Healthy baby sleep. Adequate good sleep is the key to the health of children (system, rules and importance) What makes a healthy sleep for a child

Date: 20.06.2020

It is impossible to imagine the life of an active and happy child without sound long sleep. This is a rare case when both doctors and grandmothers agree that a child must get enough sleep, otherwise he will not be able to play, study, or "behave normally" ... We will tell you what makes up a healthy child's sleep!

Not about babies will be said ...

It is well known: the younger the child is in age, the more time he spends in a dream. As a rule, healthy babies under one year old sleep most of the day, mostly awake only and. Of course, except for those cases when the baby is sick with something ...

This means that newborns and babies are, as they say, "a separate song". And we have already sung this "song" to you - the topic of healthy sleep for newborns and babies up to one year old. And this time we will talk about children over a year old - how to properly organize their sleep so that the children grow up healthy, and during periods of wakefulness they are energetic, with excellent appetite and in a good mood?

How many hours should a child's healthy sleep last?

In any parenting manual, you will surely find a tablet in which the "pundits" indicated for responsible parents how many hours their baby should sleep, depending on age.

So, the average parameters of a child's healthy sleep, recommended by pediatricians, are as follows:

A baby from one to one and a half years old should sleep 3 times a day: the first daytime period - about 2 hours; the second daytime sleep period is about 1.5 hours; night period - at least 10 hours.
A child aged 1.5-2 years should sleep 2 times a day: during the day - about 2-3 hours and at night - at least 10 hours.
A 2-3-year-old child should sleep 2 times a day: during the day - about 2 hours and at night - at least 10 hours.
For a child 7 years old and older, pediatricians recommend a daytime sleep - about 1.5 hours and a night sleep - at least 8 hours. However, it is believed that after the age of 8, the baby may no longer sleep during the day at all, but then the night's sleep should be at least 9 hours.

There are obvious factors that can directly affect a child's sleep - either make it healthy, strong and useful, or vice versa - drastically reduce its quality. These factors primarily include:

The climate in the room where the child sleeps;
Comfortable bed and linen;
Adequate physical activity and walking in the fresh air;
Emotional condition;
Health status.

What does healthy child sleep consist of?

Let's talk a little more about each factor:

The climate in the room. Most parents (and not only parents) know by themselves that in a cool room they sleep much more comfortably and soundly than in a hot, dry and stuffy microclimate around the bed. In the case of children, this nuance is even more relevant - according to statistics, the restless and unhealthy sleep of a child in the vast majority of cases is due precisely to the wrong climate in the nursery. So, recall, for maximum comfort and healthy sleep, you need:

the air temperature in the room where the child sleeps should be no higher than 19 ° C;
10-15 minutes before laying, it is advisable to ventilate the room well;
if there are heating batteries in the room and you are not able to reduce their "power" - put a steam humidifier (the optimum air humidity is 65-70%).
it is much better to dress the child in warm pajamas during sleep and cover them with a thicker blanket, but at the same time create a cool and humid climate in the room than vice versa - sparing no batteries to "heat" the room in which the child sleeps naked, every now and then throwing off the blanket ...

By the way, it is the lack of air humidity in the room where the child sleeps that often leads to ARVI diseases.

The fact is that too dry air contributes to overdrying of the nasal and pharyngeal mucosa, which contributes to the suppression of local immunity and the "flourishing" of viruses and bacteria on the mucous membrane. As a result, the baby gets sick ...

In addition to the cool climate in the nursery, for a healthy sleep of the child, it is also extremely important to minimize the number of all kinds of "dust collectors" - for example, sofa pillows, extra blankets and soft toys. The arsenal of teddy bears and hares is not a place near a sleeping child, just one favorite toy is enough ...

In addition, in the room where the child sleeps, it is useful to carry out wet cleaning daily. In short - use all the possibilities to keep the air in the nursery clean, fresh, cool and humid.

Comfortable bed and linen. It is absurd to mention this, but for forgetful and "disheveled" parents, we remind you that for a healthy sleep, a child needs a bed of height and comfortable underwear, preferably without the addition of synthetics. It is best to wash the linen with special "baby" products, and wipe the bed itself from dust on a regular basis.

We hope that most parents have time not only to enjoy how quickly their children are growing, but also to select new furniture of appropriate dimensions for them. But the nuance that parents often miss is the size of the pillow. Large and high pillows are "contraindicated" for healthy sleep of a child!

