How long does your child need an afternoon nap?
After a short time you will have noticed that the afternoon nap is important for your child and their development. During the sleep break, they process all the impressions of the day previously collected and gathers strength for when they wake up to repeat the process. How long your child needs this nap is completely different.
Often the point in time at which your child signals that they no longer want to take a nap is between the ages of three and four, i.e. when they can already sleep regularly. Then, it can happen that your child does not want to put on pyjamas at lunchtime and doesn’t want to close their eyes. Either they are no longer tired and wants to be kept busy instead, or they may have missed their sleep window.
This can happen if your child stays at a nursery over the middle of the day and is picked up by you in the afternoon. If your child can't take a short nap there, the rest of the day can be a real stress test for both of you. Sometimes a child needs a nap after school, so you should offer them this option.
What can I do if my child no longer wants to take a nap?
If you find that your child regularly refuses to nap, there is no point in forcing them to sleep. Instead, you can test how your day together works without the sleep break.
So that your child can still process the impressions of the day in peace, it can make sense to take a lunch break. This also has the advantage that you don't have to completely upset your everyday family life. You can for example, spread a blanket on the floor and read a story together, paint a picture or listen to the radio together.
If your child is older, you can also watch an age-appropriate film with them. This little break helps your child to bridge the failed sleep period and still maintain the routine they have learned. You can decide individually how long you want to organise your lunch break. That can be 30 minutes or 1.5 hours. Just watch how long your child seems recovered. After all, the break should not be a punishment, but a recovery. If your child has slowly got used to the midday rest, you can leave them alone during this time. In this step, it can help if you let your little darling know what you are going to do after the rest period. This can be for example a trip to grandma and grandpa’s or going to the park. Your little one then already knows that you will be with them again and can look forward to it.
You and your child will be unfamiliar with the changeover caused by the failed nap at the beginning of the day. By sticking to a common routine, such as a midday rest, you can recharge your batteries and also gradually adapt your day to the new needs of your child. Just give it a try and see what works best for you.
