Something odd that many parents and ECE educators don't know.

Tweet

I find it amusing when people speak quietly, live or on the phone, when their baby, toddler, or preschooler is sound asleep at nap time. When the littlies are first falling asleep, we should be quiet, because they are sliding through light sleep, or REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, which is when we dream. It is also when we are easy to awaken. But once their breathing become deep and regular, they are in deep sleep. The process takes about five minutes. Once we are in deep sleep, a freight train could roll through and your littlies will not wake up. Our first episode of deep sleep lasts about an hour. Most REM sleep occurs later in our night of sleep. At nap time, our littlies are mostly in deep sleep, restoring their bodies. I have long since given up explain up explaining this to younger or stupider ECE teachers, unless they are under my direct supervision. They will believe what Great-Grandma told them over that they were supposed to learn in their ECE classes. Have you ever tried to awaken a toddler during their afternoon nap? Photo is of another of my Day Care buddies. He is about 16-months old.