It is believed that for a healthy sleep of a child over 2 years old, a pillow is ideal, the height of which is equal to the width of the child's shoulder. Children from one to two years of age do not yet need a pillow anatomically, but if the fact that your child sleeps without a pillow hurts your parental instincts, you can use it, but not as high as you can get. Sometimes it is quite possible to do with an ordinary diaper folded several times.

Adequate physical activity and outdoor walks, and - emotional condition; A well-known medical fact is that intense physical activity (especially in the presence of oxygen, that is, in the fresh air) contributes to a healthy and sound sleep of the child, and excessive emotional stress, on the contrary, interferes with good sleep.

In other words: excessively long-term communication of the baby with peers, or too "entertainment" children's mass event, abuse of TV and gaming gadgets - all this can create a certain emotional stress in the child, against which a sound healthy sleep will be simply impossible. In addition, with such emotional stress, the likelihood of night fears and nightmares in a child is high. So, if you have visited a contact zoo with your baby, and then at a children's party, and by the evening your child is still in obvious emotional excitement, do not try to put him to bed right away. For a healthy sleep, the child must be reassured - sit with him, read him a kind book (in a calm voice and in the soft light of a night light), turn on a slow, pleasant lullaby, etc.

And remember one more useful rule: excessive emotional excitement in a child can be partially "extinguished" by physical fatigue.

In other words, if, picking up the baby from the garden, you notice that he is kind of "worked up" after a cheerful children's matinee, take a longer road with him to the house, linger on the playground - let the baby run and crawl heartily before bed ...

Health status; When children get sick, it is quite clear that at this time any regimes (especially sleep and nutrition) are canceled. And the very concept of "healthy sleep" in the context of a sick child is very conditional.

It is important that the sick baby sleeps as much as his body requires - without looking at any clock, this child can neither be put to bed, nor woken from sleep.

At the same time, however, it is extremely important to ensure that a sleepy child (and sleepiness is always a faithful companion of high temperature, and therefore a great many children's ailments) is constantly "provided" with abundant drink and a cool, humid climate in the room. The fact is that fever and drowsiness are 2 main factors contributing to dehydration, which is extremely dangerous for children and always leads to an aggravation of the painful condition.

Healthy sleep for a child or sleep with parents?

Oddly enough, but nowadays it is seriously criticized among pediatricians, although it is very popular with many parents. It turns out that for the health of children (especially small ones) it is much safer and more comfortable to sleep separately - in their crib, and even better - in a separate bedroom (while open doors, as well as radio or video nannies remain excellent ways to control the situation in the children's room and not worry every 5 minutes: how is our baby going?).

Healthy sleep of a child is, first of all, such conditions under which the brain of the baby, his nervous system and the body as a whole fully rest and recover.

However, scientists have shown that in most cases, during prolonged joint sleep of children with their parents (as well as with siblings), the baby's body does not completely get rid of the so-called "sleep factors" - special substances that any person accumulates during wakefulness. It is these substances that cause brain fatigue in people, and as a result, a state of drowsiness, and it is they that completely break down during a sound sleep, allowing us to start each new day vigorous and energetic.

Modern experts advise: let the child sleep at night in his own bed (or better in his own bedroom) - for good rest and recovery of the body, and the family can practice a short daytime sleep as they like: even if such a joint sleep does not allow all family members to get a good night's sleep, it will certainly contribute to the creation of a warm, friendly and sincere atmosphere in the bosom of the family - and this is also important!

Healthy children's sleep and "ridiculous" childhood fears

Child psychologists claim that childhood fears (for example, fear of ghosts, an evil "babay" under the bed, a monster living in a closet, and other "horrors") largely determine the general emotional state of a child. This means that they also affect the healthy sleep of the child.

According to medical observations, childhood fears most often occur in children aged 3-7 years, as well as in adolescents (during puberty).

We have already taught you,. But it will never be superfluous to remind the main points:

Never, under any circumstances, ridicule, disregard, or underestimate your child's fears!
Remember that scary bedtime stories, thriller films, excessive addiction to computer games, and grandmothers with a tendency to intimidate grandchildren in order to obey ("If you won't happen to me - I'll give you over to that evil policeman!") - all this contributes to development the child has persistent fears;
Be as patient, benevolent, respectful, outgoing and loving towards your baby as possible! This will help not only to overcome his childhood fears, but also to establish healthy sleep for the child.

