Naps of babies and children

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was consulted with MSc Duong Van Sy - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
We all know, babies around 1 month old need a lot of sleep. This is beneficial for the development of the brain and this is also a time of rest for the mother. However, the process of putting your baby to sleep during the day may be different from that at night. The following article will help mothers understand the basics of newborn naps.

1. How long do babies and young children nap?

Newborns are subject to very erratic sleep patterns. This is the period when all functions in the body develop rapidly and strongly, especially in the first month, babies often sleep and wake up around the clock, sleeping time is relatively equal between feedings. So it takes a while for babies to program themselves to a sleep schedule. Example:
Newborns 4 months to 1 year: After infancy, your baby will probably sleep at least 2 times a day - once in the morning and once in the early afternoon. Some babies also need a late afternoon nap. However, many babies sleep a total of three or more hours during the day; Children 1 year and older: At this age, your baby will likely nap and nap only in the afternoon, usually between two and three hours. The reason is that at this stage, children are no longer deprived of sleep but are more active, making their naps shorter. During this transition, consider moving your baby's nap time and bedtime by half an hour to help him adjust. Most children continue to nap until age 3. However, keep in mind that every baby will have different nap schedules. Therefore, parents should not force their children to nap too much, but gently encourage, monitor and help them have a reasonable and scientific nap schedule.

An infant's nap depends a lot on how well he sleeps at night. It is a fact that some babies confuse day and night sleep, ie sleeping more during the day than at night. To prevent this, limit daytime naps - especially late afternoons - to no more than three or four hours at a time. If your baby naps for too long at the end of the day, it can make it harder for her to fall asleep at bedtime.

2. What if the infant has trouble napping?

To help children easily fall asleep, parents can do some of the following:
Ambient environment: Choose a sleeping position without too bright light, a bit dark, quiet, and cool. and comfortable to encourage baby to sleep; Time to put the baby to sleep: Parents should note to put the baby to sleep but in an awake state. Signs like drooping eyelids, rubbing eyes and fussiness indicate that your baby is tired and wants to go to sleep. But if the mother leaves this situation for too long without putting the baby to sleep, the baby will become more tired and fussy, which will make it harder for the baby to sleep; Avoid holding your baby to sleep: This may be the only way your baby can sleep. If your baby has a habit of falling asleep in your arms after eating, do something soothing right after he eats - like changing a diaper or reading a short story; Put the baby to sleep in a safe position: When sleeping, young children inevitably move, roll over and over, so parents should choose a safe place for them to sleep such as: the inner edge of the bed. bed, crib or bassinet with soft items such as blankets, pillows, etc. Maintain a stable nap schedule: Children will maintain the habit of short naps for a long time if they nap every day and at the same time. . Therefore, parents should help children maintain this habit.

Most babies will cry while sleeping, but most will quiet down on their own if left alone for a few minutes. If the crying persists for more than a few minutes, check everything for any discomfort and comfort the baby. If your baby wakes up right after you put the nap, doesn't have problems like wet diapers, hunger or illness, try to be patient and encourage your baby to fall asleep on his own. Parents can gently pat, massage, or breastfeed for a short time.
Also, remember that babies are often active during sleep - twitching their arms and legs, smiling, sucking, and generally seeming restless. It's easy to mistake a baby's agitation as a sign that he's waking up or needs to eat. Instead of holding your baby right away, wait a few minutes to see if he or she goes back to sleep.
Note: Some infants and older children go through periods without napping. If this happens, try adjusting your baby's bedtime, by making it earlier or later, which can sometimes help her nap better during the day.
Getting your baby to get enough sleep during the day isn't always easy, so you shouldn't feel bad if some days are more difficult than others. Remember to look and listen for signs that your baby is tired and try to maintain a consistent nap routine. If you have questions or concerns about your baby's nap schedule, talk to your doctor for advice.
Besides, parents also need to supplement their children with essential micro-minerals such as zinc, lysine, chromium, selenium, vitamin B1, ... to fully meet the nutritional needs of children. The addition of these essential vitamins also supports digestion, enhances nutrient absorption, improves anorexia, and helps children eat well. Parents can simultaneously apply dietary supplements and functional foods derived from nature for easy absorption. The most important thing is that improving your baby's symptoms often takes a long time. The combination of many types of functional foods at the same time or continuously changing many types in a short time can cause the baby's digestive system not to adapt and completely not good. Therefore, parents must be really patient with their children and regularly visit the website vimec.com to update useful baby care information.
Reference source: mayoclinic.org