Getting enough sleep is crucial to being a healthy and happy person. This is not only true for adults, but also children. Your child should be getting anywhere between 8-14 hours of sleep every day, depending on their age.
A lack of sleep can make them irritable, moody, unhappy and can hurt their productivity at school, as well. Unfortunately, many children are notoriously bad at getting to sleep on time and don’t always have the best sleeping habits. In fact, up to 50% of children will struggle with a sleep problem of some kind.
Thankfully, there are some things you can do to help them get enough sleep, and this blog post is going to go over a few of them.
Ensure They Have the Right Bed
One of the first things to do is to make sure they are using a quality mattress. A lumpy, hot, stiff or uncomfortable bed can make getting enough sleep challenging. Not only that, but the wrong mattress can lead to neck and back pain in some situations, too. Also, be sure to ask them about their preferences. For example, if your child seems to overheat when they sleep, consider looking at a best cooling mattress to improve how well they sleep.
Have a Good Routine Before Bed
A proper routine before bed is also crucial for improving the quality and duration of your child’s sleep. This can be different things for different ages. For young children, it could be a bath and a bedtime story, and for older children it could be a conversation with you or simply some relaxation time for themselves. All of this can encourage good sleeping patterns and help them wind down and prepare their body and mind for sleep.
Keep Their Sleeping Schedule Consistent
In addition to a consistent overall routine, you should also aim to keep your sleeping schedule consistent. If they are constantly going to bed and waking up at all different hours, it can make things difficult for their body to adjust. Our bodies are thrown off when things change a lot, and this can lead to poor sleep and even difficulty falling asleep or waking. Even on weekends or holidays, it is a good idea to keep things as consistent as possible to encourage enough sleep.
Make Sure Their Room Encourages Quality Sleep
The sleeping environment of your child can also play a major role in them getting enough sleep. Their room should be dark (of course, a nightlight is okay), quiet and be the right temperature for them to feel comfortable. Of course, if your child is a heavy sleeper they can probably sleep through a bit of background noise, but light sleepers may struggle even with tiny amounts of noise.
Be Careful With Screens
Screen time is on the rise for everyone, and this can lead to some troubles at bedtime. Using your phone, watching TV or even playing on a tablet can all delay sleepiness and suppress melatonin levels. So for at least an hour before bed, make sure that your child avoids using or watching screens to give them the best chance of having a good and restful sleep. When they do use them in the evening, it is a good idea to turn the brightness down a little.
While children aren’t always the best at going to bed on time and getting good sleep, the tips in this article should be able to help you out. Ensuring they get enough sleep can help them at school, and generally help them be happier and more positive children.
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