“Why don’t kids understand that their nap is not for them but for us?” Alyson Hannigan
Key Concepts:
● There are many changes in toddlerhood that explain changes in sleep. These include a strong desire for independence, to play and participate throughout the day, non-REM periods, and more mature and adultlike patterns to sleep.
● Managing sleep NOW can help you to avoid issues with sleep as your child grows. Research shows that children with sleep problems before age 2 are more likely to have sleep issues between ages 4-12, and a higher likelihood for general sleep disturbances even into adolescence.
● Sleep isn’t an indulgence, it is a biological necessity for parents and children. From health to academic success, sleep matters. In the research, more sleep is associated with improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health and LESS sleep is associated with challenges with attention, behavior, learning problems, increased risk of accidents, injuries, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and depression. Making sure your toddler, and then adolescent sleeps enough is a vital part of your role as a parent.
● While many of you may have already embarked on some type of sleep learning a few months back, remember that it is NOT a one and done event. Temporary changes in sleep are normal and anticipated.
● Transitioning from two naps to one is a significant milestone in a child’s sleep development, typically occurring somewhere between 12-18 months. Don’t panic though - this doesn’t need to happen right away and ONLY when your child shows signs they are ready (try and avoid forcing this transition if your child still needs 2 naps!). There are several signs that indicate your toddler might be ready for this transition.
What to Do:
To transition from 2 to 1 nap:
- Start by moving the morning nap later by 15-30 minutes every few days with the goal of approximately 12pm.
- Keep your child engaged and active in the morning to help them stay awake until the new nap time.
- Keep your naptime routine strong and build in wind down time.
- During this transition, you may need to adjust bedtime earlier to compensate for the longer awake period and ensure your child is not overtired. Be super vigilant for signs of overtiredness (increased fussiness, clinginess, or difficulty falling asleep)
- Be open to having every other or occasional 2 nap days during this transition period.
Reminders for general sleep habits:
- Manage your toddler’s sleep environment with things like a white noise machine, black out shades, and their favorite lovie.
- Create a special and consistent bedtime routine. Make it something you both enjoy, so that you can be consistent with it as your toddler grows. Ideas include a bath, cuddling, singing, or reading, all of which can help calm themselves for sleep.