Question for a psychologist: the child refuses to sleep during the day. Reasons why the baby does not want to sleep during the day Serious changes have occurred in the child’s life

Around the age of 2, a natural leap in the baby’s development occurs and he begins to refuse naps during the day.

I have several friends who decided that since the child does not sleep during the day, it means he does not need it.

A couple of days passed and the accumulated lack of sleep began to affect the baby: nervous, crying, irritable. That’s when they immediately remembered me and started asking what to do to get sleep back.

Therefore, today we will look at daytime sleep at 2 years old and how to cope with refusing it?

Why is it important to maintain naps during the day?

Daytime sleep is useful because it makes it possible to compensate for lack of sleep after the night (if this happens);
The baby’s nervous system is still immature, and he receives a lot of impressions during his waking hours. During sleep during the day, information is processed and structured, which means that “space” is freed up in the memory for new knowledge and impressions;
Most children become even more active at 1.5-2 years old. And staying awake for too long is undesirable for a small organism. This leads to rapid fatigue and poor coordination of movements. It's important to take a break and sleep;
Refusal of daytime sleep at 2 years old leads to overtiredness. As a result, the child may have difficulty falling asleep at night. And in an overtired state, it is impossible to completely relax and rest;
Sleeping during the day also has a beneficial effect on strengthening the immune system. The baby's body's defenses are increased.

How long should children rest during the day and at night? Total sleep for a child aged 1.5 to 2 years should be 12-14 hours (on average 13 hours). But it can be distributed differently in children. For example, if a child slept 11 hours at night, then during the day his sleep will be approximately 2 hours.

Until the age of 4, it is necessary to sleep during the day. Daytime sleep is in no way an obstacle to nighttime sleep, but, on the contrary, only improves its quality. After 4 years, you can gradually move away from the tradition of sleeping during the day. Although in moments of overwork, such rest will always be useful.

Reasons for not taking naps during the day

So why does a child stop sleeping during the day, so in need of rest?

The cause is most often a new surge in the growth and development of the nervous system. It is still quite difficult for the baby to cope with overexcitation and calm down in time;
The banal reason is that the child “slept” all his quota at night;
The child was not yet tired. Perhaps you are trying to put him to bed too early or he got up late in the morning and has not played enough yet. You can try shifting the time of daytime rest;
The baby is becoming more and more independent and begins to realize this. Often, with the help of such refusals, children test their parents' strength;
Stopping breastfeeding and the child’s lack of ability to fall asleep independently.

This is one of the common problems with which mothers turn to me for individual consultation. They want to wean off as quickly as possible so they can start getting enough sleep, but a miracle doesn’t happen.

The child may sleep a little better at night, but when he goes to bed during the day, all hell breaks loose.

If you are still breastfeeding and plan to stop feeding, be sure to first teach your baby to fall asleep without the breast, and then wean him completely.

Technologies for teaching yourself to fall asleep independently are waiting for you in the online course How to teach a child to fall asleep and sleep without breastfeeding, night awakenings and motion sickness >>>

How to help your baby fall asleep during the day?

Of course, first of all you need to take care of maintaining your daily routine. It is important to put the child to bed and feed the child at the same time (plus or minus half an hour). If your child goes to kindergarten, then on weekends try to stick to the same schedule as on weekdays;
The room where the child sleeps should be fresh. It must be regularly ventilated and monitor the temperature and humidity in the room. The air should not be very dry;
Before going to bed, try not to play outdoor games with your baby. Do something calmer with him: read a book, tell a story, give him a relaxing massage, sing a melodic song;
Walk more with your child. Fresh air improves sleep quality. The most favorable option is to take a longer walk with the baby before lunch and daytime rest;
The quieter and darker the room, the easier it is for children to fall asleep;
If a child at 2 years old refuses to nap during the day, explanations will be of little help. It’s worth mentioning, of course, that rest is very important for him, that in his sleep he grows, becomes stronger and smarter, and gains strength for new games.

If you have already stopped breastfeeding, you can watch the seminar where I give practical techniques and tricks on how to overcome refusal to fall asleep: How to quickly put your baby to sleep?>>>.