In addition to the child's fears and nightmares that happen to almost all children from time to time, sudden, loud and loud sounds can disrupt a child's healthy sleep. Therefore, parents should make sure that during sleep in the nursery there are no objects or devices that can scare the baby - balloons, mobile phones, or interactive toys that can suddenly work in the middle of the night, having caught a random signal ...

Children's "I don't want to sleep!" - parenting nightmare

But it's not just kids who have sleep-related nightmares. The parents also have it, and the main one is the children's nightly “show” called “I don’t want to sleep!”, Which starts at the “lights out” time. What do doctors advise on this?

It turns out that there is a simple, but very effective rule:

If a child wakes up easily in the morning, gets up quickly and "without scandals", and cheerfully begins to put on his own, then the lights out in this case is not significant.

Let's say you have a constant problem in order to "drive" your 8-year-old son to sleep at exactly 21:00. And every evening you hear from a descendant: “I don’t want to sleep! Well, it's too early ... ". And at the same time, the baby wakes up in the morning easily, without any "tricks", in a good mood, and is cheerfully going to school ... Well, it is quite possible that your regime limit - 21:00 - is really "too early" for him. Indeed, for a healthy sleep of a child, it is important not only the number of hours, but also the physical and emotional readiness for sleep itself!

There are two ways out of the problem here:

Go to the experiment, and give the child the opportunity for several days in a row to go to bed not at 21:00, but at 22:00. If, under this condition, the boy will fall asleep quickly and without whining, and it is still easy to wake up - in this case, you will simply have to move the lights out to a later time from now on. And the guy, intuitively obeying his biorhythms, was right when he said that it was "too early for him" ...
If at a later lights out, the child's healthy sleep is clearly disturbed, it will be more difficult and longer for the baby to wake up, show bad mood and irritability in the morning, etc. - it makes sense to return to the previous regular lights-out time (21:00), but try to make the guy "ready" to fall asleep by that time. Recall that physical activity and walks in the fresh air (especially before bedtime!), As well as quiet activities in the late afternoon - reading, repetition of the lessons given at school, etc. very effectively contribute to this. Impose a strict parental veto on the excessive use of gadgets - but do it not as a tyrant parent, but as a loving and caring friend (be sure to agree with your child - when and how much time per day he will be allowed to play on a tablet or smartphone).

Factors with which healthy sleep of the child is not "friendly"

There are several factors that are closely associated with children that are not associated with healthy sleep. The 3 most important of them are:

Enuresis (or urinary incontinence during sleep);
Bruxism (teeth grinding in sleep);
Thirst during night sleep.

- the phenomenon is frequent, about 10% of children suffer from it. The exact reasons due to which it occurs, still not a single doctor knows. As is unknown to science and not a single one hundred percent method to cure a child from this "habit" - to urinate in a dream. One way or another, with age for most children, this "nuisance" goes away by itself. However, during sleep and upon awakening, a wet bed, of course, gives the child a fair share of negative experiences ...

Likewise, a rather large "army" of children grinds their teeth in their sleep - another phenomenon for which modern medicine has not found a proper explanation, but which does not fit in with the concept of healthy sleep for a child. Some experts believe that this is a rudimentary reflex that we inherited from distant ancestors, others that this problem has neurological causes. And despite the fact that grinding teeth in a dream does not seem to cause any visible inconvenience to the sleeping child himself, this phenomenon itself has a negative effect on the child's health - bruxism destroys tooth enamel.

With thirst, fortunately, things are much clearer and more positive. It is obvious that sudden awakenings at night in order to drink water negatively affect the healthy sleep of the child, but this problem is not at all difficult to deal with. Thirst during sleep in a child (as in an adult) is caused by overdrying of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and oral cavity. Either because the room is unforgivably hot and stuffy, or because the baby is not healthy (any rise in temperature leads to natural dehydration and thirst). Eliminating both is much easier than, say, saving a child from enuresis or bruxism.

The main thing to take into account here is that if you do not influence the child's “habit” of waking up at night to drink water in time, this “event” will turn into a stable reflex with which this child will live his whole life to a ripe old age, regardless of external factors. We are sure that among your friends there are many who cannot imagine a bedside table without a full glass of water on it ...

