Many parents worry because they do not know until how old their children should nap, they think they are still too old to do it, or they think they should do it whenever the children feel like napping. We parents like children's naps because it helps us to have extra time to be able to finish the tasks that we have not been able to do during the morning.
But unfortunately naps are a good thing that always comes to an end. Although every child is different, most children decide they don't want to nap anymore between the ages of 2 and 5. But regardless of when this happens, giving up a nap during the day can be a time for both you and your child. You need to know a few tips in order to make the transition to stop napping a little easier for everyone.
Signs your child doesn't want more naps
Your child may start sending you signs that naps will gradually end and that he is ready to give them up when he is older. between 2 and 5 years old. Don't expect your child to suddenly decide they don't want naps anymore, because they might say that one day and want to nap the next. You need to look for other signs that will let you know your child will soon be giving up naps for good.
It will be hard for you to fall asleep
When a child no longer wants to nap in the afternoon, it will be very difficult for him to fall asleep at his usual nap time. Naps are hours of extra sleep that you will begin to not need and that if you do, at night it may take longer to fall asleepYou may want to go to bed later or wake up earlier in the morning. A clear guideline The problem is that the daytime sleep window lengthens, and the baby is tired enough at night without needing that intermediate rest.
Resists naps
If your child does not want to take naps anymore, he probably wants to resist going to his room at nap time, he may get out of bed, let him play or that you just don't want to fall asleep and don't. If this resistance is maintained If a nap is missed for one or two weeks in a row, it usually indicates that a nap is no longer essential.
Good mood
Children who need naps tend to have more problems to have a good mood if they do not nap, they tend to become irritable and very irritable. On the other hand, a boy or girl who no longer needs a nap will not do this, rather you will be able to maintain an overall good mood throughout the day Even if he doesn't nap. As is normal, your child may have typical ups and downs for his age, but generally he will be in a good mood and have enough energy to stay active from morning till night. Observe if he plays, eats, and participates. in their routines without faltering despite not sleeping.
You will sleep better and wake up well in the morning
Children who don't need a nap will start to sleep better at night and wake up on their own in the morning in a good mood. If this happens, you may gradually decide to put naps aside for good. It is also common that bedtime is brought forward naturally when they no longer sleep during the day.
What science says about giving up napping
At the brain level, the hippocampus It acts as a temporary storage for memories that are then transferred to the cortex during sleep. In children with a less mature hippocampus, this "storage" becomes saturated sooner and increases sleep pressureTherefore, naps remain useful for consolidating what has been learned. As the child matures, can sustain the vigil until nightfall without any memories "spilling off." This perspective helps to understand why Age is not the only factorSome children will need naps for longer periods, while others will give them up sooner, and offering the opportunity for a nap in preschool benefits memory and learning in those who still need it.
Signs that the child is not ready to stop naps
Your child is also likely to make you believe that he wants to give up naps but is actually not quite ready to quit. In this sense You will need to take some aspects into account so you know your child still needs to nap.
Falls asleep easily
Although you may have a tantrum from not wanting to sleep, the reality is that you respond positively to naps and fall asleep easily. It is also possible that I do not choose to show much resistance and if he does, he sleeps for an hour or more. All this will mean that the child needs to sleep during the day. If by eliminating the siesta If there are more nighttime awakenings or she wakes up very early several days in a row, it's another clue that she still needs it.
Irritable attitude in the afternoon
If your child does not take a nap on a day and in the afternoon he begins to be irritable, restless and is difficult to please, it is possible that he still need your extra rest to be in a good mood and avoid free tantrums. Overexertion It can also manifest as apparent hyperactivity.
Falls asleep in the car
Did car rides ever help your child fall asleep when they were a baby? If your child still falls asleep on short car trips, this is for you. He may not yet be ready to give up naps for the moment.
Sleep signs
Even though he doesn't tell you he's sleepy, his body language is clear enough to tell. If you yawnrubs his eyes or you look tired, you may still need to nap. Look at the time When those signs appear, it guides you on the best time for your rest.
Is too restless
On many occasions when children are really tired they can behave as if they are very restless, even as if they seem hyperactive. It is a clear sign that you must take a nap and that this time is not over yet. If after a short nap It improves mood and attention.It continues to be restorative.
How do you know if you need naps or not?
If you do not know if your child can continue to want naps or not, you should write it down on a piece of paper so you can know the pattern it has. You will have to write down a log of naps, the time he sleeps, when he wakes up and write a couple of notes about his behavior during the day. After one or two weeks you can check the pattern and you will be able to make the best decision about whether your child should stop naps or if they still need to do them.
Indicative sleep ranges useful for interpreting that record (each child is different, take it as a guide):
- Newly bornThey sleep in cycles spread throughout the day. Several naps.
- Around 4-6 months2-3 daily naps; nighttime sleep stabilizes.
- 6-12 monthsThey usually take two naps (morning and afternoon).
- 12-24 months: transition to 1 nap; daily total around 12-14 hours.
- 2-3 years: 1 nap; if he sleeps well at night, it can be shortened.
- 3-5 years: 0 to 1 nap depending on need and quality of nighttime sleep.
- From school age: usually you don't need a nap if you cover 10-12 hours at night.
Pay attention to the quality of nighttime sleep. The same applies to naps: if eliminating them improves nighttime and keeps you in a good mood, you're on the right track. If, on the contrary, sleep becomes unstable, reinstate shorter naps.
How to make a good transition
If after reading this you think that your child is ready to stop naps permanently, then you will have to follow the following steps so that the transition can be easier for everyone.
Don't forbid naps
There will be days when your child needs to nap, and this is perfectly normal. The transition period can last several months, even half a year. If your child is over six years old and naps every day, they may have a sleep disorder that you should discuss with your pediatrician. Avoid forcing Abandonment: Abrupt withdrawal can result in increased irritability and poorer learning.
