There is no denying that when you get a good night sleep you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead. Sleep is an essential tool for health, and this is particularly true when it comes to children.
Children experience rapid growth and development, and this happens over a relatively short period of time. Much of the growing that a child does occurs when they are sleeping. Scientists estimate that to help young bodies grow and develop, small children should spend around 50% of their time sleeping.
While a child is sleeping, their body is not only growing but their brain is developing. They are learning those essential skills that are linked to behaviour, memory and even social interactions. If a child does not get this vital sleep then studies have indicated that they may not develop these essential life skills to their full potential. A lack of sleep may also have significant implications for their physical health as well.
As your child gets older, they will need less sleep. However it is still particularly important that the sleep they do get is of a sufficient length and good quality. Poor sleep patterns in older children can lead to a poor attention span and this can have a negative impact on them at school.
To ensure that your child has the best amount of sleep, and the best quality, there are several things that you should consider doing.
Prepare the room
The right ambiance can really help your child to get a good sleep. It is important to ensure that a child’s bedroom is neither too hot or too cold, and that it is also nice and dark. This will help to promote a restful atmosphere which will help your child drift off to sleep, and stay asleep, ensuring that they get a good night sleep.
Sleepwear
To further assist your child in getting a good night sleep you should consider the most appropriate sleepwear for the job. Loose clothing is important when it comes to circulation. Tight waist bands or cuffs can have a negative on circulation and can even hamper the body’s ability to breathe naturally. If sleepwear is to tight it can also lead to skin irritation which can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep.
There has even been research carried out that shows that wearing sleepwear that is too restrictive has the potential to inhibit the production of melatonin in the body. Melatonin is responsible for aiding in regulating sleep cycles, if the body’s circadian rhythm is not in balance then this can affect the quality of the sleep that a person gets.
When purchasing sleepwear stick to organic cotton, which is the best material for sleeping. This is because cotton is a natural fibre that is soft, comfortable and lightweight. Unlike synthetic fabrics cotton also allows the skin to breathe and is less likely to irritate the skin or cause a rash.
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