Healthy sleep of a child is, of course, an important part of his well-being in general. At the same time, it is gratifying that in most cases the parents are quite able to create all the conditions so that the baby gets good sleep every night, and every day starts in a cheerful and cheerful mood. This means that he grew up as a strong, healthy, active and prosperous child!

Your baby really needs a nap... Experts recommend maintaining healthy sleep for the baby and daytime rest up to 6-7 years old, as this improves concentration, has a beneficial effect on health (increases the body's immune properties). However, all children are different. Some of those who refuse to fall asleep during the day, “fill up” their own at night. But this is not a way out of the situation. Have patience, try to find the reason for refusing to sleep. If you can't do it yourself, contact your pediatrician. Perhaps he will recommend bathing the child in a sedative collection.
You can also postpone water treatments to an earlier daytime. During swimming and massage, the baby loses a lot of strength, gets tired and, as a result, falls asleep rather quickly. But it happens that the child cannot be put to bed. And all because the energy received during useful procedures must find a way out.

If you are crumbs during sleep trying to eliminate all noise is wrong. There should be a measure in everything. The baby, accustomed from birth to sleep in complete silence, wakes up from any noise. Of course, when the child falls asleep, you need to turn down the volume of the TV, radio or tape recorder. But the natural sound background (creaking of the floor, doors, quiet speech) should be present during the sleep of the crumbs, especially during the daytime. And so that the baby sleeps better, put him in bed with your favorite soft toy - a fluffy bear or bunny, which you can snuggle against in a dream. The main thing is that this toy is made of safe material and does not contain small parts. This is the best "substitute" for mom during sleep. Waking up, the baby hugs his beloved bunny and makes sure that he is not alone in his bed.

Due to prolonged contact with a pacifier, the baby develops an irregular bite, and an unpleasant rash around the mouth may also appear. And most importantly, as soon as the dummy falls out of the mouth in a dream, your treasure immediately wakes up and cries. You have to get up, give the baby a dummy and rock again. It is necessary to gradually wean the little one to fall asleep with a dummy. You can make the first attempt at 6-8 months - at this age, the need for sucking in children is somewhat weakened.
Try shifting your afternoon nap to a later time so that your child really gets tired during the day. And the daytime wakefulness is diversified by more intense games, activities, be more outdoors: this helps to maintain healthy sleep for the baby.
In the evening, try to follow the rituals of going to bed: quiet games, bathing, a fairy tale or a lullaby for the night. You may even have to lie down with the baby. It is possible that you will need advice from a neurologist, who will most likely recommend massage and swimming. It can be invaluable to consult a homeopath who will suggest the right remedies.

Analyze how do you put the baby to bed, what is the microclimate in the room. Perhaps the air in the bedroom is too dry, so the baby's mucous membranes dry out and it is difficult for him to breathe. It is better to dress the little one in a bodysuit or "little men": they do not cause discomfort to the little one, since they do not twist and do not crumple on the back.
And, of course, one of the most important points is the choice of a diaper. More than half (55%) of European mums surveyed in a recent study agreed that it is easy for a baby to sleep well by wearing comfortable diapers.

Healthy, full sleep of a child is the basis for correct mental and physical development.

Sleep is just as important as food, drink and safety in a child's life. For some, this does not seem obvious, which is why many of us do not get adequate sleep, which is so necessary for the proper development and functioning of the body.

Of course, we are not doing a lot on purpose. But in reality, we often don’t just think about how much and how we sleep, and that this could be a problem. Working parents, school, after school, other lifestyle factors, missed naps, falling asleep late, getting up early. At first glance, skipping a nap or falling asleep later than usual is not that important, but it is not. In addition, the consequences of this may manifest themselves on the child in the future.

To understand the importance of sleep in the development and growth of a child, one must first understand what happens during sleep, what healthy sleep is, what happens if the child does not receive the required amount or the proper quality of sleep, or both at the same time. You also need to be aware of how sleep affects activity, vigor, relaxation, stress, and how this can affect temperament, academic performance and behavior in general.

