5 Toddler Napping Tips
Posted by Nicole on August 7th, 2008
Getting a toddler to nap is not always an easy task. Here are 5 tips to help your toddler nap better.
1. Age-appropriate nap schedule for your toddler
The first tip is to make sure you are napping your toddler at the right time. Some people are surprised to know that toddlers do not typically transition to just one midday nap until 15-18 months, on average. At many daycares, for example, they tend to transition many toddlers to one nap around their first birthday. While this may be okay for some (my first did, in fact, transition to just one nap around his 1st birthday), it can have disastrous results for others. Not only may it make a very cranky toddler, but they may not nap long enough because they are overtired and they also may not sleep through the night.
If your toddler is still taking 2 naps, a typical schedule might be 7-10-2-7 (that’s wake at 7, naps at 10 and 2 with a bedtime at 7pm). A one-nap schedule might be 7-12-7. Please review how much sleep your toddler needs.
2. Have a nap routine
Routines set the stage and expectations of your toddler so he will know what to expect at any given time of the day. So, to help transition him from playing hard to a nap, it is best to develop a routine. If he is on one nap, for example, his nap may fall soon after lunch. Therefore, you should not get into an exciting game, but perhaps “storytime” is a good activity after lunch. A typical routine might be a quiet game for 5 minutes, some light music, read 2 books, cuddle for a minute and then put him down for his nap. If you are consistent, he will likely start to know what’s coming next and start to get tired before you even get to step 2.
3. Be careful of how she falls asleep
It is important to encourage your toddler to fall asleep a certain way that he can go BACK to sleep after his sleep cycles. We all wake periodically while we sleep going from deeper sleep into lighter sleep and back into deep sleep, again. It is when she is in lighter sleep and needs to go into deep sleep again, but is no longer rocking or sucking a pacifier or nursing or some other sleep association that she has trouble going back to sleep, making for a too-short nap. Encourage her to learn to fall asleep without your assistance. Of course, if you enjoy the snuggle and she takes a nap that is at least one hour (the minimum to be considered restorative), then it’s not a problem at all for you to do that.
4. Avoid snoozes
Have you ever napped at 6 pm and then had trouble falling asleep at your normal bedtime of 10 pm? Similarly, a short snooze in the car, stroller, etc. may recharge your toddler making it hard for him to nap during his normal nap time. If you know he gets sleepy around a certain time, try to avoid car rides or walks in the stroller.
5. Have a set amount of nap time
Establish a “nap hour” where your toddler will be in bed, regardless if he is asleep. This gives him some down-time, away from the household hustle and bustle, at the very least. And, it gives you, mom and dad, a much needed break to recharge yourself. If he naps 45 minutes and you leave him alone for another 15, he just might drift back off to sleep. If you are consistent, they will come to expect that their nap hour is just that, and will either play or learn to sleep at least that long. Sometimes all they need is 5 minutes to drift back off to sleep.
Need more help with your toddler’s sleep problems?
If you need more help with your toddler’s sleep, you may be interested in my e-Book, Help Your Child Sleep, a Detailed Guide which discusses toddler sleep issues such as waking up too early (or going to bed too late), transitioning to a big boy bed, and more! Or, you may be interested in custom sleep advice for your unique child and situation.
Do you have any toddler napping tips? Please share!
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August 12th, 2008
This is great advice for parents.
You make an excellent point about missing a nap making night time sleep more difficult. Over tired children (and adults) find it hard to get to sleep and to stay asleep.
Remember (before you had kids) how you felt after a huge night out? When you partied until sunrise and then fell into bed only to find yourself jittery and unsettled? Imagine if you did that every day!
That’s how your toddler feels when they miss out on sleep.
August 12th, 2008
@Nerida Thank you for your comment! It’s so true and imagine how you feel if you have a school project, for example, and stay up late 4 nights in a row. You start to feel more and more tired and it’s hard to catch up and feel rested. It’s a vicious cycle.
Nicoles last blog post..Cry It Out Defined and Age to Do It