Why is it important for kids to nap? Aside from the obvious fact that you need time to check your e-mail, make a phone…

Why is it important for kids to nap?

Aside from the obvious fact that you need time to check your e-mail, make a phone call, or clean up the house, naps are critical to growing children. "Research suggests that physical and mental development takes place when kids sleep-both at night and during the day," says Daniel Lewin, Ph.D., director of pediatric behavioral sleep medicine at Children's National Medical Center, in Washington, D.C.

What's more, studies find that kids who nap have longer attention spans and are less fussy than those who don't. And perhaps the best reason of all: When kids rest during the day, they tend to sleep longer and more peacefully at night.

If my baby takes only one nap a day, when should he take it?

Wouldn't it be nice if parents had control over such decisions? For nearly all children, the morning nap disappears sometime between 12 and 21 months, Dr. Weissbluth says. The exception is when a child goes to sleep too late at night and wakes up tired. Then, he's likely to nap during the morning hours and may not fall asleep again in the afternoon. That's a sign that he needs to get to bed earlier in the evenings.

The best time for a single nap is early afternoon. "Don't let your child sleep past three or four o'clock," Dr. Mindell advises. "You should allow for at least four hours between the end of an afternoon nap and bedtime."

Happy Napping

Do: Aim to stick to the same nap routine each day, but be flexible on special occasions.

Don't: Wait until your child is asleep to put him down in his crib or bed.

Do: Encourage your baby to sleep in her own crib or bed for naps after she's 2 months old.

Don't: Keep your child up too late at night, which will interfere with his daytime sleep.

Do: Keep her room as quiet and dark as possible.

▪Age: 3 mos. # of Naps: 3-4

Duration: 2-4 hrs.

▪Age: 6 mos. # of Naps: 2

Duration: 1-3 hrs.

▪Age: 12-18 mos. # of Naps: 1-2

Duration: 1 hr. morning and/or 1-3 hrs. afternoon

▪Age: 2-3 years # of Naps: 1

Duration: 1-3 hrs. early afternoon

▪Age: 4-5 years # of Naps: 1

Duration: 1 hr. afternoon

▪Age: 5-6 years # of Naps: 0-1

Duration: 1 hr. sleep or quiet time