In his book Healthy Sleep, Healthy Child, Mark Weissbluth, MD, makes the following interesting and insightful comment on sleep:

“Sleep is a source of energy that gives rest and activates strength. During nighttime sleep and daytime sleep, the "brain batteries" are recharged. Sleep improves thinking ability in the same way that lifting weights increases muscle mass. Sleep increases the ability to concentrate, in addition, it allows you to simultaneously relax physically and activate mentally. In this case, the next morning the person feels great. "

The foundation of healthy sleep

For a healthy and satisfying sleep, you need:

Get enough sleep

Continuous sleep (good quality sleep)

The required amount according to the person's age

A daily routine that is in harmony with the natural biological rhythms of a person (internal clock or circadian rhythms)

If you do not follow any of the points, symptoms of lack of sleep may appear.

Optimal activity: Healthy sleep allows a person to function normally after waking up, which is called being optimally active. We know various forms of wakefulness, ranging from lethargy to hyperactivity. Optimal activity is the state in which the interaction with the environment around us is best perceived and occurs at the moment of the longest concentration of attention and increased ability to learn and memorize. This can be seen in a child when he is calm, attentive, polite, with wide-open eyes examines the world around him, absorbs all emotions and impressions, easily communicates with others. A change in the state of activity affects behavior and the ability to perceive new knowledge.

Sleep duration: To grow, develop and function normally, the baby must get enough sleep. The amount of sleep a child needs depends on the age of the child. Do not forget that every child is unique and each has its own characteristics.

Sleep quality: Sleep quality is continuous sleep that allows the baby to go through all the necessary stages and phases of sleep. Sleep quality is just as important as quantity. It plays an important role in the development of the nervous system.

Short daytime sleep: naps also play an important role in sleep quality. Sleep during the day helps to optimize the child's activity and also influences development and learning ability. A short nap is slightly different from a night's sleep. Daytime sleep differs not only in the nature of the sleep itself, but also in that it performs different functions at different times of the day. This is why the length of daytime sleep is extremely important and why they must be in harmony with the biological rhythms of the child.

Internal sync: We wake up; we are awake. We get tired; we go to bed. This is nature's rule. These are all part of the natural, everyday biological rhythms.

In the first months of a child's life, these rhythms are irregular, but with age they are gradually synchronized and established. Best and most of all, a person rests when sleep (day and night) is in harmony with these rhythms. Lack of such synchronization can disrupt rhythms or a cycle, and this prevents falling asleep and continuing to sleep soundly, for example. This can result in excessive fatigue and nervousness in the child. Therefore, it is very important to regulate the amount of sleep of the child and adjust your daily routine so that it matches the biological clock of the child as much as possible.

The consequences of sleep disturbance

Sleep disturbance, whatever the cause, can have significant and even serious consequences. In his book Healthy Sleep, Healthy Child, Mark Weissbluth writes:

“Sleep problems affect the child's condition not only at night, but also during the day. Sleep problems affect mental performance, alertness, concentration, and mood. Children become impulsive, hyperactive, or lazy. "

Chronic sleep deprivation: It is very important to understand that sleep deprivation accumulates: daytime sleepiness gradually increases. This means that even minor changes in sleep patterns over time will turn into serious consequences. Conversely, small changes to increase sleep duration can have positive effects. It all depends on the nature and extent of the problem.

Fatigue: Even at first glance, a little lack of sleep can make a child tired. It is difficult for a child to remain active, fatigue appears, even if the child does not participate at all in any activity.

Especially during the day, spending time with friends and family, the child wants to be part of the action and his response to fatigue is to “fight it”. Therefore, the child tries to remain vigorous and active. This provokes the formation of a hormone such as adrenaline, due to which the child becomes hyperactive. In this case, the child is awake, but exhausted. Excessive nervousness, irritability and fussiness begin to appear. The child cannot concentrate and study for a long time. This is why tired children seem to be overexcited, hyperactive. Now you understand that when a child is so excited, he will not be able to fall asleep quickly and easily.

Interestingly, it also provokes frequent awakenings at night. Therefore, do not allow your seemingly active, tireless child to stay up late. The sooner the child goes to bed, the better for him. Sometimes even 15-20 minutes can have a positive effect. You will be very surprised to find how easy it is to put a sleeping child to bed.

Interesting observations

Below you will find results from various studies that illustrate the difficulties and changes in the child's behavior due to sleep problems (from the book by Mark Weissbluth "Healthy Sleep, Healthy Child" and Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam "How to Raise an Smart Child"):

Children cannot outgrow sleep problems; problems need to be solved.

