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Primary Times Birmingham
PRIMARY TIMES EXCLUSIVE
Sweet Dreams
Primary Times explores the importance of a good night’s sleep
for children and how parents can make bedtime less of a battle
Every living creature needs to sleep. It
is the primary activity of the brain during
early development. The sleep-wake cycle,
scientifically known as the circadian
rhythms, are regulated by light and dark
and these patterns take humans time to
develop, resulting in the initial irregular
sleep cycles of newborn babies.The more
structured sleep cycles begin to develop
at about six weeks, and by three to six
months most infants have a regular
sleep-wake cycle.
By the age of two, most children have
spent more of their lives asleep than
awake and overall, a child will spend 40
percent of his or her childhood asleep.
But the real question is, why is sleep so
important for my child?
Sleep is especially important for children
as it directly impacts mental and physical
development. Well-rested children tend to
be more able to reach their full potential
in all aspects of their lives, whether that
be in their everyday lessons at school,
their physical health, or their moods.
As a result, a lack of sleep can leave
children (and adults!) feeling groggy,
irritable and distracted.
There are however a number of factors
which can hinder your children’s sleep, one
of the most common of these being night
terrors and sleepwalking. There is a natural
rhythm to our sleep and we actually go
through a cycle of deep sleep, followed by
a light sleep every 2-4 hours. Although your
child may fall asleep quickly when they go
to bed, some children may have difficulty
passing smoothly from one phase of sleep
into another and instead remain in a state
in which they are only half-awake. In this
state, you may see your child wandering
the house or coming into your bedroom as
a result of a nightmare, therefore causing
their sleep patterns to be broken.
Another common problem for a number of
parents is bed times, when a child simply
does not want to sleep alone in their own
room. Problems surrounding bedtime
can range from children being scared
of being alone, being afraid of the dark,
or simply becoming ‘overtired’, irritable
and overactive. To combat this, there are
numerous ways in which parents can
make bedtimes easier.
Top Tips!
For making
bedtime
easier...
Routine
is Key
If your child tends to be reluctant to go to bed,
getting them into a more set bedtime routine
every night is likely to help. This could start
with some quiet time to help your child to wind
down - for example, a bath followed by a short
bedtime story before you say goodnight.
Scrap the
Screens
Television, computer or phone screens
can keep your children awake or leave
them feeling groggy the next morning. Our
devices give out bright lights and keep our
mind distracted, so shutting the screens
down an hour before bed may help children
to better fall, and stay, sound asleep.
Keep a
Sleep Diary
If your child’s sleep is consistently poor, a sleep
diary can be a great way to find out what triggers
poor sleep behaviours and what seems to help.
As many children will show variable patterns in
their sleep, it is helpful to keep your diary over a
two-week period to paint a fuller picture.
Create a
Blissful
Bedroom
It helps to make your
child’s bedroom a safe,
calm and pleasant place
to be in. Your child may
find that certain ‘props’
may help them to fall
asleep, such as night
lights or quiet music. On
the other hand, if your
child is sensitive to sound,
avoiding any loud noises
from outside the room
may help too.
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WINTER 2019 | www.primarytimes.co.uk/birmingham