Is It Time to Do Away with Nap Time?
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Ingram Publishing/Thinkstock(BRISBANE, Australia) — As the joke goes, kids at nap time are often guilty of resisting a rest. But parents know that naps can be beneficial for youngsters while also giving adults a much-needed break.
However, there seems to be some difference of opinion on whether daytime naps are really worthwhile, based on a study from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia.
After analyzing 26 studies concerning the sleep habits of children from infancy through age five, lead study author Karen Thorpe and her team contend that naps for kids two and older might not be the best thing for them because daytime nappers tend to have a more difficult time falling asleep at night.
Apparently, this has to do with something called homeostatic drive, a pressure that builds during waking hours. As a result, when there’s less homeostatic drive, the urge to sleep at night isn’t as great.
Despite these findings, the Australian research team says naps still offer cognitive and physical benefits so they don’t recommend parents try to rouse tired kids who might need to grab a quick 40 winks.
Essentially, since every kid is different, parents should decide if and when a child should nap.
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