Latest news with #HarveyKarp
Forbes
02-08-2025
- Health
- Forbes
What Parents Should Know About 3-Year-Olds And Naps
For many parents, the third year is when sleep routines begin to shift. Around 40% of kids drop their midday nap at age 3. While some children still need a solid midday rest, others start showing signs they're ready to drop naps altogether. It's a tricky, often unpredictable in-between stage—but understanding the developmental landscape can help parents handle it with more confidence. Why Naps Still Matter For Many 3-Year-Olds Naps aren't just about giving parents a break—although that's a welcome bonus. For toddlers, daytime sleep is critical to development. Studies show that napping supports emotional regulation, learning and memory consolidation. A 2013 study from the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that preschoolers who napped retained significantly more information after a learning task than those who didn't. And, naps at this age continue to play an important role in emotional regulation, cognitive development and behavior management. But just because the benefits are clear doesn't mean the routine always is. Pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block, The Happiest Toddler on the Block and The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep, shared in an email interview the myriad of factors that can impact the nap. 'Around 3, many tykes hit a big nap-time speed bump, with about 40% of toddlers saying 'bye-bye' to naptime! At this age, kids are curious, spirited and more in control. That means that most of them would rather explore the world than pause to rest. Plus, many 3-year-olds are going through big changes: starting preschool, potty training, moving to a big-kid bed. This can all shake up sleep patterns.' Neonatal nurse, certified pediatric sleep consultant and mom of four Cara Dumaplin is the founder of sleep education platform Taking Cara Babies. Dumaplin shared in a written interview that most 3-year-olds still need a nap, though. 'Research tells us that most children need a nap until close to their fourth birthday. That doesn't mean parents won't see nap protests, a toddler who has trouble falling asleep, or short naps. In fact, those can be fairly common struggles for children who are 2 or 3 years old.' At age 3, most children still benefit from about 10–13 total hours of sleep per day, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. That often translates to 10–11 hours at night and a 1–2 hour nap during the day. But here's the catch: every child's sleep needs are different. Some 3-year-olds still thrive with a daily nap. Others may begin to naturally phase it out. The key is tuning in to your child's cues. Signs Your Child Still Needs A Nap If your 3-year-old is melting down by 4 PM, chances are they're still nap-needy. Many children resist naps well before they're ready to give them up. A child who fights sleep doesn't necessarily need less of it—sometimes it's quite the opposite. Signs that a child still needs a nap often show up late in the day: a surge in irritability, sudden hyperactivity, or meltdowns that come out of nowhere. These children might fall asleep in the car, during quiet play, or whenever they get even a moment of stillness. In these cases, continuing to offer a daily nap—or at least a structured rest period—can be beneficial. Timing is key—especially at this age. A nap that starts too late in the afternoon can reduce sleep pressure, making bedtime more difficult. Signs Your Child May Be Ready To Drop The Nap At the same time, some 3-year-olds genuinely begin to outgrow their nap. They may consistently resist sleep even with a calm, predictable routine. You might notice that when they skip a nap, their behavior and mood remain relatively stable and they're still able to make it through the day without notable emotional crashes. Nighttime sleep may also be affected; naps that once seemed restorative might now push bedtime later or cause a child to wake earlier than usual. These are signs that napping may now be disrupting, rather than supporting, overall sleep quality. Signs Your Child Sometimes Needs A Nap… And Some Days Not What complicates matters is that the nap transition isn't a clean break. For many families, it's a murky middle ground that can last for weeks or months. Some 3-year-olds will nap some days but not others, with seemingly no pattern. On days they don't nap, they may go to bed earlier. On days they do, bedtime stretches later into the evening. The inconsistency can be exhausting—but it's developmentally normal. If your child is in the 'maybe, maybe not' stage, you're not alone. Karp shares, 'You might find your little whirlwind bouncing off the walls when you announce it's nap time or pulling out every trick in the book to delay ('I need water!' 'Just one more book!' 