It is well known that “A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book.” — ...
The night is the time of rest after the whole day's busyness. And how important is restful sleep for the better development of children? It can't just be looked at.
Today we will discuss some key points regarding the good sleep of children.
What should be the time to sleep? How conducive is the environment to getting good sleep? How much sleep is necessary for children of which age? What should be the age of sleeping alone? All these questions keep running through the mind of all mothers. Hope many of your doubts will be cleared today.
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WHAT IS SLEEP?
Sleep is the regular interval during the twenty-four hours when we are unaware of our environment and do not feel it. There are two major types of sleep.
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RAPID EYE MOVEMENT SLEEP
Occurs several times throughout the night and is approximately one-fifth of our sleep time. During REM sleep, our mind is very busy and our muscles are completely relaxed. Our eyes move rapidly from side to side and we dream.
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NON-REM SLEEP
The brain is silent but there may be some movement in the body. Circulation contains hormones or glandular fluids and our body repairs itself after the day's wear and tear.
- How much sleep do we need? It depends on our age.
- Very young children sleep about seventeen hours a day.
- Older children sleep about nine or ten hours a day.
- Most adults sleep seven or eight hours a night.
- Older people need the same amount of sleep. But usually, there is only one period of deep sleep during the night which is usually in the first three or four hours. After that, it is easier to wake them from sleep and with increasing age, dreams also come less frequently. Most of us need seven or eight hours of sleep a night, but some people get three hours of sleep. Regular sleep of more than seven or eight hours every night is not beneficial. Short periods of wakefulness can feel long enough, so it can give the illusion that we are sleeping less, when in fact we are not.
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WHEN SHOULD THE CHILD BE KEPT IN A SEPARATE ROOM?
Every baby is different and it is normal and natural for a baby to want to sleep with you.
Your child needs love, safety, and security and it is the responsibility of all parents to provide for them. So in short, there is no specific age for moving to a separate room. So don't be hasty in it.
If you try to force the baby to sleep in a separate room and do so thinking that the baby will gradually get used to the separate room and because of this thought also avoid their crying, then you are doing it yourself. are taught to feel insecure and inferior.
According to nutritionist and lifestyle coach Luke Cottenhoe, 'you need to think outside of this Western mindset. Most parents have started thinking that humans are also part of statistics and numbers and should move their children to a separate room at the age of 3. If your baby is ready to move to a separate room at this age, then no problem, but if your baby shows signs that he still wants to sleep with you, keep him with you. let's sleep.
According to scientific research, children who grow up spending more time with their parents feel safer and more independent.
The fears and insecurities that most children seem to suffer from today often have their roots in early childhood.
Sometimes children have been bullied at school and want to cuddle up to you and sleep to feel safe. Or they are afraid of something and want to see you around their bed. By withholding your intimacy during such times, you make them feel weak or unimportant.
So don't wait for any age but your blood instinct itself will tell you whether your baby is ready to sleep in a separate room now or not. The important thing is that instead of forcing them to sleep in a separate room, you gradually move them away from you so that they don't feel insecure.
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WAYS TO MAKE BEDTIME EASIER
The following methods facilitate sleep:
KEEP THINGS COMFORTABLE:
Most newborns dislike large and open cribs for sleeping. So, try using a swaddle to soothe your newborn baby in the early weeks. Make sure that the bed is firm and that there are no blankets or pillows so that your baby does not have any suffocation problems. You should wrap the baby very comfortably.
KEEP THE TEMPERATURE UNDER CONTROL:
Babies do not like a room that is too cold or too hot. Overheating is also dangerous for your baby.
ROCK IT:
Gentle rocking motion lulls babies to sleep. Keep rocking, patting, or lullaby.
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PLAY SOFT MUSIC:
Background music helps the baby to sleep. Soft music or the sound of a fan can be soothing.
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SET LIGHT LIMITS IN THE EVENING:
The use of mobile phones and laptops is becoming common these days like an addiction. Many people spend hours watching dramas and movies on laptops but few know that doing so affects our sleep badly.
These electronic devices emit a special kind of powerful blue light. Due to this light, the melatonin hormone is not released properly in the body. It is the hormone responsible for sleep. Remember your habits are your child's habits. If you are using a mobile phone, the child's attention will also remain on the bright screen and moving pictures on it.
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THINGS TO DO BEFORE BED:
Some things to do before sleeping If you do it every day, the body will know that it is time to sleep.
Reading books, listening to songs, and bathing is some such activities.
As soon as you start doing them, the body will start preparing itself for sleep.
Most parents do the same with children. Many parents breastfeed or bathe their babies before putting them to sleep. They are often told bedtime stories.
By doing this every day, the baby's body gets used to it and the body understands that it is time to sleep.
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DON'T IGNORE DAYTIME SLEEP:
You may want your baby to wake up during the day, even if he wants to sleep, so he can sleep better at night. This method will not work properly as it will make your baby overtired. An overtired baby has more trouble falling asleep than a rested baby. If your baby still can't distinguish between day and night, limit his daytime naps and keep him awake while he's awake.
Try to understand the child and his routine. This is very important for the baby and you. I hope it helps you and clears many of your doubts.