Don't scold your baby if he can't sleep. Control your emotions and try to remain calm (current article: A child takes a long time to fall asleep, what to do?>>>);
Give your child the opportunity to choose something before bed, for example, what book to read, what song to sing, or what clothes he would like to sleep in. Children love to take initiative, are happy that they can express their preferences like adults and, thus, respond more positively to your requests and instructions;
Creating a bedtime ritual will help you (a friendly phrase, a fairy tale, massage, changing clothes, putting toys to bed, drawing curtains, a lullaby, etc.) The main rules of the ritual: consistency, relaxing effect, maintaining close contact between mother and baby.

Almost every milestone in a child’s development has its own moments of crisis. For daytime sleep, the crisis period occurs at about 2 years of age. But it all depends on the individual characteristics of each baby.

The main thing on the part of parents is to adhere to the position that the difficulties that have arisen are temporary in nature, it is impossible to refuse daytime sleep at this age, but, on the contrary, it is necessary to do everything possible to maintain it.

Often, strengthening their authority helps many mothers. This has a beneficial effect on the child’s behavior, his obedience, including going to bed during the day.

How and what you need to do to increase your authority, see the course Mom is in Chief!>>>

A two-year-old baby does not sleep during the day - is this a cause for concern or a physiological feature of the child? What should parents do? Our article, based on the recommendations of Russian pediatricians, will help you understand the reasons for your baby’s sleepless state and solve the problem with your baby’s daytime sleep.

Sleep standards for children 2-3 years old

It should be remembered that all children are different. The time that is optimal for one baby may be insufficient or too much for another. Therefore, listening to the stories of other mothers that their children sleep for 2-3 hours during the day and fall asleep early in the evening, you should not think that if your baby sleeps less, then this is wrong.

A deviation of one or one and a half hours from the given standards is quite acceptable. The main criterion for good sleep is the baby’s well-being, cheerfulness and desire to play.

If the baby is capricious and sluggishly reacts to your offers to play, then most likely he does not sleep enough. In the first few days and even weeks, lack of sleep may not manifest itself at all, but then it becomes more and more noticeable.

Why can’t a 2-3 year old child fall asleep during the day?

Reluctance to sleep during the day is a fairly common phenomenon among children who do not yet go to kindergarten. And not all children sleep during the day.

This depends on a number of reasons:

Late rise in the morning . There are babies who can sleep until they are woken up. The result: having gotten up at ten o'clock in the morning, by two o'clock the child simply does not have time to get tired.
Baby doesn't spend enough time outdoors . Walking and outdoor games require a lot of energy, so after them, children, as a rule, sleep much better.
The child is very excited . In this case, the baby cannot calm down and does not want to go to bed. This happens when the situation changes, when guests arrive.
The baby is uncomfortable in the room . It is very hot or cold, dusty, and bright daylight interferes with sleep. In addition, the baby may be distracted by untidy toys and extraneous sounds (if your neighbors, for example, have started renovations).
Uncomfortable crib . Perhaps the baby is cramped in it, the blanket is too warm or the pillow is not suitable.
Hyperactive child . A frequently used term. Such children sleep little and restlessly, and while awake they are in constant motion.

Comment from doctor Anna Yuryevna Pleshanova, pediatric neurologist:

It is very desirable that the child still sleeps during the day.

Adjusting your regime to the daylight hours can help here, as the most physiological option is to go to bed early and get up early. This is not always convenient for parents, but it is important for the child.

The best option is for the child to sleep in a separate room, with the ability to arrange complete darkness there during sleep.

Most children, even those who need a nap during the day, usually do not like to go to bed - after all, there are so many interesting activities and games. Therefore, suggesting watching a cartoon as an alternative to sleep is wrong; the child will then definitely refuse to sleep during the day, even if he really wants to. It is better to invite the child to choose a fairy tale that his mother will read to him before bed, with the condition that after that he must sleep.

Well, if it doesn’t work out at all with daytime sleep, and the baby behaves well while awake - he doesn’t get capricious, doesn’t look sleepy, tired - or, on the contrary, excited and irritable, parents should accept this peculiarity of the child and not turn the lack of daytime into a problem. sleep causes stress for the whole family.

What to do if a 2-3 year old child does not sleep during the day?

As in many difficult situations, reconsider your behavior.

According to child psychologists, difficulties are the mother’s problem, and the baby is not to blame for anything.

