Problems with toddler day naps

This page is part of a collection of short articles called Brief & simple, which together make up a quick summary of The Possums Sleep Program in plain language. For comprehensive information and support, please go to The essentials section of The Possums Sleep Program, and begin to work your way through the program's online text and videos.

Sometimes you know that the sleep pressure must be rising because your little toddler is getting rather cranky. This is a time to focus on your toddler's needs for rich and interesting experiences.

A change in activities or offering a snack or starting some very physically active play keeps toddlers going until the sleep pressure is high enough for sleep to come easily, perhaps with a quick lie-down and cuddle.

Of course, some little ones will be ready to get by without a nap at all during the day.

At childcare, toddlers are often good at lying down when all the other kids do, because they like copying each other. At home a quick cuddle with their carer might do the trick, or a breastfeed if the mother is there and the child is breastfed.

Acknowledgements

I'm grateful to Professor Sophie Havighurst, Ros June, and Caroline Ma at Mindful, The University of Melbourne, for their feedback on the articles in the Brief & simple section of The Possums Sleep Program. They helped me keep the language plain and the concepts as accessible as possible. For comprehensive information and support, please go to The essentials section of The Possums Sleep Program, and begin to work your way through the program's online text and videos.