by It’s critical for parents to understand the importance of sufficient sleep in child’s early physical development and ensure that infants in particular sleep for 12-14 hours a day.
An adult sleep cycle lasts for 90-110 minutes but infants cycle is only for 50-60 mins. This cycle has an active sleep and a deep sleep. Immediately once a child sleeps, he goes into active sleep when you can see irregular breathing and movements. After 40-50 minutes the child goes into deep sleep when he has no movements and breathing is regular.
During this deep sleep growth hormone is secreted by pituitary gland which causes baby’s growth. As compared to adults, in a child deep sleep is less.
Initially your child gets up frequently for feeding but as he grows, he needs longer hours of sleep at a time to promote neurological and physical growth. Newborns can’t differentiate between mean day and night. Hence to establish sleep-wake up cycle, its necessary to open windows during day and keep dull lights on when its dark outside.
Ways to improve your child’s sleep
1. At bedtime, dim the lights, draw curtains.
2. Play soothing music or use a white noisemaker (a natural sleep aid device)
3. Follow a bedtime routine. Tuck her into bed, draw the curtains and say good night. Your child will learn to associate these rituals with sleep.
4. Ensure your infant is warm and comfortable.
5. Encourage her to fall asleep on her own. Using a rocking cradle or crib because rocking a child to sleep in your arms can reduce her ability to fall asleep on her own.
6. A wet diaper can cause discomfort during sleep; ensure that you check and change diapers regularly.
7. An evening bath will help your infant sleep restfully
8. Ban mobile phones, tablets and other devices from her bedroom. They affect the quality of sleep.
9. Read her a bedtime story.
10. As a family, sleep at a set time every night. Your infant will learn that when you are ready for bed, it’s time for her to sleep as well.
