Napping Issues

What to Do When Your Toddler or Baby Won’t Sleep!

by Michelle O’Connor, Maternity Pajamas

You’ve heard it said that napping is a crucial part of child’s healthy mental and physical development. An afternoon nap can be truly refreshing, helping your baby or toddler regain energy, focus, and the ability to learn new skills. Research has indicated that children who take regular naps are often more flexible and adaptable and are less fussy than those who don’t nap.

Signs Your Child Needs a Nap

There are certain tell-tale signs that indicate that your child is ready to nap. For instance, if your child grows impatient in the afternoon; becomes whiny or ill-tempered; begins crying for no reason; starts rubbing his or her eyes; or falls asleep while watching a movie, he or she may definitely need some quality naptime.

How Long Should Your Child Nap?

The answer to this question really depends on the individual child. Monitor your toddler’s behavior. If he or she appears to be running on a short fuse, a nap may be in order. Keep in mind, if they sleep too long during the day, they may not sleep through the night.

Tips for Improving Naptime

There are a number of things you can do to improve the quality and length of your child’s naps. For instance, consider giving your child lunch or a snack about a half-hour before naptime. Make sure that the sleeping room is dark and that the bed is comfortable. For baby’s, make sure that their crib bedding is soft and inviting. The room should be neither too hot nor too cold. Also, consider playing some soothing music or white noise to get your child to sleep. In addition, make sure that your toddler’s sleeping attire is comfy. You may even want him or her to slip into pajamas before each nap.

Consider “Co-Napping”

If you’re a busy stay-at-home mother, it might be a good idea for you to try to take a nap when your toddler does. After all, you also need time for rest and refreshment. Also, napping with your child will relieve you of the temptation of running the vacuum cleaner or taking part in other household activities which could produce so much noise that your child finds it difficult to get to sleep.