That is: You can’t scold a child for something that doesn’t happen intentionally. And the inability to sleep during the day is just such a case.

Many mothers get annoyed if the baby suddenly stops sleeping and deprives them of the opportunity to do chores or get some rest. But the baby doesn’t understand this and perceives his mother’s stern tone as punishment.

What should be done so that both the baby and the mother have the opportunity to have a good rest without unnecessary scandals and insults:

Increase the duration and intensity of your walks before lunch . Try to offer your child active activities as much as possible. You can play ball, climb in labyrinths, teach your child to do pull-ups on a horizontal bar, or swing on a swing independently. Riding a scooter, balance bike or bicycle is very good. Nowadays, small children's climbing walls have begun to be installed in many courtyards.
You can also invite your child to jump on a trampoline. . If you have one in your yard, that's great. If not, you can take your baby to a children’s labyrinth or trampoline center. Not only outdoor exercises will be useful, but also the swimming pool and rhythm in fitness centers.
Review your daily routine . Perhaps it will be possible to shift the night's sleep and get the baby up earlier in the morning. If a child wakes up at 7 am, then by 1 pm he will have played enough to have lunch and go to bed without whims.
The environment is also very important. . It should be cool at home. The optimal temperature for sleeping is about 20 degrees. The room should be ventilated before going to bed. Carry out wet cleaning regularly. Bed linen should also be pleasant to the touch. The curtains are thick enough to dim the light. All this will calm the baby and set him up for healthy sleep.
To relieve excessive excitability, you can read a book before bed. , consider the toys, choose those with which the child will sleep. One little girl, before falling asleep, spends a long time with her mother listing everyone who also goes to bed (a wolf from a cartoon, a stuffed fox, dad, grandparents). Such rituals also help the baby calm down and fall asleep.
Do not threaten or blackmail your child . Also, psychologists do not recommend forcing a child to lie in bed. Such actions lead to even greater nervousness for both baby and mother. In some cases, things take a very bad turn and the child develops a fear of the crib and the rituals associated with it.
If you still can’t get your baby to sleep, try to calm down and offer to read, draw, or watch a cartoon. . You can also turn on soft, pleasant music, this will return a positive mood to your mother. And the baby, seeing that the mother has calmed down, will also be able to calm down and play independently while the mother does the necessary things or lies down for a while.
We should also not forget that there are children who completely refuse daytime sleep by the age of 2.5 years. . One mother said: “I put my son to bed, he seems to be breathing calmly, his eyes are closed, and I go to the kitchen to prepare dinner. After 10 minutes he comes with the words: “I’m already asleep.” In this case, both pediatricians and psychologists agree that it is worth replacing daytime sleep with quiet games. And in the evening the baby will go to bed earlier. Around 9-10 o'clock the child will ask to sleep on his own. A full, long night's sleep compensates for the lack of daytime sleep.

Alarm bell. When should you see a doctor?

Unfortunately, not all sleep problems can be solved by taking a long walk and reading books. - a phenomenon in which activity and excitability exceed the norm. Only a pediatric neurologist can make such a diagnosis for your child.

If you are concerned about the duration and quality of your baby's sleep, you should consult a doctor. Tell us how the pregnancy and childbirth went, how the child developed, what illnesses he suffered.

After a comprehensive examination and passing the necessary tests, the doctor will prescribe the necessary therapy.

This could be a relaxing massage, exercise therapy, a swimming pool, or mild sedatives. But self-medication in this case is unacceptable. It can only cause harm.

A child's body is a very complex mechanism. The children's nervous system is mobile, small changes in the environment can cause large changes in behavior. Try to show your baby your positive attitude and create a comfortable environment for him to live. After all, children are a reflection of ourselves; they, like a mirror, show what they see. And the dream indicates how well all organs function.

It is important for the baby to feel love and care, then he will grow up healthy and confident.

Have you ever encountered a situation where a child refuses to sleep during the day, and going to bed during the day takes a long time and takes a lot of effort, nerves and time? A reader came to us with this request:

Good afternoon The child is 1 year 10 months old. Generally refuses to sleep during the day or falls asleep after all my nerves run out(this is after about an hour of going to bed), I get up and leave. The son begins to scream heart-rendingly, he never screams like that. Of course, I return and then he almost immediately falls asleep. But this is not a solution. We now live in the country, in the fresh air all the time, running, playing, and physical activity. We live according to the regime. We follow all the rituals before going to bed. What am I doing wrong? And how to deal with this? Now we are in the period of myself. We are on GW. We fall asleep with the breast, but now the breast does not help. The situation is the same in the evening, until we read all the books and exhaust our mother’s nerves, we won’t calm down. Help with advice. Thank you in advance.

