Sleep is important to everyone, more so for our children. Sleep has many benefits to children, among others, it promotes growth and boosts immunity.
When children meet their sleep requirements, they are less tired during the day. That means, they are in better mood and more productive. It gives them better focus in school and in their other activities. Getting enough sleep is good for their health and well-being.
So how do we make sure our children sleep well? How do we make sure they get enough sleep?
Here are two things you can get rid of to make sure they get better quality sleep:
Excessive gadget usage – First all, the use of electronic devices isn’t a bad thing. We, as adults use it. Even our children use it. They are great tools that help us in our everyday lives. They make our lives convenient and for our children, these gadgets can also be supplements for learning when used accordingly.
They are actually helpful in our day to day lives. However, when your children use it for longer periods of time most especially before bedtime, that could be an issue. The screen of our gadgets emits a blue light that suppresses the release of melatonin in our body.
Melatonin is a hormone that regulates our sleep pattern. People who have lesser melatonin have trouble sleeping. That goes for children as well. When their gadget usage is unmoderated, you don’t know how many hours they have tuned in to their screen.
So be particular with screen time most especially hours leading to your children’s bedtime. Break the habit of using gadgets before sleep. Set a reasonable time when they can use it and how long should they be using them.
Old mattresses – How old is your child’s mattress? It would be quite alarming if you haven’t replaced their mattress for the longest time. Mattresses are not made to last for a lifetime, even the best ones.
Mattresses get dirty in time, dust mites, bed bugs, allergens may nest inside through the years. Such things can contribute to your child’s lack of sleep.
Aside from cleanliness issue, old mattresses get deformed as years go by. Usual wear and tear, change in weight – they contribute to the mattress’ change. Your child increased in height and weight through the years, and if they’ve been using the same mattress ever since – the more you should replace their bed already.
How can your child sleep well if the mattress is now saggy and lumpy? They would just end up with muscle soreness all over. Besides, your child might not even sleep for so long during the night because they need to continuously change their position on their uncomfortable bed.
Replace your child’s old mattress soon. One of the reasons why parents delay the purchase is because getting a mattress is such an inconvenience. The size and the transport of the mattress intimidates most people.
Order a mattress online, and if you’re still worried about the bulk, get a mattress in a box. It’s the same mattress, just compressed into a smaller parcel. However, when you buy it online, just check if the online seller provides more information on warranties and trials though.
It could be hard to let go of some certain things because of habit and inconvenience. Letting go of these two things can be difficult at the start but focus on the long-term goal. Ultimately, you want the best quality sleep for your children.
