Why are naps important?

Why Are Naps Important for Babies & Toddlers?

Most seasoned parents and caregivers can tell you that skipping little ones’ naps (or an irregular nap schedule overall) is a recipe for irritability, feeding problems, meltdowns, and even poor-quality sleep at night. As it turns out, science and child development experts also have quite a bit to say about the importance of naps during the early years.

Here are a few main takeaways:

Babies and toddlers do not tolerate being awake as long as older children and adults do.

There are two biological processes that regulate sleep: The circadian process, which is based on light and dark, and the homeostatic process, which is based on how long we’ve been awake. For young children, the homeostatic process happens more quickly, simply meaning that they cannot tolerate being awake for long. Some experts believe that the rapid brain development happening during the early years tires little ones out!Needing to snooze to get through the day is most evident in newborns, who stay awake for only brief periods at a time. Awake-time tolerance gradually increases over the first few years of life. By age 4, most children no longer need to nap.

Naps enhance learning.

Several studies involving babies and toddlers demonstrate that little ones who nap outperform their non-napping peers in tasks involving language learning, memory, and other cognitive functions.

Naps are linked to better emotional regulation.

Parents, caregivers, and child-development experts agree that a well-rested child is a happier child. What does the research say? A study involving 2 year-olds found that toddlers who miss just one nap became more anxious and withdrawn, more irritated by even small stressors, and less happy about exciting things.

Naps can support better nighttime sleep.

Several child sleep experts point out that if your little one isn’t sleeping well at night, better naps may help. When children are overtired, they say, their bodies can become flooded with the stress hormone cortisol. This energizes them and interferes with falling and staying asleep at night. The timing of naps does matter though, especially as children get older. Research shows that napping too late in the day pushes toddlers’ bedtimes later. And, for some babies and toddlers, napping more than average during the day may result in less nighttime sleep.

Please remember naps ARE important. We know “sleep begets sleep.” This means that adequate daytime rest leads to fewer night wakings and longer night sleep. However, naps can be so difficult to navigate through without any guidance. Let me help you.

Please use the guidelines set forth based upon your baby’s age, watch your baby and adjust your routine accordingly. Please understand that if your baby is NOT sleeping 10-12 hours at night independently, THAT is the place to start. Night sleep is typically accomplished prior to day sleep. Now, these schedules can be helpful, but naps may remain a bit messy until your nights are conquered.