Kaya Drive: Encourage healthy sleep patterns from a young age
By: Natasha Archary
A regular bedtime routine can go a long way in establishing healthy sleep patterns for children. Getting a baby, toddler or older children into bed is often a challenge most parents struggle with.
According to the Sleep Foundation, 20 to 30% of parents have difficulties with getting their children down for the night.
After a long day, it can be frustrating to look into those wide-eyed stares and deal with your child’s blatant refusal to call it a day.
Over-stimulation adds to the problem and unless children have consistent schedules and routines, it would be tough to break the cycle of non-sleep.
Encourage healthy sleep patterns
In a 2018 study by the National Library of Medicine, healthy bedtime routines were associated with brain development, socio-emotional skills development and a stronger parent-child relationship.
It goes without saying that a regular sleep routine for children benefits both the child and the parent. Children with non-regular nighttime routines exhibit more behavioural difficulties than others.
This then filters down to the parents who showed higher levels of stress, fatigue, anxiety and anger.
Benefits of a bedtime routine
Setting a bedtime routine with kids from a young age sets the foundation for a healthy lifestyle which they can carry with them into adulthood.
A structured sleep routine can help a child relax before bed and wind down. Maintaining a set time for dinner, bath time, story time and bed, gives your child a sense of security. It also enables them to fall asleep on their own which is what every parent aims to achieve.
Research further suggests that those who have healthy sleep patterns, will likely take less time to fall asleep and will wake up less frequently at night.
These are some of the beneficial signs which point to improved sleep in later life. Children who struggle with sleep from a young age, often become adults who suffer with insomnia.
Apart from aiding sleep, good nighttime routines improves a child’s cognitive memory, attention-to-detail and fosters better time management.
Kids who go to bed earlier also have an easier time concentrating in school and dealing with early mornings.
Listen to the conversation on Kaya Drive:
Also read: 3 Tips for parents to reach the perfect work-life balance
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