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| Infant - Month #42 |
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| Your Three-Year-Old |
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It's one o'clock in the afternoon and your three-year-old is running laps around the house while you're running low on patience. A pile of laundry and dishes linger nearby and the bestseller you picked up at the library is calling your name. You consider bagging the nap to ensure ease at bedtime, but you're aware of the bewitching hours each evening when he's a difficult and grumpy mess until he finally crashes into bed around eight o'clock. What is a mom to do? Does a three-year-old still need a nap or would quiet moments throughout the day be enough? |
| An Eye On The Issue |
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Wouldn't it be nice if there was one way to raise a good sleeper? All we need is that one trick to get a child to sleep during naptime and go to sleep with ease during bed time, too. Kids do have the ability to learn to sleep well; it's just up to the parents to guide their kids' healthy sleeping habits from the beginning. And, in fact, mental and physical development is dependent upon this sleep. Napping allows children to process the information they've learned and to apply that knowledge in new situations. Some developmental milestones can get in the way of sleeping during the day and night. A toddler's newfound independence and an increase in cognitive, social, and motor skills can interfere with this much needed sleep. That is why some little ones still need naps, shorter or longer than others at the same age. In addition, due to an increased imagination, the fear of monsters in the closet or under the bed, for example, creates anxieties as well. Toddlers age one to three need 12-14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. Preschoolers age three to five need 11-13 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. Where your child falls is determined by the healthy habits you help to create. If your child sleeps 10 hours at night, he may need a 2-hour nap during the day, about 5 hours after he wakes, in order to rejuvenate him for afternoon playing. Keeping track of the number of hours he's asleep during the night will determine the length of his nap during the day, if a nap takes place at all. Professionals suggest, however, even if your child is finished with naps, try to encourage a time during the day for recharging until five years of age. |
| Just Try It |
Try out some new ideas for replacing nap time without discouraging independent recharging for your child and a mid-day break for you! If your child falls asleep, then he must need the rest. If he stays awake, he might be giving up naptime, so consider the following ideas:
You might consider a reward system using stickers for each day your child completes her quiet time. After five days in a row with no problems, for example, your child can pick a surprise from a treasure box. Items for the treasure box should be inexpensive or free items such as prizes for birthday parties sold in bulk, items from the dollar store, or coupons for playing a game with you, helping you bake cookies, or watching a movie with you. Of course, be creative with the rewards and even let your child choose the reward prior to beginning so she has a personal goal to reach. |
| Parent Chit Chat |
When Cory hit three years old, my husband and I both noticed his increased energy level when it was time for bed. After charting his daily schedule for a week, we had to set a few new rules for ourselves and for him:
We DON'T give in to his demands! This is the key for us! Of course, no method is fool-proof, but one method or a few put together must be used for at least two weeks, according to the professionals, in order to be successful. Little ones thrive on consistency and structure, so find what works and stick with it. Offering choices to your little ones helps a lot, too. They love knowing their opinions matter and they can help with family decisions. Just make sure you're comfortable with the choices available. |
| Book Basket |
Open the pages of these exciting tales aimed for infants to age five!
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| Food For Thought |
Nutritious and delicious foods for healthy, happy, ready-to-snooze kids! These foods are proven to produce melatonin, a hormone that relaxes and encourages sleeping.
To ensure a restful sleep, reduce sugars and caffeine your child consumes at least three hours before sleeping. Also remember to keep that belly full one half hour to one hour before sleeping. Most of all, remember that "This too shall pass"! |
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