" Why a nap at midday is so important for babies "

Babies' resting and sleeping patterns are constantly changing. But especially when the baby becomes a toddler, the changes are extremely noticeable for parents. Not only does going to bed in the evening often become much more strenuous, but naps also have to be skipped more and more often, even though they are so important. In the following lines, we explain why toddlers need rest breaks and what parents should pay attention to.

Is an afternoon nap really necessary?

Babies perceive their surroundings with all their senses and gather a wide variety of impressions during the course of the day. Even if they cannot initially attach any great importance to these, they are still important for healthy child development. In order to gradually find out what role different things play in life, the brain still has to develop further, as it is still growing and increasingly undergoing a maturing process.

During rest breaks and sleep phases, what has been learned can be consolidated and the brain is given the opportunity to process all processes properly.

This not only refines the child's ability to perceive, but also makes it increasingly agile. It explores its environment more actively and its motor skills also improve considerably. Although appropriate processing can also take place during the night-time sleep phases, the brain has to cope with an enormous amount of learning, especially in the first few years of life, so it is essential that babies' night-time sleep is supplemented by a midday nap.

Mother and newborn baby peacefully taking a nap hand in hand

The midday breaks are a huge relief for the brain, as it can process the experiences of the morning directly. This means that the baby is then much more receptive, more concentrated and usually in a better mood. Ideally, toddlers develop a healthy sleep rhythm all by themselves. However, a regular daily routine is also important for this, as this is the only way the young organism can adjust to the recurring phases.

How long and when?

Experts recommend taking a nap between 12:00 and 14:30. Ideally, you should put your child to bed straight after eating, as this allows the body to concentrate on digestion while the brain can process what it has experienced in peace.

If possible, you should always choose the same time, as this allows a healthy sleep rhythm to develop.

A baby naturally needs considerably more sleep during the day than toddlers. At the age of around 6 months, babies often sleep for around 3 to 4 hours, although this time is spread over the entire day. At the age of two, they usually only need 1 to 2 hours in the middle of the day. Later on, 30 minutes is often enough for the brain to be more receptive again.

A two-year-old boy stands in his crib

How much sleep is really necessary depends in particular on the experiences and activities in the morning. Those who have been busy mentally and physically need a longer break. If, on the other hand, the little ones are only exposed to a few impressions, short periods of rest are often sufficient. However, it should be noted that an overly tight program in the morning can quickly lead to sensory overload. It is therefore important to act in the child's best interests.

It is not uncommon for a toddler to sleep at midday but not be able to fall asleep in the evening.

In this case, it may be that the nap lasts too long. You should shorten it slightly in favor of the night nap. Ideally, there should be at least four hours between the midday nap and going to bed in the evening.

Midday naps for babies: up to what age?

It is not possible to give a general answer to the age up to which a nap at midday makes sense. While some babies no longer need a rest at around 2 years of age, others can't get through the day at 4 or 5 years of age without taking a little break.

Lunchtime rest

Rest periods are also offered in many kindergartens so that sufficient energy can be gathered for the rest of the day. However, it is also often the case that small changes (starting school, etc.) suddenly make a nap necessary again. This is also due to the many new impressions that have been gathered and now need to be processed. If you notice over a longer period of time that your child gets tired unusually early, you should take this as an opportunity to get them to take another nap at lunchtime.

When babies' naps become unnecessary

There are children who fall asleep at midday without any problems. But there are also those who have much better things to do, because after all, playing is much more fun. If you have introduced fixed rest times, it will be easier for the body and mind to find rest. And yet it may be that your child simply cannot fall asleep. But despite all this, breaks are important and should be maintained until kindergarten age if possible.

Rituals can also help, such as reading a short story aloud. Darken the room, put on a nice music box and take your time. As many children are afraid of the dark, you can of course also use a night light during the lunch break.

Ideal comforters and sleep aids are also mumbles, cuddly cushions, cuddly blankets and co. Most children can't do without these in their bed. It can happen that your child does not want to or cannot fall asleep at the planned time. Perhaps the need for sleep is an hour before or after the planned time. Therefore, observe the behavior and delay the time a little if necessary. If sleeping is still not an option, your child can perhaps look at a book in bed. This will at least give them some rest so that their body can recover.