As a parent, you know how important sleep is for your child's mood, health, and development, and especially for young children, sleeping only at night isn't quite enough.That's what makes naps so important: while every child is different, most will need to sleep some amount during the day to fulfill their needs, and the younger the child, the more crucial this is. At 5 Little Monkeys, we're on a mission to help kids everywhere achieve better sleep by offering the best children's beds on the market. And as a part of that mission, we want to take this opportunity to explain just how important naps are for kids.

Why Children Need Naptime

At a basic level, kids need naps because there simply isn't enough time at night to fulfill their sleep needs. Infants need to sleep 14 to 18 hours per day, and while that number decreases as the child ages, most kids still need more than 10-11 hours up until they turn 12. Most kids under 5 years of age won't be able to knock out for 13 hours straight during the night, so it's important to supplement their sleep schedule with daytime naps. And if you're worried that a nap will leave your kid wide awake when bedtime rolls around, don't be: well-rested kids settle down to sleep easier than overtired kids. If your child is overtired, they'll likely be wired and restless, so a daytime nap will actually make bedtime easier, not harder.

So how can you support your child in taking naps? It turns out that you can use the same reliable tactic for naps that you do for regular bedtime: routine. Children thrive on routine, so creating a structure and ritual around naps is a great way to help your child sleep soundly through a daytime nap. You can use the same cues to prepare your child for a nap that you do to prepare for bed: dimming the lights, turning off screens, or playing soft music all work wonders. Jason Harrow’s special technique? Putting his kids in pajamas so that they really know it’s time to take a nap.

Order the 5 Little Monkeys Sleep System for Kids

Of course, there's one more factor that impacts how easy it is for your child both to take naps and to fall asleep at bedtime: their bed. A good kid's mattress helps children fall asleep and stay asleep, promoting the deep, restful sleep that's so important for growth and development. Thankfully, we've got you covered. The 5 Little Monkeys Bed was designed specifically to support the needs of growing bodies, helping any child sleep better whether night or day. Want to see it in action? Try the 5 Little Monkeys Sleep System risk-free for 100 nights, and if you don't love it, we'll give you a full refund. Order yours online today!