The problem of the child’s daytime sleep for parents is one of the most urgent. It happens that the baby categorically refuses to go to bed during the day, and if it takes a nap, then in the evening for a long time it cannot calm down. When children stop sleeping during the day, is it worth worrying that the child has stopped laying in the afternoon? Let's try to deal with these issues in this article.
Why does a child need to sleep during the day?
The need for daytime sleep is as follows:
- It helps to cope with emotional impressions, as the baby’s weak nervous system is quickly overloaded.
- Helps to focus for a long time. A rested child is able to focus on a specific lesson.
- The benefit of daytime sleep for children is that it has a beneficial effect on physical and mental health. During rest, nerve cells restore performance.
- The immune system is being strengthened.
- Positive effect on the learning process. Attention improves, failures are perceived easier.
- A positive attitude appears, adaptation in the team and unfamiliar environment is easier.
- Growth hormone production occurs.
- Accompanied by a good fall asleep in the evening and a good night's sleep.
From all of the above it already follows that daytime sleep is important for the child.
Is it necessary to relax in the daytime?
When do children stop sleeping during the day? It is difficult to answer this question, since getting a preschooler to sleep if he does not want is very problematic. Children's neurologists recommend bedtime for children up to six to eight years. The explanation for this is as follows. The nervous system is in the process of formation, and it is quite difficult for a child to cope with the mass of impressions that occurred during the whole day, without a break for sleep. Thus, the younger the baby, the greater the need for rest, which he receives during daytime sleep. For example, if children under three years of age are awake for eleven hours, then their overexcitation results in the following problems associated with behavioral reactions of the body:
- tantrums;
- whims;
- impulsiveness.
In addition, the lack of daytime sleep in this age category provokes a decrease in the body's defenses, that is, the immune system suffers.
When do children stop sleeping during the day? Preschoolers aged five to six years from the absence of daytime sleep practically will not suffer. However, doctors recommend keeping it as long as possible. Here both parental discipline and their offspring are important. In younger students, daytime sleep may persist, but it is not necessary. However, adaptation to school, new experiences, responsibility, independence contributes to overexcitation, and the child needs rest.
How to make a daily routine for a five-year-old child?
Children at the age of five have already formed some outlooks on life, they have their own values in clothes and food, they have made friends with whom they are interested in spending time, and they also went through a difficult stage of socialization in a preschool educational institution. Therefore, parents when drawing up a regime for them, it is advisable to consider the following points:
- The weekly schedule should be varied, filled with vivid events. Be sure to take time in it for entertaining games, watching your favorite movies, walking with friends, visiting a kindergarten, etc.
- In order to accustom the baby to independence, it is necessary to allocate time to help parents. For example, joint cleaning of the room or independent folding toys.
- Time for rest is an obligatory item in the general daily routine.
At this age, the child is obliged to devote some time to self-development - to play a foreign language in a playful way, read fairy tales, solve various puzzles. Usually thirty minutes a day for these classes is enough not to tire the baby and not discourage him from learning new things.
The regimen of a child's day at 5 years
Approximate daily routine for a five-year-old child:
- Wake up at 7 in the morning, exercise, personal hygiene, then breakfast, educational games, walk in the fresh air.
- Lunch from 12:30 to 13:00, then sleep. At 15:30 rise, afternoon tea, games.
- Dinner between seven and eight o’clock in the evening, after which there are quiet classes, reading books. At 21 o'clock - preparation for bed. A night's sleep until seven in the morning.
In order for a child to learn how to plan his day, he needs your help. In addition, each baby has its own preferences, so they also need to be taken into account in the daily routine.
The child does not sleep during the day at 5 years old
Children of different ages have a certain sleep norm. At the age of five, it is ten hours a day. Therefore, if the baby adheres to the daily routine, and he has a full night's sleep, then he may not sleep in the daytime. However, most often such situations happen that he needs additional rest, but does not want to go to bed. Consider the possible causes of this phenomenon:
- Inadequate behavior, increased irritability, moodiness.
- Hyperactivity.
- Severe overexcitation or overwork.
- Missing or the child lost his daily routine. For example, slept in a car.
- Psychological or physical discomfort - moving to a new apartment, moving furniture, etc.
- Malaise.
- Important events took place in the child’s life - the birth of a second baby, he first went to kindergarten or another event that he was not used to.
However, if your baby, despite the lack of sleep, cheerful, cheerful, active, then do not worry.
How to understand that the child does not need daytime sleep?
There are certain signs by which parents determine that the child does not need a daytime sleep:
- They are in a good mood, that is, the kids do not act up all day, are not irritated and behave calmly.
- It is difficult to lay in the evening - the baby is full of energy, plays outdoor games when the clock is already 22 or more hours.
- He wakes up in the morning on his own and easily, in a good mood.
- Resists going to bed during the day.
At what age does the child stop sleeping during the day? Everything is purely individual, some have six, others have five years. It is important to remember that if the baby moves to a new daily routine, then this process should go gradually. Initially, during the hours of daytime sleep, it is advisable for him to lie down, relax, and you read him a book. Try to keep your baby falling asleep and waking up at the same time. As a result, the children's body easily adapts to a new rhythm of life.
How to understand that the child still needs daytime sleep?
Many parents believe that if a child has missed daytime sleep, then he will catch up this time at night. However, such a statement is incorrect. Tired both emotionally and physically, it is difficult for the baby to fall asleep on time in the evening. It has been proven that daytime sleep helps to improve brain activity, since during this period specific areas of the brain that are responsible for the assimilation of new information are activated. How to understand whether a child needs a day's sleep? Consider situations when rest in the daytime is necessary:
- Bad mood in the afternoon - the child becomes irritable, fussy. He’s naughty in the evening, he doesn’t like much.
- It easily falls asleep during the day, practically does not resist, and sleeps for about an hour, and sometimes more.
- He behaves very quietly, constantly yawns, rubs his eyes.
- Falls asleep quickly when traveling in transport for short distances.
- Overfatigue sets in, which is manifested by hyperactivity, fussiness.
If your child has the above symptoms, then he still needs a day's rest, and it’s too early to change the day regimen.
Need for daytime sleep
Why is the baby awake? Often such a problem is faced by parents whose children are five to six years old. This is an absolutely natural process, which means that the body is fully adapted to the conditions of existence. The child’s nervous system maintains a given rhythm and does not need additional daytime rest. In this age period, do not insist that the child goes to bed.
However, he needs to spend some time alone. In order not to have problems with sleep, one should take into account the physiological and psychological needs of the child, as well as adhere to the daily regimen.
Conclusion
When do children stop sleeping during the day? All the children are individual, among them there are those who, already from the age of four, do not particularly need additional rest during the day. Do not force a healthy baby (after three years) to sleep. The need for daytime sleep is influenced by factors such as the degree of physical activity, the type of nervous system, the duration of the walks, the daily routine, and more. Do not forget that the baby still needs rest. Therefore, after lunch, he can simply lie down, play calm games, and after an afternoon snack, return to lively activities.