Babies are smarter if they don’t take a nap! I\’m really not lying to you~

Speaking of baby\’s sleep problems, I believe the mood of many parents can only be expressed by the picture below. Ding\’s mother\’s children also had various sleep problems when they were young, and it was really a difficult time. But fortunately, they got over it, and Ding\’s mother thought that it would finally stop. But not long ago, the children started to do it again! noon! sleep! Got it! No matter how much she is coaxed, she won\’t fall asleep. As soon as it\’s time to go to sleep, all sorts of things happen. Although Mother Ding doesn\’t take a nap herself, she still gets angry when she sees her children not taking a nap. After all, children need much more sleep than adults. So during this period, Ding\’s mother was engaged in a \”tug of war\” with her children over taking naps. The whole person is torn between self-doubt (what should I do if I don’t take a nap, what should I do if I don’t get enough sleep) and self-comfort (although I didn’t take a nap, but my mental state seems to be quite good). As for those who asked about naps in the message, it was difficult for Ding Ma to answer. After all, Ding Ma couldn’t solve it herself? So, when Ding Ma heard Teacher Chang Run say that it was actually nothing, she really couldn’t wait to ask. She came to share this issue with everyone. (Of course, Mother Ding also has selfish motives.) Does the baby have to take a nap? To explain the question of whether a baby needs a nap at noon, we first need to understand how the baby\’s sleep pattern develops. When he is just born, the baby will sleep many times every day, whether during the day or at night, and the sleep time is relatively short. He may need four or five naps a day. As the baby develops, the duration of one nap gradually extends. By about 1 to 1 and a half years old, most babies can only sleep at noon and at night. Starting from about 3 years old, some children say goodbye to the regular nap pattern and gradually develop the same sleep pattern as adults. They only need to sleep a full night at night. In other words, babies no longer need to nap every day. Studies have shown that among children over 4 years old, less than 33% still have the habit of taking naps every day. Even in kindergartens with mandatory naps, children have no other choice but to lie down in bed and take naps. There are still the same percentage of kids who can’t sleep. It is very likely that these children who cannot sleep have developed the same sleep patterns as adults and do not need to nap every day. As children grow older, their need for naps gradually decreases. Among 5-year-old children, the proportion of children who do not need to nap every day has reached 92%. Why do children gradually no longer need naps? The amount of time a child sleeps during the day actually reflects the maturity of the child\’s brain. As children\’s brains mature, they no longer need to sleep multiple times a day to relieve brain fatigue and control emotions like babies. Therefore, if your baby has become accustomed to skipping naps every day and is still energetic, in a happy mood, and his appetite is not affected, it may mean that his brain nerves have matured and he has entered the same sleep mode as an adult. However, we need to be reminded that some children have sleep disorders and do not take naps due to some neurodevelopmental problems. These children are different from children who develop normally.They often have trouble concentrating due to lack of sleep, or their moods may be erratic, irritable, and difficult to soothe. Parents should pay attention to observe and distinguish. Do you still need to arrange a nap for the child? As mentioned before, when children grow to a certain stage and develop the same sleep pattern as adults, then naps are no longer necessary. However, children\’s sleep needs are not static. Many factors can affect your child\’s sleep needs. Speaking professionally, factors such as family factors, socioeconomic level, environment, the child\’s recent health status, and one\’s own neurological development will all affect a child\’s sleep. In layman\’s terms, children may need to take a nap on certain days and may not be able to sleep on certain days. As for which days to sleep and which days not to sleep, different babies may vary greatly, and it is not easy for parents to predict. Therefore, you might as well try this arrangement for different children: For children who still need to take a nap or have a nap habit, it is easier for parents to judge and provide a suitable nap environment for the baby. Pay attention to the brightness of the room, indoor temperature, humidity, Noise from the surrounding environment, etc., to create a comfortable sleeping environment for the child. For children who are in the transition period and do not need to take a nap every day, or parents are not sure whether their children will take a nap today, they can prepare for a nap first, and encourage them to go to bed to rest during nap time to prepare for sleep. Generally speaking, it takes 16 to 19 minutes for preschool children to fall asleep. If the child is still not sleepy after lying in bed for about 20 minutes, there is no need to force him to take a nap. He can get out of bed and do other activities. . For older children who can express their wishes independently, if they make it clear that they do not need a nap, there is no need to force them to go to bed to complete the process of \”preparing for drowsiness–preparing for failure.\” What needs to be emphasized to parents is that if the baby really cannot sleep during lunch break, do not force him to sleep. Because forced naps not only have little benefit, they can also be harmful. Forcing the baby to set a nap time, and he cannot fall asleep, is equivalent to a long period of restricted activities for the baby. Not only will the child not be able to rest for such a long period of time, it may also make the child feel stressed. Some studies have also found that there is a negative correlation between midday sleep and evening sleep time. For preschool children, the more nap time they have, the less nighttime sleep time they will have. Some scientists believe that from the perspective of sleep self-regulation mechanism, excessive naps will reduce children\’s sleep needs and impulses at night, reduce sleep quality at night, and affect the cognitive function of the brain. Therefore, when your baby grows up, you can really listen to his own wishes when it comes to taking naps. Mother Ding finally no longer has to worry about her children not taking naps. (happy?)