Iya Tsoi, practicing psychologist:

The first thing I noticed in your letter was your insistent desire to put your child to sleep during the day. Apparently, this is because you are convinced of the need for daytime sleep for him. But all children, just like adults, are very different. Today, neither in medicine nor in psychology, there are any strict standards for the regime and time a child needs to sleep. There is only approximate, average numbers. Thus, the famous doctor E. Komarovsky believes that at the age of about 2 years this approximately 13 hours. And daytime sleep is not necessary for a 2-year-old child at all. True, you are a little smaller, but all children grow at different rates!

I would recommend that you first try to cancel sleep during the day. And put the child to bed early in the evening. Of course, the regime is very important, and it is good when it has some flexibility. Bedtime rituals are great too. By the way, is there anyone among them like lightly stroking the baby's face with the edge of the cloth(you can take a handkerchief and, holding it over the top, draw it in the direction from forehead to chin)? If not, you can try this method too by including it in some calming game. For example, imagine flying birds that “touch you with their wings,” one after another.

You write that your baby is now in the “I’m on my own!” period. Usually this behavior is attributed to the 3-year-old crisis, but, of course, this is very conditional, and many of its features can appear in children much earlier. In general, sudden changes in a child’s behavior are a good reason to observe him and answer the question: “What exactly are his needs now?” and “how are they satisfied?” After all, human needs are not only about “eating”, “drinking”, “sleeping”. For example, where can he show this “self” of his, except in the fight with his mother against daytime sleep? Does it have its own territory, where its own rules apply; your responsibilities around the house or at least self-care? In general, it would be interesting to know how you communicate with him. It is clear that you cannot write everything in a short question. But I was a little confused by your word “fight”. Usually, when parents use military metaphors when talking about parenting, I expect them to mention their fatigue (this is also in your letter). Everything is correct because in any confrontation the child usually ends up in a stronger position. Maybe this happens because he defends his right to do what he WANTS, and adults do what, according to some experts, NEEDS to be done.

Of course, a child is a rather complex creature, and many factors influence his behavior. During consultations, I usually find out the entire context of the family’s life: what the parents are doing, how satisfied they are with life, what kind of relationships are between adults - all this is important. Often problems with his behavior are a way to communicate something to his spouse or grandparents, that is, such an indirect version of communication. In this case, the best way out is to teach adults to express their desires and complaints directly (and at the same time correctly), without involving the child.

1. Conduct an experiment with canceling daytime sleep. Don't torture yourself and your baby. See what happens for at least a week. If he sleeps normally during the night, then do not put him to bed during the day in the future. Perhaps sometimes he will ask to sleep on his own. Make several mode options for him so as not to worry when something goes wrong.

2. Think about whether you still need to continue breastfeeding? If necessary, then to whom and why? Is this more beneficial or harmful for mother and child? (I am aware of the WHO recommendations, but again, they are based on some of their own considerations, and your case may be far from them).

3. See what the child is doing. Does he have activities that allow him to show independence and responsibility? Does he realize himself as a creator or only as a consumer?

4. Very useful practice: keep a diary with 2 columns. In one column you write how he behaves during the day, especially those actions that are incomprehensible to you, irritate you, etc., and in the other column - the need that was behind it. This is a good key to understanding your child.

5. Analyze the relationships between adults in your family. If there is tension in the relationship, disagreements, irreconcilable differences, they are almost certainly reflected in the child. In this case, you can contact a family psychologist in order to establish normal communication.

Ksenia Ilyanovich, author of the project “Motherhood is a Joy”:

I am in favor of Most children still need naps during the day. Because it is very difficult for a baby to stay awake for 10 hours; the nervous system needs a break during the day and rest. You can check the need for daytime sleep like this: if the child does fall asleep, how long does he sleep? If it’s 2-3 hours, it means you really wanted to sleep, if it’s half an hour or an hour, then you can probably do without daytime sleep. My son is 3.5 years old, he sleeps for 2 hours during the day. In very rare exceptions, when there is no daytime sleep, by the evening the child is no longer recognizable; he is very tired and easily irritated.

