All articles tagged with #naps
A National Sleep Foundation poll of 977 caregivers finds 44% of American children don’t consistently get the recommended amount of sleep, with guidelines varying by age (newborns 14–17 hours, school-age children 9–11 hours). Experts say a regular, calming bedtime routine, appropriate naps, and parents modeling good sleep habits are key to improving kids’ mood and daytime functioning.
The BBC explores whether “sleep banking”—extending sleep in advance of anticipated deprivation—really helps alertness and performance. Early military studies suggested benefits, and some doctors and athletes have reported improved performance after extra sleep. Yet researchers remain divided: some argue sleep can’t be stored like a bank and that improvements may reflect avoiding debt rather than storing surplus. Most agree seven to nine hours of nightly sleep is optimal, and while 30–60 extra minutes or short naps before a busy period can help, sleep banking isn’t a long-term solution and shouldn’t replace regular sleep.
Napping can provide several health benefits if approached correctly. It can help recharge and refresh you physically and cognitively, improve learning capacity, memory, and emotional regulation. Napping can also support the healing process when you're sick. However, there are some health risks associated with napping, such as high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and depression, although it's unclear if napping itself causes these conditions. The ideal nap length is 15 to 30 minutes, as longer naps can lead to sleep inertia. Napping may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with insomnia. On the other hand, habitual napping has been linked to larger brain volume, which may help preserve brain health as you age.
Napping can provide various benefits, including physical and cognitive refreshment, improved learning capacity, better memory, and emotional regulation. Napping can also support the healing process by allowing the immune system to function effectively. However, longer naps have been associated with health risks such as high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. The optimal nap length is 15 to 30 minutes, as longer naps can lead to sleep inertia and make you feel drowsy. Napping may not be suitable for individuals with insomnia, as it can disrupt nighttime sleep. Recent research suggests that habitual napping may contribute to maintaining brain health and reducing the risk of dementia in older adults.
A recent study suggests that adults who take regular naps can enhance their brain function. Researchers found that individuals who took short naps during the day experienced improved cognitive performance, including better memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Napping was also associated with increased productivity and alertness. These findings highlight the potential benefits of incorporating naps into daily routines for better brain health and overall well-being.
A study from the University of East Anglia in the UK suggests that frequent napping in children is linked to poorer cognitive skills and vocabularies. However, naps have been shown to provide cognitive benefits, such as memory consolidation and enhanced attention. The study observed 463 infants during the pandemic lockdown and found that infants with more frequent but shorter naps than expected for their age had smaller vocabularies and worse cognitive function. The research highlights the impact of the pandemic on families from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and emphasizes the importance of addressing socioeconomic disparities to provide children with the best chances in life. Ultimately, parents should trust their children's sleep needs and provide the right environmental support for their development.
A study published in the Obesity research journal found that mid-day naps that lasted 30 minutes or longer were associated with several health conditions commonly linked to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. However, power naps that lasted less than 30 minutes were not associated with an increased risk for obesity and other metabolic concerns. The study evaluated the sleep and health patterns of 3,275 adults from the Spanish region of Murcia, where siestas are part of the culture. The importance of sleep has been studied and debated for years with experts touting their do’s and dont’s but the need for more research persists as concerning diseases and illnesses continue to rise.