The longer the child sleeps during the day, the higher the attention span.

Children who sleep little during the day are more irritable, need more companionship, and cannot be entertained or amused on their own.

Newborns who sleep a lot during the day are happier, more outgoing, and less dependent. The behavior of children who do not sleep much may be similar to that of hyperactive children.

A small but constant lack of sleep accumulates and is constantly reflected in the functioning of the brain.

Children with high IQs of any age group sleep a lot.

Improving sleep quality in children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) has a positive effect on peer relationships and school performance.

Healthy sleep has a positive effect on neurological development and is considered to be the primary means of preventing many behavioral problems and impaired academic performance.

How parents can help

As parents, we must feel and protect the sleep of the child, since it is we who ensure their safety, we regularly prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for them. We are primarily responsible for the hygiene of the baby's sleep, so we need to start teaching the baby about proper hygiene as early as possible. It is much easier to instill good habits than to correct bad ones.

By instilling the right attitude to sleep with the help of daily attention and care, you will grow up a happy, confident, independent, outgoing child. But you must not forget about yourself: you also need good sleep.

What could be more important for moms than? For this, they are ready for anything and even more. Pediatricians came to the conclusion that a caring mother should not put the child in a separate bed, but next to her. Babies are supposed to sleep with their mother until they are 3 years old, otherwise unexpected problems may arise.

Why is it so, what is harmful to a child's sleep in a separate bed and how to make everyone feel comfortable - editors "So simple!" already knows the answers to these questions.

Healthy baby sleep

Dr. Niels Bergman of the University of Cape Town argues that newborns should sleep on their mother's chest during the first weeks. And then - next to mom, until they are three or four years old. He came to this conclusion after discovering that babies in separate beds sleep less and more restlessly than those who sleep on their mother's chest.

When a child sleeps in a separate bed, his heart rate increases, and the small heart suffers greatly from this. Besides the fact that it causes health problems in the child, it can also cause bad behavior in the future and even provoke difficulties in adolescence.

Opinions were divided on this score. For example, British scientists recently published an article that children who sleep with their mother are at risk. They investigated cases of sudden infant deaths and found that 2/3 of them occurred while the baby was sleeping in the mother's bed.

Bergman has his own point of view on this matter: “When babies die in bed, the upside-down mom isn't necessarily to blame. Choking can occur from other things: toxic fumes, cigarettes, alcohol, large pillows and dangerous toys. " And in this one cannot but agree with him, because sudden infant death also occurs in children who sleep in a separate cradle.

The study found that only 6 out of 16 children slept peacefully in their cradles. Children who sleep in their beds are less likely to transition from active sleep to restful sleep. And this is very important for the development of the brain. Research confirms that such sleep disorders in a child can lead to problems during adolescence.

In turn, Dr. Komarovsky believes that this cannot be the rule for all parents. He claims: "Each family determines its own sleep system, and this system should be convenient for a particular family." He does not advocate this statement, but he does not say that it is bad either.

“First of all, I am in favor of treating all this calmly - without any strain. Is it harmful for a child to sleep with mom? Not harmful. If all conditions are met ",- says Komarovsky. In his opinion, for a safe and comfortable sleep of a child in the parents' bed, it is necessary that the bed meets the necessary requirements: an even hard mattress, no pillow, good bedding.

He focuses on the fact that the main thing in all this is the consent of the parents with this arrangement of things. And not just one, but both parents. “If you and your“ compatriots ”feel good, then it should be so. If it’s bad, either change your partner, or move the child to your own bed, ”- says the doctor.

Healthy sleep of the child.

Healthy baby sleep is very important. He is like food, water and air. Healthy sleep of a child is a source that gives energy, strength, rest. With the help of sleep, all the information received by the baby for the day is processed. Healthy sleep is the key to well-being, health and comfort.

The organization of sleep in children must be approached responsibly and deliberately. From childhood, you need to accustom your children to the daily routine, time management, and proper sleep. Sleep is very closely related to other components of life: hygiene, clothing, food, walks in the fresh air, and others. And who if not parents can control and accustom their child to healthy sleep.

NORMALS OF HEALTHY SLEEP IN A CHILD

Pediatric pediatricians offer separate norms of healthy sleep for each age period in a child. This should be approached with caution, and based only on the individual characteristics of your child.

