How many hours does a preschooler have to sleep?
Night terrors, nightmares and pitched battles at bedtime. Find out how to help your child sleep well in preschool.
Good sleep is essential for the growth and development of any child. The amount of hours and the quality of the rest time are the responsibility of the parents and, in many cases, the origin of more than one headache between the parents . Here we reveal some of the keys to help your child develop good rest habits. If your child is between 3 and 5 years old, pay attention to the advice we offer below.
Index
HOW MANY HOURS SHOULD MY CHILD SLEEP?
The needs of the child vary as he grows. The daily activity of the little one increases and the hours of sleep decrease . However, children of preschool age – between 3 and 5 years old – still need to allocate a high number of hours to rest, both at night and throughout the day.
It is common for children of these ages to still need to take a nap during the day to recover from the energy drain. Pediatricians point out that it is around the age of 5 when this need to spend time sleeping during the day disappears. However, each child has different needs. If the little one refuses to take a nap, he may no longer need it. Still, get him used to having some quiet time to regain his calm during the day.
Preschoolers generally need about 12 hours of sleep a day . This period is usually divided between 10 hours of night rest and about two hours of nap, although these are not fixed figures. The important thing is to establish some guidelines that provide the little one with sufficient and quality rest.
SLEEP ROUTINES
It is recommended that children have healthy resting habits from an early age. Establishing firm routines at bedtime is up to the parents. These routines are usually adopted from the first months of the child’s life. If you have not yet applied them to preschool age, pay attention to our recommendations.
Bedtime can turn into a free-for-all if you don’t get your child used to a healthy bedtime routine. Take time to do quiet games or activities with your child before going to bed. Read a story together, listen to quiet music, or take a bath. About 30 minutes will be enough to regain calm after the hustle and bustle and activities carried out during the day.
Next, let him choose his pajamas – always keeping in mind that it is appropriate for each time of year – have him brush his teeth and get into bed. It is usual that, if they are not used to these habits, crying and protests follow one another. It is important not to give in to the wishes of the child so that they get used to these routines and to respect their own hours of rest.
Make it easier for them by providing them with a comfortable room according to their needs. The room temperature should be between 20 and 14 degrees; it must be isolated from external noise ; and have appropriate lighting . It is not necessary for the child to sleep in total darkness. Many preschoolers are afraid of the dark, a dim light will help them feel safe and secure.
Once in bed, kiss the child good-bye with a good night and leave the room . If you give in to his requests to stay with him until he falls asleep, you will be doing your child a disservice. Explain that the time for games and activities is over and that he has to go to bed, he is old enough to understand.
Children need to sleep regardless of where their parents are, and with these concessions they will not develop a healthy pattern of behavior. However, there are always exceptions. It is between the ages of 3 and 5 when children often suffer from sleep disturbances such as nightmares and night terrors.
SLEEP DISTURBANCES: NIGHTMARES AND NIGHT TERRORS
It is important to know the difference between nightmares and night terrors to know how to deal with the child’s sleep disturbances . These problems are common among preschoolers and, in most cases, disappear over time. If they persist or affect the child too much, go to the pediatrician for help.
The night terrors usually occur in the early hours of the night. The little one wakes up scared, screaming and even sweating. It is important that you notice the presence of your parents to calm you down. However, you should not ask the child about what happened at that time. The level of consciousness is not total. He probably doesn’t remember what happened and your questions only help to clear him up too much since it is more difficult for him to fall asleep again.
The nightmares , meanwhile, are more common at the end of the night. In this case, the little one usually remembers the dream. However, try to reassure him so that he goes back to sleep. Talking about the nightmare can help, but only occasionally.
If your child does not suffer from any of these sleep disturbances but still does not enjoy a quality rest, modify his behavior patterns. The child who does not get enough sleep often presents problems of irritability and inattention that can take a toll on his development. Observe your child and educate him so that he grows up healthy.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.