Not all children need afternoon nap

Sleep of children is affected by afternoon nap

02/24/2015

The afternoon nap is an integral part of the daily routine of many children, as they are led by many educators and parents. However, as a result, the little ones' sleep seems to be disturbed, according to the results of a study by an Australian research group at the QUT. Health benefits and possible positive effects on behavior, attention or the risk of injury can not be clearly determined from the available data, the researchers write in „British Medical Journal“ (BMJ).

At the age of two years, nap is associated with poorer sleep quality during the night, according to researcher Karen Thorpe, professor of psychology at QUT's Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation. The researchers have analyzed 26 international and Australian studies with children under the age of five and could prove according to their own data that the naps are not only unnecessary during the day, but also can negatively influence the children's sleep. Many nurseries where afternoon nap after lunch is supposed to be part of the fixed daily routine should reconsider this approach.

No clear benefits of afternoon nap
Although children often find it difficult to fall asleep, the afternoon nap in many crèches and day care centers is an essential part of the daily routine. If the little ones can not fall asleep, they should at least rest a little while the others sleep. By taking a nap, for example, the attention and ability to absorb is increased, the risk of injury is reduced and growth is promoted, according to the previous assumption. However, in their study, the Australian researchers did not identify any clear benefits of midday sleep, whereas there was a demonstrable negative impact on nocturnal sleep quality from the age of two. „The perception, behavior and health outcomes were contradictory, probably because of differences in age and the subjects' usual sleep status“, write Thrope and colleagues. The most consistent finding was the association between the nap and a later onset, shorter, overall worse sleep from the age of two years been.

Sleep behavior changes significantly in the first years of life
Overall, according to the researchers in the first five years of life of the children was a significant shift in their sleep behavior. While children under the age of two still overslept a relatively long time of the day, the sleeping hours of older people fall mainly in the evening or night. From the age of two years onwards, sleep times in their daily lives no longer differ between the children who take nap and those who stay awake. The children with naps simply sleep shorter during the night. For the parents, however, this often means an evening fight at bedtime. For the little ones simply can not fall asleep if they have taken a nap during the day. In addition, the daily nap suffers the quality of their nightly sleep.

Rethink afternoon nap in daycare
The findings of the Australian researchers put the proposed sleep times, as found in a majority of children's daycare centers, into a new light and make it clear that current practice should be critically scrutinized. Especially as benefits of afternoon nap could not be clearly demonstrated. In the absence of guidelines, a wide range of practices is being implemented in childcare, ranging from 2.5 hours of compulsory rest time to abstinence from nap, reports the co-author of the study, Drs. Sally Staton. „There are a lot of individual variations on how much a child has to sleep during the day, and it is important that parents and caregivers work together to help children sleep during that time“, so Dr. Staton continues. If children have difficulty falling asleep in the evening, it is advisable to examine their sleep pattern. In case of doubt, however, already the demand for the kindergarten teachers in the daycare can provide information. Because after a pronounced afternoon sleep are not drowsy in the evening. (Fp)