Replace naps with quiet time
Even if they do not take naps, it is necessary for children to take a quiet time break to be able to rest. Aim for 15 to 30 minutes of quiet time, then gradually increase the time to an hour. You can provide books, art supplies, puzzles, or quiet toys. Recreate the atmosphere Take a nap (dim light, low voice) to help your system slow down.
Be consistent
Just as you were consistent with your child's naps, now you should be consistent with quiet time. You will have to carry out routines to make this happen and assign an area of ​​the house for this time of calm and silence that they will always have to fulfill at the time that before was the siesta. Regularity It helps the body anticipate rest, even if you don't actually fall asleep.
Adjust bedtime
Upon leaving the nap, go to bed earlier About 20-30 minutes during the first few weeks. This helps compensate for lost daytime sleep and prevents overexertion, which paradoxically makes it harder to fall asleep. If your little one wakes up very early, try shorten a residual nap or remove it altogether if it still does.
Regressions and developmental peaks
It may appear between 18 and 24 months. resistance to siesta due to developmental changes (such as starting to walk or language bursts). Don't confuse this stage with "no longer needing a nap." Adjust sleep windows, provide a relaxed environment, and maintain the routine a few days before deciding to end the break.
If you have twins
It is usual that one abandons the siesta before than the other. If you can, offer them separate spaces for rest: the one who doesn't sleep, quiet time in their room; the one who does, their nap without stimulation. It prevents the one who is awake interrupt the other's dream.
At school or kindergarten
If your school maintains a nap schedule but your child no longer needs it, ask them to have it a time of calm (looking at books, coloring, puzzles). do not force A siesta prevents longer nights trying to fall asleep and unnecessary early mornings.
Sleep hygiene and safety
For daytime rest to be restorative and safe:
- Environment: dark room or room with warm light, pleasant temperature and relative silence.
- Short routineA short story, a caress, soft music. Place him drowsy but awake.
- SecurityUntil the age of one, babies should sleep on their backs without soft objects in the crib.
- ScreensAvoid electronic devices at least one hour before bed; blue light disrupts the circadian rhythm.
The siesta and learning
Naps help consolidate memories and regulate emotions in young children. That's why, even if your child is in a transitional phase, offer the opportunity Taking a nap is still valuable: if his "cube" (hippocampus) needs to be emptied, he will sleep; if not, he will take advantage of a moment of calm that also regulates him.
Many parents long for their little ones' naps. This sleep brings moments of well-deserved tranquility and, moreover, It provides multiple benefits to children. However, its frequency and even existence varies according to age.
Great advantages
The benefits are more than provenNaps facilitate physical and mental recovery in children, reduce tension and tiredness, and improve mood and school performance. In fact, contrary to popular belief, napping helps children sleep better at night (and gives parents some quiet time to get things done).Sleeping too little during the first four years increases the risk of language delay.
Then, Why are they no longer taking naps? What can we do about it? Unfortunately, there are no universal recipes for sleep schedules: it depends on the age and each child.
- Los newborns and infants Infants a few months old tend to sleep and wake up throughout the 24 hours of the day, waking up every hour or every three hours to eat.
- About the four months Their sleep rhythm becomes more stable and they sleep between nine and twelve hours at night, with 2-3 naps a day, between 30 minutes and two hours each.
- Since the 6 months Up to one year old, they usually sleep 14 hours a day, with a couple of naps a day, morning and afternoon, of up to 2-3 hours.
- Between 1 and 3 years They sleep between 12 and 14 hours, with a nap between 2 and 4 in the afternoon, lasting 1 to 3 hours.
- Starting from 3-5 years They usually stop taking naps and sleep between 11 and 13 hours.
- Between the 5 and 12 yearsThey sleep between 10 and 11 hours a day.
It is important that both during nap time and at bedtime in general, children Until they are one year old, they should sleep on their back.to prevent what is known as sudden infant death syndrome.
El not taking a nap, can produce a increased crying and irritabilityMore impulsive behavior, increased anxiety and depression, decreased ability and interest in learning, and a higher prevalence of night terrors.
Routine is key
To avoid all of this, and in order to ensure that the nap is pleasant and fulfills its purpose, There must be a routineSame time, some daylight, quiet atmosphere, with a schedule between 2 and 4 in the afternoonand look for clues such as fidgeting and rubbing their eyes, etc. It is important to put the child to bed when they seem sleepy.not when he has fallen asleep.
During early childhood and the preschool years, following this routine can be more difficult; but it shouldn't become a battle: The child cannot be forced to fall asleep, but it is important to emphasize that they need some quiet time.Let the child read a story or play quietly in their room. They will probably end up falling asleep.
When they leave their siesta
Once they stop taking naps, it becomes even more important that they go to bed at a reasonable hour, taking into account the time they get up for school, and being aware that The light produced by electronic devices significantly disrupts your sleep cycle, especially at night, potentially affecting the biological rhythm responsible for the secretion of hormonal substances: cortisone, melatonin, prolactin, growth hormone, etc.
Maintaining good sleep habits, establishing regular schedules and Prevent children from watching television or using video games before bedtimeKeeping phones, tablets, and other devices that may affect the sleep process out of their reach will significantly benefit their development.
Practical points for the final transitionIt offers quiet activities during nap time, and slightly adjusts dinner and bath time to facilitate a going to bed earlier and observe the mood; if it declines, reintroduce a strategic short nap on some days.
The central idea that should not be lost sight of is that There is no exact age. To stop napping. It's more important to read your child's signals, protect their nighttime rest, and support the transition with consistent routines, calm spaces, and flexibility: there will be days with naps and others without, and both can be healthy if their overall sleep is restorative.