We all know that sleep is important, and any new parent understands what it feels like to be sleep-deprived. As a culture, we are raising a generation of children who do not get enough sleep. Naps are too short, bedtimes are too late, children don't sleep through the night, and they get up too early.
Here are some facts about children and sleep:
* Young children who do not get enough sleep are fussier, have shorter attention spans, have poor naps during the day, experience more severe temper tantrums, and do not handle change well.
* Sleep-deprivation carries over to academic achievement, and often leads to difficulty in learning.
* Hyperactive children are often sleep-deprived.
* Sleeping habits are developed as infants. It is very difficult to teach a child past infancy to sleep.
* Babies and children who nap well have longer attention spans, perform better in school, have happier dispositions, and handle stress/change better.
NOTE: Stress/change refers to potty training, transitioning from crib to bed, moving, parents going to work, etc.
Many parents do not realize that healthy sleep does not come naturally. Feeling tired is a biological instinct, but the ability to sleep continuously is a process that needs to be taught. Babies and children need help developing a solid sleeping foundation.
A common myth is this: If I keep my child up longer, they will sleep better tonight. Or, if I keep my child up longer, they will take a better nap. In fact, the exact opposite is true. When children are kept up too long, or put to bed too late, they actually sleep less. By the time a baby becomes fussy, starts rubbing their eyes, becomes cranky, or starts crying, they are already over-tired. Parents and care-givers can learn to recognize a child's signs of sleepiness before they become over-tired. When this is learned, a parent can better teach their child to self-soothe and put themselves to sleep. When a child is put to bed without being over-tired, they get higher-quality sleep, and sleep longer.
Here are some tips to help your child be successful at sleeping:
* Establish an evening routine. Baths are a wonderful way to help calm a wound-up child. Children thrive on routines, and they need to be consistent. The earlier you start an evening routine, the quicker a child will become accustomed to nighttime sleep.
* Don't be in a hurry to transition from the crib to a bed. Once a child starts climbing out of his/her crib, start to introduce the idea of a bed.
* Keep the TV off during the evening. Even the slowest of shows can be too stimulating for children. Instead, play some quiet, soothing lullabies or read some books together.
* Sleeping with a blanket or stuffed animal (or 2 or 3) is highly encouraged. The attachment to a "snuggie" is simply a replacement for mom and dad. Sleeping with a blanket or a stuffed animal allows a child to comfort, peace, and independence. When nursing or bottle-feeding, have the blanket or animal nearby. This will help the child associate the blanket or animal with a calm feeling.
* Rock your child often, and give them plenty of hugs and kisses. Children need to be loved, and have a thirst for physical attention. Although you do not want to rock your child to sleep, rocking while sleepy may set the setting for a good night's sleep.
