Importance of sleep for children
It has been impressive to hear the saying,All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, for it is also true that all work and no sleep makes anyone dull, irritable and tired most of the time. It is right that to say that everyone needs sleep for it is sleep that gives all of us including our children enough rest to feel energetic, refreshed and motivated and good throughout the day. It is still more interesting to note that sleep helps us process the happenings of each day and helps build memories for a long time.
Sleep proving very beneficial for your kids overall health you would surely agree that it influences the overall happiness and well-being of your family too. It is significant to note that sleep during nighttimes stimulates the production of hormones that help growth and development in our kids. Newborn babies need about 16 hours a sleep a day with a child above 1 year to 5 years sleeping about 12 hours each day. It is still more important for you as a parent to know that each child differs in his/her sleeping pattern, with a child being happy and healthy being an indicator of quality and quantity sleep.
Many kids need to be helped to have naps and sleep at night and learning how to put kids to sleep involves the use of certain techniques that involves making certain associations in the kids mind about sleep time activities/routine and associations.
Learn how to put kids to sleep
The first step that most parents that have been able to put their kids to sleep is to observe and find out what is the best association that a kid makes to sleep time and sleep activities. Some kids may prefer sleeping in a crib/cradle when they are young; with this cozy situation inducing good quality sleep. Some kids may like to sleep cuddled up with a cozy blanket or stuffed toy, while some others would prefer sleeping holding on to their favorite toy. Making sure for comfortable quality sleep for your kid also involves making sure that his/her bedclothes are comfortable and neither too warm nor too cold.
Close observation of the kids sleeping cycles with reference to the time when he/she is most tired during the day makes it possible to program the right mid-day nap for the kid. This would help the kid feel energetic for play and other activities thereafter and later for a full nights sleep later in the evening. Avoiding physically and mentally stimulating activities like watching TV or any physical game and instead using activities like playing with stuffed toys, reading/listening to stories helps induce good sleep.
Inculcating and following a wind-up bedtime routine like being given a warm bath, massaging the kids feet, making the lights in the sleep area dim with dressing the kid in loose bed clothes at bedtime with soft music playing in the background helps to create the calm bedtime routine experience. Many kids have been benefitted with the rhythm of the fan or air-conditioner, while many toddlers have found nursing or drinking a glass of warm milk helpful to go off to sleep. While young children may love lullabies, older kids would enjoy reading stories or being read out as they fall asleep.
Establishing a bedtime with a suitable bedtime routine helps to put kids to sleep without much fuss as it aids the body to adapt to a certain cycle. A comfortable bed with a dark room to sleep at night with minimum distractions in the form of noises like the barking of dogs, other older children engaging in various activities could distract kids from sleeping. Fans have help prevent distractions, with a kid being most comfortably put to sleep with tucking your child in bed before you leave the room when he is ready to go off to sleep.