As a parent, you probably miss your quiet nap times the most. But once you become a parent, you have to kiss those moments of peace goodbye. Toddlers seem to live by the motto, ‘don’t sleep and don’t let anyone else sleep.’ And this obviously does no good to anyone. Soon, you will be left with raccoon eyes, a foggy brain, and a cranky toddler. So, if the answer to all these miseries is sleep, why won’t your toddler sleep? Well, there are several reasons why your toddler fights nap time or has a disturbed sleep, even if you put them to sleep. Here in this article are a few reasons why they have an erratic sleep schedule and how to help them with it. Read on!
Your Child No Longer Needs The Same Amount Of Nap Time As They Did A Few Months Back
One reason why your child may be resisting naps is that they no longer need the same amount of nap time as they did a few months back. So, if your child is fighting naps, consider any recent developments in your child’s life, growth, or development as a possible answer. For example, do they know how to crawl yet? Have they started eating solids or attended daycare? Alterations in routine also disrupt one’s ability to get enough shut-eye. Check for signs of fatigue in between naps so you can adapt accordingly.
The Naptime Routine Doesn’t Accommodate Your Child’s Natural Sleep Rhythms
Another reason why your child may be resisting naps is that the naptime routine doesn’t accommodate your child’s natural sleep rhythms. The solution is to consider your child’s circadian rhythm when deciding on things like naptime, bedtime, mealtime, the amount of light your child is exposed to, and how active your child is. Check their routine to make sure these things happen at consistent times daily. Your child’s sleep patterns may be disrupted if you do things incorrectly (such as letting him or her play in a brightly lit room immediately before bedtime).
There Is No Regularity In Sleep
If nap times, bedtimes, and wake-up times are consistent Monday to Friday but more erratic on the weekends, your child may be experiencing problems. For example, your kids sleep at a specific time at daycare and a particular time at home, or if he or she takes a long nap when you’re at home but a shorter one in the car on days when you’re out and about. Try to maintain regularity in your child’s sleep routine as much as possible.
Your Child Is Too Weary To Rest By Naptime
If you fail to recognize your child’s exhaustion signals, you may deal with more weeping, whining, fussing, and tantrums than usual. This is because your child will have swiftly moved past their weary spell, physically exhausted bodies, and into that condition of fake vitality. In addition, when you fail to recognize your child’s signals of exhaustion, they will have trouble falling asleep no matter how late you put them to bed. So, keep an eye out for signs of exhaustion and ensure your child gets enough rest.
Your Child Is Taking Short Irregular Naps
When your child reaches that point of exhaustion, they may fall asleep for a few minutes while relaxing on the couch, swing, or car. Though it won’t be as restorative as a complete nap, this little snooze may be all your little one needs to stay awake when you finally lay them down for his or her scheduled nap time. Avoid putting your child in a sleep-inducing setting like a vehicle trip or swing at a time during which they are likely to require a nap
