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Daytime naps can lead to poorer sleep quality in young children.

The study, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, found that toddlers over the age of two who napped during the day often suffered poorer sleep quality later on.

Professor Karen Thorpe from Queensland University of Technology agreed that children over the age of two could be sleeping too much if they have a nap in the middle of the day.

“Parents should not assume that day sleep and night sleep are the same,” she said. “And therefore by giving them a nap, they’re getting more sleep, because that doesn’t happen.

“Once they no longer biologically need sleep during the day all you’re doing by making them nap is subtracting from night sleep because you disrupt it.”

According to guidelines released by the National Sleep Foundation, toddlers need at least 10 to 13 hours of sleep each day.

Does your toddler still nap during the day?

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  • Sometimes my kids would just fall asleep on the lounge. If they need to sleep then let them sleep

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  • My youngest never napped. I love to nap though haha

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  • i really don’t want to hear this! My 2 year old still sleeps during the day, and there is one day of the week when my 3 year old is at kinder at that time, so it’s my favourite time of the week. I have noticed lately that he has been falling asleep a little later at night but that is not going to stop me from putting him down during the day. I actually think that my 3 year old needs a little half hour nap during the day, but he refuses to go down.

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  • My boys both gave up day sleeps at 2 anyway….made things hard sometimes.

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  • Our toddler worked his way out of his naps in a timely manner. I was sad as I no longer got that well needed rest too!!

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  • Every child is different. What works for one might not work for the other.

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  • My kids had mostly stopped naps by this age, unless it was an exceptionally busy day. Even at Kindy when the other kids slept, my kids had quiet time with the teacher instead.

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  • I love my nap and I’m 55yrs old ;) ! Naps help me recharge, my husband likes one too.

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  • My son had dropped his nap by age 2.

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  • My son ditched his day nap at about 2. If I tried to put him down he would just become destructive.

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  • All children have different needs. I never put my toddler down for a nap unless they were really grumpy. That’s when I’d sit down on the lounge and read to them.

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  • Within reason. My daughter gave up her day sleep at 2 but my son was 3. He needed it – he was so busy all day and having a sleep did not affect his bedtime. I think it’s time to ditch the day nap when their bedtimes are being affected and they’re staying up much later having slept in the day.

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  • They have never dealt with my almost 2 year old when he is tired, sleep or else! He has even put himself to bed on the lounge room floor with his little couch, pillows off the lounge and one of my throw rugs

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  • I thought it was ok for sleeps

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  • My niece had an afternoon nap on alternate days . She got too tired and sometimes cranky without that extra sleep. She gave it up when she was ready.

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