Sleep is vital for childhood development and learning. It affects the child's health, mood, and ability to stay on track for their milestones. A lack of sleep can have long-term effects on the child's academic performance and emotional health.
However, as children grow, their need for sleep can decrease. There are recommendations based on the child's age, and many times they achieve these hours with naps implemented into their daily schedule. So, this may raise the question, when should kids stop napping?
The exact age varies, and depends on individual factors: maturity, preschool/daycare, and nighttime sleeping habits. At about age three, the majority of children will still take at least one nap per day. About sixty percent of four-year-olds take naps, but by age five, most children no longer need a nap. The older children get, the more that number continues to shrink, with almost no children napping by the age of seven. Continued napping may be a sign of an underlying issue, and will need to be discussed with your pediatrician. Continue reading to learn more about the recommendations for children and naps.