'I'm not tired!'). Even when they do fall asleep, some kids may take shorter naps or wake up grumpier than before. You may also find that your tot's once-reliable naps get inconsistent. One day they'll conk out as soon as their head hits the pillow, the next they lay in bed wide-eyed.' Navigating The Nap Transition With Quiet Time One of the most effective ways to handle this transition is by replacing nap time with 'quiet time.' This is a period of restfulness where the child stays in their room and engages in independent, low-energy activities like flipping through books, listening to calming music, or playing with puzzles. The goal isn't necessarily sleep—it's restoration. Some days your child may doze off naturally. On others, they may not sleep at all. But the quiet time still gives their body and mind a much-needed break and offers parents a pause in the day as well. Karp explains, 'Keep offering a calm, consistent routine. Even if your toddler doesn't doze off, that midday downtime is still hugely beneficial and, at the very least, you'll both get a little break. Set the mood with dim lights, white noise, a lovey and books; anything that helps them wind down. But keep an eye on their sleep routine. If they're skipping naps but still melting down by dinner, that's a sign they're not quite done napping yet. But remember, for a few months the pattern may change from day to day until they finally make the transition.' During quiet time, some children will choose to quietly play on days when they don't need a nap but will lay down and fall asleep when they do need a nap. Dumaplin explains that for some kids, parents need to help make the choice for them. 'You can provide a sleep-conducive environment without any distracting toys on days when you know or sense that a nap is needed. Then, you can offer that calm quiet-time environment with independent toys on those days when a nap looks less necessary. It really is about knowing your child's needs and setting them up for success. Yes, you may see some resistance around naps in this stage, but we also need to meet your child's physical needs and the reality is they need a nap some days but not others.' Naps At Preschool Or Daycare For 3-year-olds who go to daycare or preschool, Karp recommends trying to keep some consistency. 'If your daycare lets you, sending a few little comforts from home—familiar sheets, a cozy blanket, or a favorite lovey—can make a big difference. Talk with caregivers about your child's routine and see if they can make small tweaks to boost sleep, like placing their mat in a quieter or darker part of the room. Try to stick to similar timing on the weekends to reinforce the daycare's routine. And if naps don't happen, balance it out with an earlier bedtime at home.' What If Skipping Naps Becomes the Norm? If your child starts going multiple days without a nap and still functions well, you may be entering the no-nap chapter of parenting. That doesn't mean it will be easy. As naps become less frequent, you may need to adjust your child's schedule to maintain enough rest. Earlier bedtimes can help offset the loss of daytime sleep. You may also want to introduce more quiet breaks throughout the day, especially in the late afternoon, when children who no longer nap are more likely to get overstimulated or overtired. It's important to resist the temptation to rush the process. Just because a child skips a nap for a few days in a row doesn't mean naps are permanently over. They may return to needing them during periods of growth, illness, or developmental changes. Ultimately, the decision to keep or drop naps shouldn't be dictated by age alone. Some 3-year-olds truly do fine without them. Others benefit from daily rest well into their fourth or fifth year. What matters most is whether your child is getting enough restorative sleep in a 24-hour cycle and whether they're thriving emotionally, behaviorally and cognitively. What If Your 3-Year-Old Still Needs A Nap, But Resists? If your 3-year-old is resisting naps, but still showing signs they need one, it can feel frustrating. You can't force sleep—but you can set the stage for it. Dumaplin offers, 'Here are just a few of the many reasons your child may begin to struggle with naps when they slept well before: perhaps your child isn't getting enough awake time before the nap, your child may need more time to transition or wind down before nap time, their sleep environment may need to be adjusted, or they may also be exercising their choice and control around boundaries. If you're seeing nap struggles or refusals, we want to start by looking at the big picture of your child as a whole person (all of their needs and sleep-specific factors) before we consider dropping a nap. So, prioritize active awake time for about 6 hours before offering a nap. Provide 30-60 minutes between screen time and nap time and then offer a 5-10 minute, emotionally-connected wind-down routine to help your child transition into sleep time. Be sure everything in your child's room lends itself to sleep. And keep your firm, loving boundaries around nap time.' Karp recommends making sure the sleep environment is conducive to napping as well. 'Daytime sleep can be particularly tricky because parents are up against bright sunlight streaming through the window and more disruptive noises than at nighttime. Make sure you have good blackout curtains to block snooze-stealing light and use white noise to mask disruptive sounds. Bottom Line There's no magical age when naps end. Some kids drop them at 2.5; others hang on until age 5. What matters most is whether your child is getting enough rest across the full 24-hour day. If they still need a nap, protect it like gold. If they're ready to drop it, focus on an early bedtime and quiet breaks during the day. And if you're stuck in the messy middle? You're not alone—and this too shall pass.