D Long bedtimes may be a signal that the child has “transitioned”, is already too excited and now cannot calm down and fall asleep on his own. It is believed that you should go to bed before the so-called signs of fatigue: someone rubs their eyes, someone yawns, someone begins to “lean back”. I would try to go to bed an hour earlier, for example. Or, on the contrary, an hour later - if you don’t have time to get tired and want to sleep.

Other The important thing is the mother’s attitude. The good news is that it depends only on you :) However, it is usually very difficult to calm down on your own, pull yourself together, get rid of the thought “go to sleep soon!” and remain calm. Difficult, but possible if desired. Good luck to you! And patience :)

Tell me, does your child sleep during the day or no longer? How is the installation going?

Daytime sleep is very important for a baby. Rest in the afternoon promotes normal development. What to do if a 2-year-old child does not want to sleep during the day? And how does this affect his well-being? The article will discuss the reasons for not sleeping and how to quickly solve this problem.

Why does a child need to sleep during the day?

Experts say that a good afternoon nap increases efficiency and concentration, and improves the emotional and mental state of the baby. A well-rested child is balanced, calm, entertains himself independently and does not require the constant presence of an adult next to him. Pediatricians note the benefits of daytime sleep not only for infants, but also for older children. To prevent neurological and behavioral problems in children after one year, daily afternoon rest is important.

Many parents make the mistake of believing that a child who does not sleep during the day will fall asleep easier in the evening. Most often, a different situation occurs: an overexcited baby cannot fall asleep in the evening, and at night he constantly spins and wakes up. This indicates overwork.

It is important to remember that during infancy, children sleep as much as they need. And starting from the age of 2, their psyche changes greatly. So why doesn’t a 2-year-old child want to sleep during the day? The fact is that from this age the baby begins to feel anxiety, fear, and excitement, so the quality and quantity of sleep is significantly reduced. If he is constantly in a state of lack of sleep, then his ability to learn decreases, and the condition of the immune system worsens.

One of the main tasks of parents is to properly organize daytime sleep for the baby. This will help him develop well both intellectually and physically.

How many hours should a baby sleep

There are no strict standards when it comes to sleep; the baby independently determines how long he wants to sleep. For some children, long rest is considered normal, while for others, short rest is considered normal.

How many hours does a 2 year old child sleep? So, according to the research of Dr. Komarovsky, there are the following standards for the average daily need for children to sleep:

up to 3 months, the baby should sleep from 16 to 20 hours;
up to 6 months - at least 14.5 hours;
from 1 to 2 years - no more than 13.5 hours a day;
at 2-4 years - at least 13 hours;
at 4-6 years old - about 11.5 hours per day;
at 6-12 years old, the daily sleep requirement does not exceed 9.5 hours;
After 12 years, a child needs to sleep 8.5 hours a day.

If a child under 3 years old sleeps less than 12 hours a day, then most often he compensates for insufficient daytime sleep at night. Experts draw the attention of young parents that if the baby has not slept for a long time, but remains calm, inquisitive, and cheerful, then there are individual norms for him.

Newborns usually sleep from one feeding to the next. And the older they get, the less they rest. First, the baby begins to be awake after lunch, and sleeps no more than 17 hours a day. Then the child switches to 2 naps a day.

Each age has its own characteristics. A child's sleep pattern changes at the age of 2, and he sleeps only once, and the duration of such sleep does not exceed 3 hours. Closer to 3-4 years, he may completely abandon daytime sleep. However, some children continue to need afternoon rest until they are 6-7 years old. And pediatricians advise preschoolers up to this age to rest during the day.

What to do if your child does not want to sleep during the day

Daily routine, nutrition, clothing, walks greatly affect the quality of a baby's sleep. In order for the baby to go to bed with pleasure, you need to establish the correct sleep schedule at 2 years old, and parents also need to provide:

Proper and balanced nutrition.
Constant walks and games in the fresh air.
Regular wet cleaning in the children's room.
Comfortable, clean and soft bed.

