The afternoon nap - rest for parents and child

Some children still take nap when they go to school, others refuse the midday break at two and a half, which parents often visit. Educational experts believe that taking a nap for toddlers is extremely important. But what to do if the kids do not play?

Sleeping breaks for toddlers throughout the day are important. The children process the many impressions that flow into them during this time. What is learned is shifted from short-term to long-term memory during sleep. The growth hormone somatropin is mainly released during sleep and ensures that our little ones grow and thrive. Nevertheless, there are children who refuse to nap early. You can not do much about it - but even these children should take a break at lunchtime to be fit and cheerful for the rest of the day.

How long does my child need a nap?

This question can only be answered by one person, namely your child. How long children sleep at noon is completely different and can not be forced. However, you should especially look closely at smaller children: Why does the child no longer sleep at noon? If the room is too bright, is it from the experiences in the morning so turned on, that it does not come to rest or it does not like the place where it should sleep (for example, the relaxation room in kindergarten)? If your child is basically acting as if he wanted and wanted to sleep, but can not, then it is up to you to create the conditions for a successful nap and to give your child a rest break.

When the nap is denied

Especially if your child is small, this situation will be familiar to you: it can barely keep its eyes open, is obviously completely exhausted, but still fights violently against the so necessary afternoon nap. This may be because your child is over-stimulated, but you may not give him enough rhythm in the daily routine, so that the nap for your child comes as a complete surprise. In the first case you should initiate the midday sleep with a quiet phase. For example, you can read a story, watch a picture book together or sing something to your child (toddlers usually love the paternal tenor, do not worry). Afterwards, your child should be able to slide relaxed and well prepared for the afternoon nap. By the way, some children find it difficult to sleep right after eating. If your child makes that impression on you, you can try to put the nap to the front and the mealtime back.

Midday rest instead of afternoon nap

Even if your child no longer wants to sleep at noon, it may need a rest. In kindergarten, it has the most anyway, since there generally slept at noon or at least is rested at a storytelling. At home you should also allow this break for your child. Read him a story, older children can listen to a radio play or read themselves. For some children, it also helps if you take your own for a while - a lunch break will certainly not hurt you either.

Tired at noon - fit in the evening

Depending on the child, usually between the ages of three and four years, the afternoon nap sometime makes problems. Although your child sleeps as usual at lunchtime, but it is in the morning in the morning and the bedtime moves back significantly. As a clever father, you now try to reduce your nap or drop you out altogether, with the result that your child falls asleep at around 5:00 PM. Even if you wake it up after half an hour, the night sleep is over, your child has power for a long evening. The easiest way is for you as for your child, if you go through this phase as relaxed as possible, because one thing is certain: It passes. You can try to wake your child after 20 to 30 minutes at noon, which helps in many cases; You can also replace the nap with a rest in which you read to the child.

At some point the time has come: The topic of nap is passé, you need not be afraid that your child sleeps during the day and then half the night around the ears. The closing time belongs again to you and your partner - at least until the next phase.