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
How To Choose The Right Crib Mattress Size
As a new parent, selecting the right crib mattress size is essential for ensuring your baby sleeps safely and soundly. 'When it comes to crib mattresses, size really does matter,' says Harvey Karp, a pediatrician and founder of the Snoo Smart Sleeper. When the mattress is correctly sized, it prevents gaps between the mattress and the crib, reducing potential safety risks. Crib mattress sizes vary by the type of crib you'll be using, so parents should pay close attention. In addition to size, the firmness of the mattress matters, too. Though you might think your baby would be more comfortable on a soft, plush mattress, a firm mattress is the safest option for babies. Babies sleep a lot, so you want to make the right mattress choice. Learn more about what crib mattress size you should be using and how you can make sure to pick the right one for your baby. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), all full-size crib mattresses should measure at least 27 ¼ by 51 ⅝ inches and be no more than six inches thick. This helps ensure the mattress fits snugly within a standard-sized crib, which has interior measurements of 28 by 52 ⅜. These standardizations make it safe to mix and match full-size cribs and mattresses. Unlike full-size crib mattresses, the dimensions of mini crib, travel crib and bassinet mattresses can vary. On average, mini crib mattresses are 24 by 38 inches. Travel crib and bassinet mattresses vary more widely in size—and even shape. Because the sizes of these types of cribs and mattresses are not standardized, the CPSC states that the correctly-sized mattress should always come with the crib. It's crucial that caregivers only use the mattress that comes included with the mini crib, travel crib or bassinet. Using the correct mattress size is a must for your baby's health. 'A mattress that doesn't fit snugly inside the crib can create serious safety risks for your little one. If there's even a small gap between the mattress and the crib frame (more than two fingers wide) your baby could accidentally get an arm, leg or even their head trapped,' says Dr. Karp. If the mattress is too big, it won't fit in the crib properly, which would create an uneven sleep surface. When it comes to the height of the mattress, you want it to stay under 6 inches to prevent older babies from climbing out and falling. Choosing the right mattress size is easy once you know what type of crib you'll be using. Standard-sized cribs sold in the US are compatible with standard-sized mattresses sold in the US. Although these regulations allow you to mix and match cribs and crib mattresses, it's still a good idea to get measurements for your mattress and the interior of your crib before purchasing to make sure they are a good fit. The manual for your crib should also list the ideal mattress size for the best fit. When it comes to travel cribs, mini cribs and bassinets, always use the mattress that comes with the product, as sizes differ greatly by brand. In addition to fitting cribs, crib mattresses are also compatible with standard-sized toddler beds sold in the US. Many mattresses even have a slightly less firm side to flip to when you're ready to make the transition to a toddler bed. If you're looking to purchase a crib and a crib mattress for your baby, check out our guides to the best crib mattresses and the best cribs. Keeping your baby safe while they're sleeping is about more than just their mattress. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies should always be placed on their backs in an empty crib (no bumpers, blankets, pillows or stuffed animals). Karp offers additional safe sleep recommendations, including room sharing (not bed sharing) with your baby, using a pacifier and keeping the room between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. 'Following safe sleep guidelines is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your baby's risk of the sleep-related deaths, which tragically claim the lives of about 3,700 babies a year,' he says. Yes, a standard crib mattress can fit in a toddler bed. This includes cribs that can transition to toddler beds as well as standalone toddler beds. Av standard crib mattress is 27 ¼ by 51 ⅝ inches and should be no more than six inches thick. This ensures the mattress will fit snugly in a standard crib and create a safe sleep space for your baby. No, a twin mattress is larger than a crib mattress. Standard twin mattresses are 38 x 75 inches, while standard crib mattresses are 27 ¼ by 51 ⅝ inches.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tell It to Me Straight: Should I Vaccinate My Kid?
