sleep is a challenge, but it’s by no means impossible.

• Decide on a time of day for your child’s nap, and stick with it. Unfortunately, hectic lives can sabotage a naptime routine, but you’ll need to make regular naps a priority to get with the program. According to researchers, midafternoon works best, when most people are sleepiest as a result of the body’s natural cycles.
• Make sure that your child is getting enough exercise earlier in the day to burn off energy and enable her to relax.
• Establish a naptime ritual. Try rubbing your child’s back, playing soft music, singing a few songs, or reading a story in a rhythmic tone of voice. Consider purchasing a special "nap mat" or sleeping bag just for the occasion.
• Help your child get comfortable. If the daylight seems to bother her, close the shades. Help her remove her shoes, belt, and hair fasteners, and loosen tight clothing.

It might take a few days or weeks of fending off all those requests for glasses of water, just one more story, or another trip to the bathroom, but eventually your child’s tired little body will begin to crave sleep at the same time each afternoon. Glenda Wheeler

 

 

198 / Ages & Stages (3 to 5) / Parenting / December-January 1993