Typically, children who have their own schedule do not have whims about daytime sleep. They are used to going to eat, play, and sleep at certain times. Of course, you don’t need to follow your daily routine too carefully. If the child looks tired before the due date, then it is better to put him to bed and not wait for the right time. However, if he is still playing or watching the last cartoon before bed, then you should not interrupt the process and forcefully drag him to bed. It’s better to let him finish what he started and calmly go to rest.

Parents should not put their baby back to sleep if he wakes up early. Also, do not wake him up if the time allotted for naps has already ended. It is better to pay more attention to the condition and well-being of the child than to the watch.

Reasons for not taking naps during the day

Not all two-year-old children need naps during the day. Therefore, if a child sleeps soundly at night, has sufficient physical activity and does not have tantrums, then he does not need an afternoon nap. In return, during this time you can play quiet games, lie down and read an interesting book.

There are times when parents notice that the lack of daytime sleep leads to poor health of the baby. Therefore, the answer to the question of what to do if a 2-year-old child does not want to sleep during the day will be a recommendation to study the most common causes and ways to solve them.

Cause	Description of the reason	Solution
Wrong daily routine	Scientists have proven that there is a certain time when a child is ready to fall asleep and get quality sleep. At this time, the body temperature changes, the metabolism slows down, and if there is a need, the body falls asleep.	The optimal bedtime for a two-year-old child will be between 12:30 and 13:00. Provided that the baby woke up no later than 7 o’clock in the morning.
Abrupt and frequent changes in activity	Children by nature are very inquisitive and active. Therefore, the daytime is filled with games, laughter, tears, and songs for them. And if at this time the mother begins to put her to bed without completing the process, then, most likely, she will be faced with an unwillingness to go to bed and crying.	It is advisable for parents to create rituals that will help their child get ready for daytime sleep. Do not use too long a procedure before a night's rest. However, some items can be taken. Knowing the sequence of actions will help the baby emotionally prepare for the afternoon nap and avoid protests.
Wrong environment in the sleeping room	It is very difficult to fall asleep when the room is flooded with sunlight, the laughter of children playing can be heard from the open windows, and the recent walk is still remembered. Children, like all adults, find it easier to fall asleep in a dark and well-ventilated room. Parents should not open the windows wide or turn on the lights; it is better to create a semi-dark atmosphere in the room. This will help the baby’s body produce the hormone melatonin, which is responsible for good and sound sleep.	To create an atmosphere for sleep in the room, you can use thick curtains or cassette blinds. If the street is too noisy and the sound penetrates even through closed windows, then you can turn on white noise in the room. The background in the room may be static noise between radio stations, the sound of rain or surf. Such sounds are not addictive. But classical music is not suitable for these purposes.
Negative associations with sleep	While the baby is small, parents do everything possible to ensure that he sleeps as long as possible. And this is correct, up to 4 months it is very difficult for a child to go to bed on his own. But it happens that this situation lasts up to 1-2 years. And the only way to put the baby to sleep is to hold him in your arms or breastfeed.	The solution to this problem will be two methods: abrupt and gradual. Few mothers will agree to the “fall asleep when you cry” method, although it is considered one of the fastest and most effective. In the second method, mothers will need patience and perseverance. The room should have partial shade and fresh air without unnecessary noise. To begin with, the mother should rock the baby not until he completely falls asleep, but until he is in a deep sleepy state. Then just hold it in your arms. After the baby gets used to it, you can rock and put the baby who has not yet fallen asleep in the crib.

Only the most common reasons are listed here. Sometimes the baby refuses to sleep due to lack of physical activity. Therefore, you should carefully study the child’s daily routine. This will help determine what should be excluded from it and what should be added.

How to put your baby to sleep without tantrums

You shouldn't spend a lot of effort putting your baby to bed. Several proven ways to put a 2-year-old child to sleep during the day:

Parents need to create a comfortable and calm environment in the sleeping room. Nothing should scare the baby.
Before going to bed, you need to read good, non-scary fairy tales, children's poems, or sing a lullaby.
Some babies are soothed by gentle, light stroking on the back or head.
A parent can lie down next to the child, citing fatigue, and ask him not to make noise.

The baby, wishing not to wake up the adult, will be able to fall asleep next to him. Such methods should work within the first half hour. If bedtime is delayed, then parents urgently need to change tactics and not insist on their own.