Welcome to Ask Dr. Harvey Karp, our fatherhood advice column at Esquire, where the author of The Happiest Baby on the Block and creator of the SNOO answers your burning questions about parenting. Got a query? Drop us a line in the comments. Today's parents are bombarded with all sorts of 'sciencey-sounding' misinformation about vaccines. It can all be very confusing. Over the past 40 years, I've had the joy of caring for tens of thousands of healthy kids. Unfortunately, I've also seen many children suffer and even die from preventable diseases, like meningitis, pneumonia, polio—and yes, even measles and chickenpox. I've seen vaccine side effects, too, but 99.9% have just been fever, soreness, and/or fussiness. No one has all the answers, but every day science is improving every day. That's why we trust science to help our kids heal from injuries and infections and to why we are grateful for advances that help manage our medical issues, from infertility and migraines to diabetes and cancer. As you thoughtfully consider the best choices for your family, I'd like to offer a bit of balance to the TikTok horror stories. So, let's look at the science-backed facts behind vaccines. Imagine an invisible shield that protects babies from dangerous illnesses. That's what vaccines provide. They quickly train the immune system to recognize and destroy aggressive viruses and bacteria trying to sneak into and attack your child's body. As parents, we want zero risk for our kids. But we all know that a risk-free world doesn't exist. Tens of thousands die in car crashes every year, and millions get injured, but most of us don't turn into 'anti-car' people who don't drive for fear of fatal accidents. We accept and reduce the slight risk by using seatbelts and carseats, and even take that risk with our kids, every day. Vaccines give kids lots of benefits (long-lasting protection against diseases that used to cause innocent kids great suffering, disability, even death) with only a very uncommon risk of a serious negative effect. Nothing works 100% of the time—but vaccines come pretty close. Childhood immunizations have made it vanishingly rare for kids to suffer the painful and life-threatening cases of meningitis, polio, or epiglottitis that I witnessed decades ago. Most childhood vaccines are 85–95% effective at totally preventing illness and in instances when vaccines don't have total protection, like the flu, COVID-19, or chickenpox, the symptoms are usually much milder than if you or your child were unvaccinated. That's why vaccines are truly miracles. Just ask your great-grandmother—she'd have seen them as answers to her prayers. Vaccines are made from very weakened germs (or bits of germs) that are easily handled by a child's immune system. That means they are 100 to 1,000 times weaker than the 'brass knuckles' street-version of these diseases. The baby shots train the immune system to recognize and fight off the actual dangerous germs–even decades later–but they're weak enough that a child's immune system can easily eliminate them. So, a vaccine is like a sting from a tired old bee, instead of being attacked by a whole swarm. But what about several vaccines at once? Some critics claim that giving multiple vaccines might 'overwhelm' a baby's immune system. It may sound plausible, but it's simply untrue…here's why: A baby's immune system is built to multi-task. Day and night, it's on constant alert to detect and defeat bacteria and viruses. Not one by one, but countless assaults—24/7—that enter through your child's eyes, nose, mouth, skin, and gut. So, several vaccines at once? Your kid's immune system says, 'No prob, Dada!' Vaccine skeptics claim 'natural immunity' is better than vaccine immunity. The problem is that before natural immunity ever kicks in, childhood illnesses can viciously crush a child's immune system. For example, 'natural immunity' fails to fight off the illness for millions of unimmunized kids exposed to measles and chickenpox. They often end up with temporarily damaged immune systems and months of bacterial illnesses, from ear infections to sepsis. Even worse, 'natural immunity' is totally overwhelmed for the thousands of measles victims who end up hospitalized or who die. In the U.S., without immunizations, 1 out of 1,000 children would die after getting measles (~3,600 each year), and the risk of death for unimmunized adults would be 1 in 100. Each one of those deaths is a total failure of 'natural immunity.' 99% of people receiving two doses of the MMR vaccine develop long lasting immunity to measles. This immunization has likely saved the lives of 100,000 U.S. kids since 2000. Did you ever ask yourself, 'why hasn't my child gotten polio, measles, or diphtheria?' The key reason is because your neighbors protected your kids by having their kids immunized. One child with measles can infect 90% of unvaccinated kids they come near. If you lived on an isolated farm, your protective bubble would prevent most contagious dangers. But in most communities, your protective bubble is a gift from your neighbors' commitment to civic responsibility. The more anti-vaxxers in your neighborhood, the higher the risk that your family will be exposed to a preventable disease outbreak. That means, babies too young to get vaccinated, or elderly and immunocompromised adults, are put in harm's way when parents refuse protective vaccines for their children and community. Note: Some shots protect against minimally contagious or non-contagious diseases like tetanus. In those cases, your choice to vaccinate is personal, not communal. Parents have to make lots of tough decisions, but getting vaccinated should not be one of them: the science is clear, compelling, and reassuring. So, the next time your for-you page is flooded with alarming claims, remember vaccines are among the simplest, safest, smartest ways to keep your child healthy…and to protect your neighbor's baby, too! You Might Also Like Kid Cudi Is All Right 16 Best Shoe Organizers For Storing and Displaying Your Kicks
New York Times
19-03-2025
- New York Times
Tech for Babies Is Booming. Here's What One Parent Found Helped the Most.
