Table of contents:
- Why do children need naps?
- How long do children need to take a nap?
- How about a good nap?
- How can children continue to take regular naps?
Most children may not like nap time. Some children feel that naps interfere with their playing time with their friends. So do not be surprised if many children have difficulty napping and have to be scolded by their mothers when it is nap time. However, it turns out that naps are really needed by children.
Why do children need naps?
Eating and sleeping are two basic needs of children that are very important to be fulfilled. Adequate nutrition and sleep are needed to support children's growth and development. Therefore, during this development period, children need more sleep than adults.
The need for children's sleep time is very much, making children have to be able to divide their sleep time at night with naps. If the child skips naps, it is likely that the child will not be able to get enough sleep only at night. This is where, the nap function is needed by children.
In addition, naps are needed to help children so they don't get tired, so they can sleep soundly at night. Psychologically, naps can be something fun for children, making children calmer and fresher.
Not only for children, naps are also beneficial for parents. When children spend their nap time, parents can take advantage of the time for themselves, be able to rest or continue unfinished homework.
How long do children need to take a nap?
The nap needed by children depends on the child's age and is adjusted to the sleep needs of children who vary between ages. Please note that children aged 1-3 years need 12-14 hours of sleep per day. Children aged 3-5 years need 11-12 hours of sleep per day. Meanwhile, children aged 5-12 years need 10-11 hours of sleep per day.
To fulfill the sleep time needed by this child, the child can take his nap for 1-3 hours and adjust it to his night's sleep so that the total sleep time of the child is neither excessive nor deficient. Ideally, your child should take a nap for 90 minutes or 1.5 hours.
How about a good nap?
It is better not to force the child to take a nap, this coercion will actually make the child dislike napping and also make the nap less qualified. Let the child take his nap time naturally. If a child has been accustomed to taking a nap from a young age, the child will know when it is his nap time, the child will feel sleepy, and will want to take a nap without being asked.
If the child still doesn't want or can't take a nap, it's best to let the child play in their room. Children can read books or play alone quietly in their room. At least the child gets a break. And after that, you can advance the child's nighttime sleep so that the child still gets enough sleep.
It's best to get your child into a nap after he finishes his lunch. This is a good time to take a nap. Naps at past times or too late can make it difficult for the child to sleep at night.
If you feel that naps are making your child sleepless or causing sleep problems at night, you can advance your child's bedtime and wake up early the next day. So, during the day, the child feels sleepy and can take a nap earlier than the time.
How can children continue to take regular naps?
Sometimes, children who have started to grow up, start to forget about their naps. Children have more fun spending their afternoon playing with their friends than napping. Therefore, you have to be smart about creating a nap habit so that your children will like it. Here are the tips:
- Create a comfortable sleeping environment for children. environment is very influential on children's sleep satisfaction. Do not distinguish between sleeping environments when the child sleeps day and night. Putting the child in the place where he usually sleeps at night, this can also help the child fall asleep easily.
- Keep the child's room temperature comfortable so that the child does not overheat or get cold while napping. Also try to keep the environment around the child calm.
- Find out when your child becomes sleepy during the day. The child will usually show signs of drowsiness, such as the child is more fussy, yawning, and rubbing his eyes, near the time after lunch. It is at this time that you should invite your child to take a nap. Apply this the next day on a regular basis, you have built a habit of napping in children.
- Tell the child that his other friends will also take a nap after lunch, and will play again after waking up in the afternoon. Leave the child in his room even though he doesn't take a nap, let him rest in his room, eventually the child may fall asleep by itself.
