Cots, Beds and Tips for Sleeping

The Importance of Sleep

We all love sleeping and all living creatures needs to sleep. Humans spend one third of their lives sleeping, however, it is not fully understood what sleep does. It is the primary activity of the brain during early development. The sleep-wake cycle, is regulated by light and dark and these rhythms take time to develop, resulting in the irregular sleep schedules of new-borns.

The rhythms begin to develop at about six weeks, and by three to six months most infants have a regular sleep-wake cycle. At the age of two, most children have spent more time asleep than awake and overall, a child will spend 40 percent of his or her childhood sleeping. Sleep is especially important for children as it directly impacts mental and physical development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sleep Tips for New-Borns

New born children convey to us that they want sleep through a different number of methods. Some babies cry and rub their eyes to capture a parent’s attention, it is best to put babies to bed when they are tired but not asleep.

• Try observing a baby’s sleep pattern and identify signs of sleepiness.
• Encourage the baby to sleep at night.
• Place baby to sleep on his/her back with face and head clear of blankets and other soft items.

 

Sleep Tips for Infants

Infants typically sleep 9-12 hours during the night and take 30 minutes to two-hour naps, one to four times a day, fewer as they reach age one.

• Make consistent bedtime routines.
• Create an environment that is sleep friendly.
• Begin a schedule for daytime and bedtime and encourage babies to fall asleep independently.

Sleep Tips for Toddlers

Toddlers need about 11-14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. When they reach about 18 months of age their naptimes will decrease to once a day lasting about one to three hours.

• Have a relaxing bedtime routine that ends in the room where the child sleeps.
• Set limits that are consistent, communicated and enforced.
• Maintain your sleeping schedule.

 

Sleep Tips for Pre-School Age

Pre-schoolers typically sleep 11-13 hours each night and most do not nap after five years of age. Sleeping in a crib instead of a bed is associated with enhanced caregiver-reported sleep quantity and quality. A new study has found that children who sleep in a cot until the age of 3 sleep better through the night.

• Child should sleep in the same sleeping environment every night.
• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule.

Safe Sleeping Steps

1 – Put babies on their backs.

2 – Make sure babies heads or faces can’t get covered while they’re sleeping.

3 – Share a room.

4 – Use a firm well-fitting mattress.

5 – Use a cot that meets current EU safety standards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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