According to a toddler sleep coach with extensive experience assisting thousands of children and parents, there is one critical indicator that caregivers should monitor to enhance both their own and their child's nighttime rest. While it can be challenging to sleep with a young baby due to frequent feedings and diaper changes, most children naturally improve their sleep patterns as they age. However, some toddlers require additional comfort and reassurance, which is entirely normal. Fortunately, there are strategies parents can implement to encourage longer sleep durations.
Expert Advice on Toddler Sleep Patterns
Cher Fletcher, a gentle sleep consultant renowned for helping numerous families achieve better sleep, has highlighted a specific action that parents of toddlers can take to secure more rest. Over time, babies typically need less daytime sleep, eventually transitioning to just one nap. This nap is usually discontinued between the ages of two and five, though the timing varies for each child.
The Key Sign to Watch For
In a recent post on her TikTok account @tiredbabysleep, Cher Fletcher emphasized that maintaining a toddler's daytime nap might inadvertently disrupt nighttime sleep. She explained, "The number one sign that your toddler needs to drop the nap is showing in how much they're sleeping at night. As someone who works predominantly with toddlers and reviews toddler sleep logs daily, I can identify this pattern clearly."
Cher elaborated that when nighttime sleep drops below 10 hours, it signals that the nap should be eliminated. She stated, "Their sleep needs are 24-hourly, a concept I detail in my toddler sleep guide because it's so important. Nighttime sleep is restorative, whereas daytime sleep is not."
Understanding Sleep Distribution
To illustrate, Cher provided an example: "If a child requires 11 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period and is getting nine hours at night and two during the day, this imbalance indicates they are sacrificing restorative nighttime sleep for daytime naps. In such cases, we need to gradually reduce the nap to encourage more nighttime sleep."
Some parents might question the necessity of this adjustment if the nap seems convenient, even if it leads to later bedtimes around 9 or 10 PM. Cher addressed this by highlighting the importance of restorative sleep: "Night sleep is crucial because it involves different processes, such as REM and non-REM sleep, which are essential for development. You don't want your toddler missing out on these restorative benefits just to keep a nap."
By recognizing this sign and adjusting nap schedules accordingly, parents can help ensure their toddlers achieve the restorative sleep necessary for healthy growth and better overall rest for the entire family.