1 - 4 months - about 18 hours.
5 - 9 months - about 16 hours.
10 - 12 months - about 13 hours.
1-3 years - about 11 hours.
3 - 7 years - about 10 hours.
After 7 years - 9 hours.

This is the average sleep rate per day. As you can see, the need for sleep depends on the age of the baby. The smaller he is, the more sleep he needs, the older - the less. But how much your child will sleep - only you choose, starting from his activity, wakefulness, energy, fatigue and individual physiological needs.

SLEEP IN A CHILD

Sleep is often disturbed, especially in young children. There are various reasons for this.

Physiological features of the baby.
Influence of the environment.
Somatic illness: ARVI, influenza, etc.
Neurological pathology.
Emotionality and activity of the child. During the day, a child may experience an overabundance of emotions. Here it is important to pay attention to the games and fun that the baby plays. Pay attention to what kind of cartoons and books you watch. It will not be superfluous to revise the child's day regimen.
The change of night and day. The process of dividing sleep into daytime and nighttime is formed only at the age of 4 months. Therefore, before this age, it is difficult for a baby to get used to falling asleep and waking up at the right time. He can stay awake at night, and sleep sweetly during the day.

Unhealthy sleep in a child affects his health, behavior, quality of life. If the child does not sleep well, it means that he is not resting, not relaxing. Doctors say that sleep disturbances lead to a delay in the growth and development of the child.

Also, a baby's poor sleep affects not only him, but also his parents. Parents have observed: no rash, fatigue, irritation, confusion.

To avoid this, you need to be guided by the basic rules for organizing healthy sleep in a child.

Healthy sleep rules for a child

In order for the sleep to be healthy and useful for the child, you need to adhere to the basic rules

Fresh air and ventilated area.

The air in the child's room should not be humid or stuffy. Children's leading pediatricians advise setting the temperature in the room to +18 degrees. At this temperature, it is very easy to breathe, sleep is calm, and in the morning the baby will feel good. As the long-term practice of specialists shows, at this temperature the baby does not open up. If you are worried that the child will freeze, then use warm and soft pajamas.

Try to pay attention to the humidity in the air. If it is not possible to purchase a special humidifier, then put a couple of containers of water near the crib or near the battery.

Comfortable bed.

The bed is the basis of a healthy sleep in a child. It is better to purchase a bed with an orthopedic mattress. Its advantages: strength, rigidity, maintaining the position of the child. Up to 3 years old, it is better to use a towel or a very thin pillow instead of a standard pillow. The child's blanket should be light, natural, without impregnation and dyes. If there are ruffles, canopies on bed linen or cribs, then, oddly enough, these are real dust collectors. And dust blocks the flow of fresh air.

Lighting.

Children's room should be well lit. Since the child is here and played and engaged. But many children do not like to fall asleep in pitch darkness, so experts advise installing lamps around the perimeter of the room. The lights will create a soft light that will help your baby fall asleep easily. Pay attention to the curtains in the children's room. When a child prepares for bed in the afternoon, they can be used to create twilight. Do not forget about the cleanliness of the curtains, they should not accumulate a lot of dust, wash periodically.

Ritual before bed.

Do the same steps each time you go to bed. Performing the same thing every time will be like a ritual for the baby. He will know that first you need to swim, then read a book and fall asleep. Instead of a book, you can use a lullaby or turn on slow instrumental music. After the child falls asleep, the music must be turned off. Maintain silence in the house: do not talk loudly, do not turn on music loudly. Take care of the baby's sleep.

Active day.

Spend more time outdoors, play active games. You need to spend the day in a fun, positive way. Try to avoid hysterics and crying. Set your baby up in a good mood.

You need to go to bed at the same time. Before going to bed, it is advisable not to play active games, not to run or jump.

It is advisable that the child sleeps only in his crib, and not with his parents. You can choose one of your favorite toys and let your baby fall asleep with it. This will replace his mom. And also this toy will be associated with sleep.

Be sure to kiss your baby before going to bed, wish good night.

If you follow these rules systematically, the baby's sleep will stabilize. The kid will get used to the regime and will fall asleep easily. Sleep will have a beneficial effect on the baby's health, mood and behavior.

The main thing is to be there and support!