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Photographer: Matt Flannigan
My son is supposed to nap. That’s what I’ve been telling myself for almost three years. And for almost three years, he hasn’t done it.
I've read every sleep book I could read, and tried every method I could try in hopes of nudging Noah into the Land of Nod. He simply won’t have it. It’s not his fault, he says. His eyes won’t stay shut.
The National Sleep Foundation reports that children ages 18 months to three years (my son’s age bracket) typically take a one- to three-hour nap in the afternoon. Between ages three and five years, most kids stop snoozing during the day at all. Of course, there are exceptions, but those are rare. My son is an exception. He does not—cannot—sleep during the day.
Unfortunately, a kid without a nap means a caregiver without a break. Children who do not nap often need a break, too, according to KidsHealth. The Website recommends quiet time in lieu of nap time. Noah and I tried it. Now, he stays in his room for one hour every afternoon. He can read, play with toys, sleep, or do whatever, but he cannot come out of his room. If he does, I shut the door and add minutes to his “quiet time.”
Life is great again. My son sleeps 11 hours at night and wakes up ready to run. After lunch, we both head up to our rooms. I rest and he plays for one hour. And sometimes . . . he sleeps.
For more info:
American Academy of Pediatrics: Sleep Issues
KidsHealth: All About Sleep
The National Sleep Foundation: Children's Sleep Habits
American Academy of Pediatrics: Sleep Issues
KidsHealth: All About Sleep
The National Sleep Foundation: Children's Sleep Habits
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