The importance of a good night’s sleep cannot be emphasized enough. As a parent we need to make sure that our children get enough sleep because many children are known to have trouble sleeping or staying asleep at times
Sleep is important for your child’s healthy mind and body. It allows the body to be ready and prepared for another day. It’s also well associated with a healthy heart and weight. Research has shown that lack of sleep affects your child’s physical growth and also their learning ability and mood. Moreover, sleep problems can lead to added health issues like hypertension, obesity and even depression.
So, how can we ensure that our children get enough sleep?
First and foremost, it is important to establish a consistent bedtime routine. Show some tough-love here, it will only benefit your child. Children try to slip out of routines and they will do so for a sleep routine as well, so be firm. The body adapts to timings and expects to be asleep by a certain time once the routine is in place. And this has numerous health benefits.
The second is the sleep environment-make sure it’s calm. And make sure the household wraps up so the child can get uninterrupted sleep. If the others are engaged in activity that distracts the child then they won’t be able to sleep.
Making sure the child has enough physical activity during the day to be able to settle down comfortably at night, will also help because If they are tired, they will be “out-like-a-light”. Make sure the child has eaten a few hours before bedtime to avoid a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. Smaller children may want the parents close to them as it helps them doze off. It’s a feeling of comfort they are looking for and you must give them that, for peaceful sleep.
Extreme sleep disorders like night terrors, hallucinations, and sleepwalking may be experienced by some children. Seek the help of a healthcare professional to fix this issue – do not postpone it or think it will go away in time as it may become a bigger issue.
Please share your experiences and views about children’s sleep problems in the comment section below.
