If a 5-month-old child does not sleep well at night, it is worth thinking about why this is happening. After all, everyone is familiar with the statement that people spend a third of their lives sleeping. And for an infant, this is simply an integral part of successful and harmonious development. And well-rested parents feel much better and more cheerful than after a capricious and restless night. But sometimes it also happens that in addition to an inadequate night’s rest, parents notice a clear disturbance in the baby’s sleep during the day. Therefore, it is so important to identify in time the reason why the child sleeps poorly in order to take all necessary measures to eliminate it.
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.
Second half of life
Closer to 6 months, mothers notice that the child becomes more demanding and capricious.
He may not only wake up at night, but also cry a lot and ask to be held. There is no need to run to the doctor the next morning, because the reason for this behavior lies on the surface: READ ALSO: why do children cry in their sleep and how to calm them down?
Too many impressions during the day lead to increased excitability. The baby is actively crawling, getting acquainted with the world around him and new toys. The nervous system is not yet capable of quickly perceiving everything and putting it neatly on the shelves. Night sleep suffers from this; even getting the baby to sleep can be difficult - he tosses and turns, is capricious and will never fall asleep. The second factor remains hunger, since a six-month-old baby still needs food at night. Feedings are reduced in quantity, but they cannot be completely eliminated
After satiation, the baby will sleep peacefully. It is important to observe whether the baby is cutting his first teeth. They appear by 6-8 months and can affect the behavior of the toddler - in such a situation he does not want to eat, cries and has trouble falling asleep
Pain can be reduced with the help of special anesthetic gels. Before use, consult a dentist or pediatrician.
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.
Six months of life is a significant date
Six-month-old babies hardly suffer from abdominal cramps, sleep less, are less likely to wake up at night from hunger, and are more active. Increased energy costs are compensated by expanding the diet.
In addition to formula or breast milk, you will need to add some types of vegetables and fruits, cereals and lean meat to the menu. With proper nutrition and full development, the child will reach a height of 60-70 cm and a weight of 6.5-9 kg. Now you need to give him food 5-6 times a day, that is, every 4 hours, not counting the night rest.
Detailed characteristics of the age period are presented in the table:
| Development criterion | Details |
| Pronunciation of sounds | • pronouncing sounds; • imitation of parents. |
| Memory improvement | • remembering surrounding objects; • reaction to the voicing of familiar words. |
| Interaction with toys | • shifting from one limb to another; • more conscious use; • cleaning after the game. |
| More advanced movements | • crawling a short distance (30-50 cm); • making attempts to stand on their feet; • confident sitting in one place. |
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.
Poor sleep associated with illnesses
If a 5-month-old child does not sleep through the night or often wakes up, he may be worried about pain. In first place among the most common causes of this type is colic. Abdominal pain can occur in children up to 2 years of age. This is due to both the restructuring of the digestive system and a change in diet. Sleep can often be disrupted by teething. This is a very painful process. At 5 months, most children's first baby tooth begins to emerge. Sometimes poor sleep occurs due to an acute allergic reaction to salicylates, found in large quantities in aspirin, citrus fruits and some food additives.
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.
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.
