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Solving Naptime Problemsby Elizabeth Pantley, 04/20/05How can you tell if your child needs a nap? If you watch carefully, and if you know what to look for, you will be able to tell if your child needs a nap. Here are some of the signs that your child needs a daily nap: ∑ Wakes up in a good mood, but gets whiny and cranky as the day progresses ∑ Has more patience early in the day, but is more easily aggravated later on ∑ Cries more easily in the afternoon and evening than she does early in the day ∑ Has an afternoon or early evening slump, but gets a second wind later in the day ∑ Shows tired signs in the afternoon such as yawning, rubbing eyes, or looking slightly glazed ∑ Often falls asleep in the car or when watching a movie How much naptime does your child need? Children differ in their sleep needs, some naturally needing less or more than shown here æ but what follows is a general guide that applies to most of them. Keep in mind, though, that even if your childís sleep hours add up to the right amount, his or her behavior tells you more than any chart possibly could. When in doubt ñ always try for a nap, since even a period of quiet time can help a child feel more refreshed. Average hours of daytime and nighttime sleep Age Number of naps Total length of naptime hours Nighttime sleep hours Total of nighttime and naptime sleep** 12 months 1ñ2 2 ñ 3 11 Ω ñ12 13 Ω ñ14 18 months 1ñ2 2 ñ 3 11 º -12 13 ñ 14 2 years 1 1ñ2 Ω 11ñ12 13 ñ 13 Ω 2 Ω years 1 1 Ω -2 11ñ11 Ω 13 ñ 13 Ω 3 years 1 1ñ1 Ω 11 ñ11 Ω 12 ñ 13 4 years 0 -1 0 -1 11ñ11 Ω 11 ñ 12 Ω 5 years 0 -1 0 -1 11 11 ñ 12 © Elizabeth Pantley, The No-Cry Sleep Solution (McGraw-Hill) When should your child nap? The timing of your childís naps is important since a nap that occurs too late in the day will prevent your child from being tired when bedtime approaches. Generally, the best nap times are as follows: |
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