·         SLEEP DURING INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD.       

·         During infancy.

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·     ·         For three or four weeks after birth the infant sleeps more or less, day and night, only waking to satisfy the demands of hunger; at the expiration of this time, however, each interval of wakefulness grows longer, so that it sleeps less frequently, but for longer periods at a time.
    
·         This disposition to repose in the early weeks of the infant's life must not be interfered with; but this period having expired, great care is necessary to induce regularity in its hours of sleep, otherwise too much will be taken in the day-time, and restless and disturbed nights will follow. The child should be brought into the habit of sleeping in the middle of the day, before its dinner, and for about two hours, more or less. If put to rest at a later period of the day, it will invariably cause a bad night.
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·         At first the infant should sleep with its parent. The low temperature of its body, and its small power of generating heat, render this necessary. If it should happen, however, that the child has disturbed and restless nights, it must immediately be removed to the bed and care of another female, to be brought to its mother at an early hour in the morning, for the purpose of being nursed. This is necessary for the preservation of the mother's health, which through sleepless nights would of course be soon deranged, and the infant would also suffer from the influence which such deranged health would have upon the milk.
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·         When a month or six weeks has elapsed, the child, if healthy, may sleep alone in a cradle or cot, care being taken that it has a sufficiency of clothing, that the room in which it is placed is sufficiently warm, viz. 60 degrees, and the position of the cot itself is not such as to be exposed to currents of cold air.

 It is essentially necessary to attend to these points, since the faculty of producing heat, and consequently the power of maintaining the temperature, is less during sleep than at any other time, and therefore exposure to cold is especially injurious. 

It is but too frequently the case that inflammation of some internal organ will occur under such circumstances, without the true source of the disease ever being suspected. Here, however, a frequent error must be guarded against,  that of covering up the infant in its cot with too much clothing throwing over its face the muslin handkerchief and, last of all, drawing the drapery of the bed closely together.

 The object is to keep the infant sufficiently warm with pure air; it therefore ought to have free access to its mouth, and the atmosphere of the whole room should be kept sufficiently warm to allow the child to breathe it freely: in winter, therefore, there must always be a fire in the nursery.
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·         The child up to two years old, at least, should sleep upon a feather bed, for the reasons referred to above. The pillow, however, after the sixth month, should be made of horsehair; for at this time teething commences, and it is highly important that the head should be kept cool.
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·         During childhood.

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Sleep Habits for Children
·         Sleep is critical to children's physical and mental development. It allows their bodies to relax and repair while also promoting learning and growth.
How much sleep does a child need?

Children's sleep requirements vary according on their age.
How much sleep does a child need?

Children's sleep requirements vary according on their age.
·         Newborns need around 16-18 hours of sleep per day.
·         By the time they are 3 months old, most babies sleep for around 14-15 hours per day.
·         At 6 months, babies typically sleep for around 12-14 hours per day.
·         By the time they are 1 year old, most toddlers sleep for around 11-14 hours per day.
·         Preschoolers (ages 3-5) need around 10-13 hours of sleep per day.
·         School-aged children (ages 6-12) need around 9-12 hours of sleep per day.
·         Teenagers (ages 13-18) need around 8-10 hours of sleep per day.

      How to Help Children Get a Good Night's Sleep
Establish a regular sleep pattern and stick to it as much as possible, including weekends.
Create a calming nighttime routine that includes taking a bath, reading a tale, or singing a lullaby.

Make sure your child's bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool.
Avoid caffeine and sugar before bedtime.

Establish a regular sleep pattern and stick to it as much as possible, including weekends.
Create a calming nighttime routine that includes taking a bath, reading a tale, or singing a lullaby.

Make sure your child's bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool.
Avoid caffeine and sugar before bedtime.
Establish a regular sleep pattern and stick to it as much as possible, including weekends.
Create a calming nighttime routine that includes taking a bath, reading a tale, or singing a lullaby.

Make sure your child's bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool.
Avoid caffeine and sugar before bedtime.

·         Encourage physical activity during the day, but avoid it too close to bedtime.

·         If the child has trouble falling asleep, don't leave them alone in their room. Try to comfort them and help them to relax.

Napping

Napping can be a helpful way for children to get the rest they need. However, too much napping can make it harder for them to fall asleep at night.

·         Newborns and young infants may nap for several hours at a time.

·         As they get older, most babies will take 2-3 naps per day.

·         By the time they are 2-3 years old, most toddlers will only need 1 nap per day.

·         Some preschoolers may still need to nap, but most will outgrow napping by the time they are 5 years old.

Nighttime sleep problems

Some children may have trouble sleeping at night. Common sleep problems in children include:

·         Bedtime resistance: This is when children refuse to go to bed or try to delay bedtime.

·         Sleep-onset association: This is when children need something specific to help them fall asleep, such as a pacifier, being rocked, or being held.

·         Night terrors: These are episodes of shouting, fear, and flailing that occur while children are sleeping.

·         Sleepwalking: This is when children walk or perform other activities while they are sleeping.

·         Sleep apnea: This is a condition in which breathing is interrupted during sleep.

If you are concerned about your child's sleep, talk to your doctor. They can help you to identify the problem and develop a treatment plan.

Tips for parents:

·         Be patient and consistent with your child's sleep schedule.

·         Create a relaxing bedtime routine.

·         Make sure the child's bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool.

·         Avoid caffeine and sugar before bedtime.

·         Encourage physical activity during the day, but avoid it too close to bedtime.

·         If the child has trouble falling asleep, don't leave them alone in their room. Try to comfort them and help them to relax.

Getting enough sleep is essential for children's health and well-being. By following these tips, you can help your child get the rest they need.