The influence of daytime sleep on nighttime

If a child does not sleep during the day, this does not mean that he will sleep poorly at night. The main thing is to follow a few rules:

Parents should not play noisy or active games with their child before a night's rest.
It is better to avoid watching cartoons before bed.
A leisurely walk in the evening, a swim, or a good fairy tale will help you fall asleep soundly. Fairytale therapy will help you get a good night's sleep. It will help the child not only understand all the events of the past day, but also fall asleep faster.

What about the kindergarten regime?

Many parents force their child to sleep only because kindergarten has its own routine. Even if a 2-year-old child does not want to sleep during the day, then you should not frighten him with a children's educational institution.

He must know what is exciting, fun and interesting there. And the teacher is, first of all, his friend, not his supervisor. Most often, children easily switch to this mode and happily go to bed, eat and play with their peers.

How to keep your child occupied instead of naptime

Instead of daytime games, you can offer quiet and calm games. For example, modeling and drawing do an excellent job of restoring the nervous system.

The parent can also invite the baby to lie on the bed together and read their favorite fairy tales, poems or stories.

Conclusion

Parents need to be more patient and take into account the individual needs of their baby. So, if the baby does not want to sleep during the day and looks just as cheerful and joyful, then you should not force him to go to bed. For such a child, a night's rest is quite enough.

Like many behavioral disorders, in children are initially identified on the basis of parental complaints, rather than objective criteria. Many of the behavioral sleep disorders are the result of an interaction between the normal changes in sleep as the child grows (as outlined above) and the parent's response to them. For example, one of the most common sleep disorders in infants and young children is sleep initiation disorder.

In these cases child gets used to falling asleep only under certain circumstances, for example when he is rocked or fed, and does not develop the ability to fall asleep on his own. At night, during short-term awakenings (which normally occur at the end of the sleep cycle - every 90-120 minutes) or waking up for another reason, the child is not able to fall asleep again unless the usual conditions for this are created.

Baby signals to parents by crying or comes to parents' bedroom (if the child is not already sleeping in a crib) and cannot fall asleep until certain conditions are created. Thus, the problem arises with long night awakenings in the child, which leads to insufficient sleep (for both the child and the parents!).

Treatment of the disorder associated with falling asleep, in typical cases includes a program aimed at excluding the participation of parents in the process of the child falling asleep, including at night (systematic ignoring). In children older than one year, it is possible to establish new sleep associations that will help the child fall asleep on his own if he wakes up at night (for example, using objects that the child will always have with him at night, such as a blanket or toy), in addition to positive reinforcement ( small reward for the fact that the child fell asleep on his own, such as stickers). The goal is to help your child develop the ability to fall asleep independently when waking up at night, as well as when going to bed in the evening.

« Gradual fading" is a slower process of weaning the child from his dependence on the presence of parents during the period of falling asleep, it includes periodic "checks" by parents at gradually lengthening intervals. If the child is accustomed to waking up for night feedings (“habitual hunger”), then such night feedings should stop gradually. Parents must be consistent in implementing the therapeutic program and not involuntarily provoke night awakenings in the child. Parents should also be warned that at the beginning of treatment the child may cry more often at night (“flash after extinction”).

Against, disorder in the form of refusal to lie down sleep disorder is more common in preschool-age children and older children and is characterized by difficulty falling asleep and reluctance to go to bed (“crying curtains drawn”) rather than night awakenings. Delayed sleep onset results in inadequate sleep duration.

Most often, this disorder develops as a result of the inability (or unwillingness) parents Establish consistent bedtime routines and insist that the child go to bed at the same time, which is often exacerbated by the child's oppositional behavior. In some cases, however, a child's refusal to go to bed is caused by a problem (such as a medical condition such as asthma, certain medications, sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome or anxiety) or a mismatch between the child's internal circadian rhythm. (night owl) and the demands of the parents.

The course of therapeutic measures, which, as a rule, allows one to achieve good results, usually includes reducing parental attention in relation to the child's behavior(aimed at delaying the time of falling asleep), creating conditions in the child’s bedroom that encourage sleep, and positive reinforcement (for example, stickers) for the child’s correct behavior before bed. Older children may benefit from teaching relaxation techniques to help them fall asleep more easily and quickly.