Does your child only take short naps?

If your child only takes short nap the chances are your child is only going through one sleep cycle before they wake up. The human sleep cycle is around 45 minutes long.

There are a 3 of reasons for this.
1.)Your child is unable to get them self to sleep and when they come into a light sleep they are unable to get themselves back into a deep sleep.

2.) They could be over tired, a child who’s over tired struggles to stay asleep and just about manages to get through one sleep cycle.

3.) Your child could be over stimulated. An over stimulated child struggles to stay asleep, much like the over tired child.

So what can you do to extend your child’s nap?

You can teach them the important skills to get themselves to sleep. If they can initially get to sleep unaided they are able to get back into a deep sleep after going through a sleep cycle.

Ensure your child doesn’t get over tired. By sticking to a routine and watching your child you can get them down for a nap before they become over tired.

Have a nice long wind down period before you start your naptime routine. Move away from your child’s toys, you can go for a walk (make sure your child doesn’t fall asleep) or sit together singing songs or looking at books. Choose something nice and quiet which, will help your child to relax.

If waking after one sleep cycle has become a habit you should try and extend the nap. Once you have got your child to sleep, remain in the room and keep an eye on the time. When your child first moves or makes a noise, take note of the time. This is when your child is coming into a light sleep. You can help your child get back into a deep sleep by rubbing their back/tummy or gently patting them. During the next nap, keep an eye on the time and go to then a few minutes before you know they are going to come into a light sleep. Try this for three days and then see if they can do it themselves.

Sleep well.