Parenting Toddlers

I love naptime. It’s my favorite time of day. I can work, nap, clean up, read. And, luckily for me, Peanut doesn’t mind naptime either. Experts say that toddlers need between 13 and 14 hours of sleep each day - 11 or 12 at night and a 1-2 hour nap. Until age four, toddlers don’t get enough sleep at night. They need the nap to get them through the rest of the day.

Your toddler should nap everyday. Having a routine helps to keep resistance down. Peanut gets a nap everyday. It’s not always at the same time because of our schedule, but it is consistent. Usually, she cries and says she doesn’t need a nap, but she heads for bed anyway. She knows she does. She always naps in her room with her buddy Bo. If she is really having a hard time with it, I ask her to think of something fun to do after she takes her nap. I put the gate up in her room, which encourages her to stay in bed and not come looking for me, and she’s usually out before too long.

I’m lucky, and I dread the day when she’s too big for a nap. What do you do though if your toddler refuses to nap?

Maybe switch the nap time. Peanut used to sleep at about ten in the morning. Now, she can make it until about one or two before she needs a nap. If your child is refusing to sleep, maybe you can switch the time a bit to see if that helps.

Make sure it is as dim as possible in the room. It’s hard to know it’s nice and sunny and older kids are out playing while you have nap. If you can make it dark and quiet, that’s best. Toddlers hate to miss anything, so minimize the distractions.

Don’t give in and let your child get up if he’s resisting. You can tell if your child is tired - Peanut gets so cranky and adamant that she does not need a nap that it’s an instant signal that she does. Don’t lie down with your children because they get used to falling asleep with you there and have a much harder time falling asleep on their own.

Try not to let your toddler fall asleep in the car or on your way home from somewhere. Peanut always does this. We’ll be out doing errands and when we’re two minutes from home, she’ll fall asleep. The problem is that if she doesn’t get back to sleep when we get home, she won’t get enough sleep. I try to keep her awake for those two extra minutes by talking to her. If she does fall asleep, I try to carry her quietly to bed. I talk quietly and soothingly and make it clear that she’s going for her nap. It sometimes works, and it sometimes doesn’t.

If your child sleeps well at night, it may be possible that he doesn’t need a rest during the day. I would say this is not all that common, and most likely, your child needs a nap. You are the expert, though, so if your toddler is happy, active, and not cranky and can stay up all day, that’s fine - you may need a nap or two though!

Share your naptime tips with us. What do you do to make sure your child gets enough sleep?