Last spring, when my wife and I were preparing to welcome our first child, we started a list of baby gear — a rite of passage for parents. The difference with our list, or so I thought, was that it would contain only the best stuff because it was vetted by me, a tech columnist with 20 years of experience testing products. After our baby arrived in the summer, I learned I was wrong. It turns out there is no best baby gear, because what worked for other parents often didn't work for us. Even though I had picked a top-rated stroller, its wheels were inadequate for our neighborhood's pothole-riddled streets. The electronic bottle warmer listed as a must-have by many Redditors was too slow at heating up milk for our vocal newborn. The Snoo, the $1,700 robotic bassinet with a cult following, did nothing to lull our little one to sleep. Now past the sleepless nights of the newborn phase, my wife and I wound up with a well-rested, content child. What helped, in part, was pivoting to a different approach with baby gear, analyzing our particular problems as new parents and looking for ways to solve them. My highs and lows with baby tech may not be every parent's experience. But the lessons I learned from my misadventures, from internet-controlled night lights to nanny cams, should be universally applicable. Here's what to know. Knowledge triumphs over fancy gizmos, including Snoo When our daughter was first born, she snoozed effortlessly in a no-frills bassinet I bought from another parent through Facebook Marketplace. But when she turned about 3 months old, she began loudly protesting naps. That made me consider the Snoo, the chicly designed white bassinet that automatically sways and plays sounds to soothe a fussy baby. Among parents, the Snoo is a polarizing product not just because of its price ($1,700, or $160 a month for rental). Several of my friends with the privilege of owning one called the device a godsend that saved them from the brink of insanity. Others said their child hated it. I had read the book about soothing newborns written by the Snoo's creator, Harvey Karp, so I wanted to give it a shot. Fortunately, a friend lent me a Snoo. I downloaded a companion app and paid a $20 subscription for access to some of its extra perks, including a rocking motion that mimicked the bumps and jostles of riding in a car. My baby was initially unfazed when we strapped her in. But when she started crying and the bassinet reacted by swaying and playing white noise, she cried even louder. After a few weeks of experimenting, we reverted to her old-school bassinet. A spokeswoman for Happiest Baby, the company behind Snoo, said it was ideal to acclimate babies to the product as soon as they were born because it simulates the movements and sounds a baby experiences inside a mother's womb. However, the company advertises Snoo as suitable for babies up to 6 months of age, and my daughter fit this criterion. The tech that eventually helped? E-books. One late night, I downloaded a $14 e-book by a pediatrician about infant psychology and sleep. I began to understand why my 3-month-old was fighting sleep and how to anticipate when she would need a nap. We tried the book's methods, and within a few weeks my baby began napping regularly and sleeping through the night. Knowledge is more powerful — and cheaper to access — than a fancy bassinet. The best tech helped parents with broken brains My wife and I found the most useful baby tech to be smartphone apps that helped us process information in our sleep-deprived state. The free app Huckleberry, a tool for parents to log bottle feedings, diaper changes and sleep durations for their babies, was crucial for my wife and me to communicate the baby's needs with each other when we took turns working shifts. It also provided useful data for our pediatrician. Also helpful was the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's free Milestones app, which shows a checklist of a child's expected developmental milestones at each age, such as learning to roll at 6 months. When she was about 7 months old, our daughter began to crawl. We could no longer take our eyes off her, so we shifted to consuming more parenting literature through a different medium: audiobooks. Single-task baby tech is unnecessary Lots of popular baby tech are gadgets that serve a single purpose. The $60 Hatch Rest, a night light that plays white noise, is a product on many parents' lists of must-haves for helping babies sleep. The $250 Nanit Pro, a webcam that can alert you to a baby's movements and cries, is another. So is the $50 Philips Avent electronic bottle warmer, which heats up a bottle of refrigerated milk with the press of a button in a few minutes. I received all of those products as gifts through our registry. Though I liked using them, I ultimately realized other products I already owned could accomplish the same tasks. This is not to say that any of the aforementioned products won't work well for another parent. But the problem with the premise of the best baby gear is that it requires any two infants to be alike, which is rarely the case. It's best to start with getting to know your baby before starting a list, rather than the other way around.
