Just why are naps so important?

Sleep is a big part of your child's overall health. For young kids to get enough of it, most need some daytime sleep. Naps:

• Provide much-needed downtime that aids the important physical and mental development that happens in early childhood.
• Help keep kids from becoming overtired, which can affect their moods and make it harder for them to fall asleep at night.
• Give parents a break during the day and time to tackle household chores or just unwind.
• Increase concentration and alertness in the afternoon, making it easier for kids to learn.
• Provide an opportunity for physical rest that helps to reduce stress hormones and decrease irritability.
• Help young children build strong memories of things they learn during the day.
• Can prevent common sleep issues, like false starts.

Even older kids can benefit from a mid-afternoon break to help them stay alert!

Children and babies need what we call 'restorative sleep'. This helps the brain to process information, consolidate memories and store new learning. This helps them develop their cognitive skills further and become better problem solvers. A nap also allows their body to recover from physical activity, grow and repair cells as well as regulate hormones that affect mood, appetite, concentration, and immune system functioning. So, if you have a child who has poor quality naps, or who doesn't nap, then obviously it is in everyone’s interest to improve their quality of sleep!

Consider doing some sleep training/sleep coaching if your little one is struggling with napping.Good napping habits carry through into the teenage years too, so it's important to get them off to a good start. Studies suggest that adolescents who take regular naps are more likely to develop healthier sleep habits and better emotional self-regulation. Naps can also help teens retain the information they’ve learned in school, which can have a positive impact on their academic performance.

Being at home for naps (especially when baby is very small and napping what feels like constantly!) can feel restrictive and quite isolating. Ideally, you'd aim to have at least half of your baby's naps in their sleep space, so that they become used to the pattern and routine of sleeping there. If you want to recreate the home environment in a pram or stroller whilst out and about, you can do that pretty easily with things like portable noise machines. If you choose to use a stroller cover, be sure to pick one that is safe for use over your child's bassinet or stroller. Covering the stroller/bassinet with blankets or muslins is not recommended as it reduces the airflow and baby can overheat.

Naps can be tricky for your little one to master, but they are definitely worth persevering with for everyone's benefit. If you need any further tips on your little ones sleep, be sure to follow me over on Instagram for regular sleep training tips. If you feel like you could use a little more guidance on cracking those naps once and for all, book in a call to discuss working with me on your child's sleep.