It’s no secret that little ones and naps go together like peanut butter and jelly. It seems when they're not crying or eating, they’re sleeping. This is good news for you because it means you get a break!
However, you might have many questions about little ones and their napping patterns. We know that sleep is essential for their growth and development and we know they need lots of it.
In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, it’s recommended newborns get 14 to 17 hours of sleep a day. Up until about 3 to 5 years old, kids are still recommended 10 to 13 hours of sleep a day.
So, at what age do kids stop napping so often? Are there certain bedtimes that kids should be going to sleep at? And most importantly, are there methods of training we can use on our babies to help them sleep better?
Little Ones and Naps
When do children stop napping?
There is no set age for when kids should stop napping. Each child is different and it’s important for parents to be aware of this. There are several factors that could indicate that your child is ready to stop napping:
- They show no signs of sleepiness during the day
- They no longer nap at all, even during their scheduled times
- They’re waking up earlier
- They’re having a hard time falling asleep at nap time
- They’re having difficulty falling asleep at night time
Being attentive to any of these factors can help you figure out whether your little one needs to keep napping or not.
What time should children go to bed?
What time should a 4-year-old go to bed? And what time should a 2-year-old go to bed? There is no exact answer for bedtime by age. In fact, it’s more important to understand the number of hours of sleep a child might need.
With this in mind, you should figure out their normal morning wake time, while also adding up the number of hours they spend napping per day.
For example, it’s recommended that a 3 to 5-year-old gets 10 to 13 hours of sleep a day. Let’s say their normal morning waking time is 7 am. Plus they spend a total of 3 hours a day napping. This means they either need 10 or 7 more hours of sleep at nighttime, depending on how much you think they need.
Taking all this into account, you can figure out the best time frame for your child to go to sleep. We know in this case, the child normally wakes at 7 am. This means a time frame between 9 pm and 12 midnight is ideal.
Sleep training naps
At some point, some parents might decide to use certain methods of training to help their children sleep. These methods include:
- Ferber method
- Chair method
- Fading method
- Cry it out method
- Pick-Up/Put–Down Method
None of these methods are necessarily the “best” option. The best method for your child and your family really depends on personal preference. You might think the chair method is best, or you might even like using the Ferber method for naps.
It’s important to do your research to find out which one fits best for you and your family's needs.
We know that a good rest is important for your child's development and growth. It also plays a critical role in their emotional, physical, and mental health. This is also the case for adults. Without getting the right amount of rest you could find yourself irritable, unable to concentrate, and unproductive.
If you do struggle to fall asleep at night, BetterSleep offers a variety of ways to help the entire family relax and get a good night's rest. Fall asleep with BetterSleep today!
