Nap time for Au Pairs and Host Families

Many parents and Au Pairs find that nap time is a common struggle. Although a struggle, naps are vital for both parents and children. If a child does not get a nap they may get irritable, difficult, and lose their appetites. Parents and Au Pairs, also benefit from children taking a nap with some quiet time to catch up on things around the house.

The reasons for a lack of a child's desire to nap vary from too much stimulation, too tired, change of schedule and a thousand other factors. The most important thing that a parent or Au Pair can do to help a child nap is to look for the early signs that show a child needs a nap.

Elizabeth Pantley author of The No-Cry Nap Solution offers the following tips to help those providing child care to children who have a hard time napping.

Tips for encouraging naptime
No matter why your child won’t nap, there are a few specifics that can be helpful as you encourage any child to take regular naps. Keep these basic principles in mind:

• Maintain a consistent daily schedule that works with your child’s natural body clock. Create a predictable pattern to the day – with meals and naptime happening at reliable times.
• Modify your schedule according to your child’s sleepy signs. No matter what the clock says, it’s nap time when your child becomes quieter, loses interest in toys or playtime, fusses, stares off into the distance, rubs his eyes or ears, and of course: if he begins to yawn.
• Have a relaxing pre-nap routine to cue your child that naptime is here and help him wind down and relax.
• Set up a sleeping place that is cozy and that sets the stage for sleep. Dress your child comfortably for sleep.
• Keep mornings bright and active, and the half hour before each nap session quiet, dimly lit, and calm.
• Keep in mind that you cannot force a child to sleep, but you can follow the basic rules of biology, gauge your child’s sleepy signals, and create a setting that is inductive to sleep and relaxation.

If you have found that your child responds particularly well to a practice that you do to help them nap, please leave your comments and let us know.