|By Shana del Castillo
Today our lifestyles are more fast-paced than ever before. This causes many of us to become sleep deprived- with our children being the most vulnerable victims. Because of their extraordinarily busy schedules, children often miss naps. Many youngsters have two working parents, which means mornings start earlier and bedtimes get pushed back. And the night hours can be a handful. The result: our children aren’t rested, and neither are we.
Sleep is as important to your child’s growth and development as food and water. Without sufficient sleep, your child’s performance, mood, focus and ability to work with others deteriorate quickly. By the age of five, your child has spent half of her life asleep. It is during sleep that the brain is hard at work, developing and also retaining the skills and information learned that day. So when a child misses sleep, his brain is missing the time it needs to develop and grow.
Some Important Facts About Sleep:
-Sleep is a learned skill. Children need to be taught how to put themselves to sleep without the aid of sleep crutches such as nursing, rocking etc.
-We all wake up periodically throughout the night. Partial arousals occur frequently in young children, especially in the early morning hours. If your child does not know how to put himself back to sleep on his own, he will cry out to you for help.
-Children have a natural rhythm of awake and sleep times. If you miss these ideal sleep windows, your child will become overtired, and therefore, have a harder time falling asleep and staying asleep.
-Both quantity and quality matters in sleep. Sleep should be motionless, uninterrupted, and unfragmented. Sleep should happen in a quiet, dark, motionless location.
-No matter the method of sleep coaching you try with your child, consistency is of utmost importance. If you are not consistent, your child will not understand what you are expecting of her. Lack of consistency makes changing sleep behavior harder for both the child and the parent.
-Snoring, mouth breathing, sweating and restless sleeping are possible signs of a sleep disorder. If your child exhibits these symptoms, see your doctor.
your child, consistency is of utmost importance.
If you are not consistent, your child will not understand what you are expecting of her. Lack of consistency makes changing sleep behavior harder for both the child and the parent.
-Snoring, mouth breathing, sweating and restless sleeping are possible signs of a sleep disorder. If your child exhibits these symptoms, see your doctor.
Sleep Tips:
-Establish a calming bedtime routine that is the same every night.
-Determine your child’s sleep windows for his age and follow an appropriate schedule both day and night.
-Teach your child to fall asleep on her own.
-Be consistent in your night time rules and how you respond to your child during the night.
-Use room darkening shades and white noise.
-Keep all electronic distractions out of the bedroom.
For more info & tips,
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