He childish dream It plays a regulatory and restorative role in children's bodies. It is essential for proper physical, emotional and cognitive development, as well as to control your energy and body temperature.
That is why it is very important that the sleep rhythm of children is respected, which, as in adults, has different phases and stages, which vary with age. We tell you what they are and how to favor their rest.
Phases and stages of childhood sleep from 2 years
From 2 years old, children already share with adults the phases of sleep (active or REM) and slow, although a maturation process is still needed so that their rest can be equated with ours. The REM phase occupies most of the night, since it is essential for its growth and cognitive development.
The night sleep lasts about 11 hours in total with long periods of light sleep, so we should avoid making noise or turn on nearby lights when the child has already fallen asleep, so as not to interrupt it.
To comfortably sleep the children's mattress has to adapt to the contour of the body and provide a comfortable support, such as that of the ÖMSINT mattress from IKEA, which thus relieves body tension.
In this stage the little ones tend to look for the closest thing to the "nest" effect when they sleep, so it is also recommended that the bed and mattress fit as much as possible to their size. Expandable mattresses and beds are a good solution to provide comfort and cover your growth cycle at the same time.
Mom, dad, is it already daytime?
The night awakenings They may be caused by illness, distress from the separation of parents, fears or nightmares. At their own pace, children overcome all these obstacles, although from time to time there may also be awakenings due to wetting the bed, even long after the diaper is removed.
It is common before three years and usually resolves spontaneously. If it lasts longer, after four or five years it is advisable to consult the pediatrician, but in any case it is always important that the child does not feel overwhelmed and goes to sleep as quietly as possible every night.
VYSSA mattresses for children from IKEA, with good ventilation and removable covers that can be machine washed, are extremely useful for these cases, as are the waterproof mattress protectors for junior beds. Use a toy or stuffed animal to sleep It also helps them calm down and feel more secure.
Another reason for nighttime awakenings is sweating. The little ones sweat a lot while they sleep. Sometimes they soak clothes, sheets and even get wet hair. This sweat occurs, above all, during the first phase of sleep and it happens constantly, regardless of the season.
Children can go from a state of frantic activity to sleep peacefully, so that energy drastically reduced produces excessive sweating. Abundant dinners just before bedtime also cause an increase in body temperature, which the body compensates through sweat, so it is better to avoid them.
Bedding also influences. Sometimes the mattress covers are made of plastic, a material that prevents the passage of air, therefore generates more heat trapped inside. Choosing mattresses such as IKEA INNERLIG, which allow air circulation, facilitating perspiration during sleep, improves the quality of your rest. On the other hand, it is advisable not to shelter or clothe them in excess, and check that the room temperature is correct.
Shorter naps and moving nights
As they grow up, children distinguish their rest periods better, self-regulate and do not fall asleep easily during the day even if some activity depletes them. This happens because wakefulness and sleep are delimited in two clearly differentiated phases throughout the 24 hours of the day. Children need to sleep more hours at night and, during early childhood, take a nap throughout the day for 1-3 hours.
These Naps they can last up to 4 or 5 years, being as natural as necessary, gradually reducing their duration until they reach 20 minutes or half an hour maximum. At this age, children sleep 10 to 13 hours a day.
The sleep mechanisms of children are still immature, and this makes move quite overnight and often have restless dreams. To avoid a fall and ensure your safety, it is essential to choose a low bed, a suitable children's mattress and ensure that the bedding does not end up entangled in your body.
There are mattresses that already contemplate this type of accident, such as the IKEA NATTSMYG mattress, equipped with velcro closures so that everything stays in place when making the bed and young children cannot open the safety zipper of the cover.
Whether the mattress structure is firm or flexible is another common doubt. Younger children do not weigh too much, but as they grow, their body demands greater firmness.
The personal preferences of each child also influence when they feel comfortable. A good way to get it right is to choose a mattress like the IKEA VIMSIG, with two surfaces with different levels of firmness.
From 4 or 5 years old, the dream is almost the same as that of adults and the child already has it under control. At 5-6 years, most children are already asleep, having eliminated the nap habit as a daily routine.
Habits for a restful sleep
Establishing a routine facilitates sleep in children. Create a sleep habit It consists in putting into practice a predictable sequence of customs that we must follow in the same order every night and at about the same time. The nighttime routine It includes the bathroom (warm water helps you fall asleep), dinner, put on pajamas, brush your teeth and read or listen to a story.
The habit of sleep will work better if we dispense with the use of screens (tablets, smartphones, televisions, etc.) during the 3 or 4 hours before going to bed. Instead, we can book a quiet game hour or perform some quiet activity.
Making puzzles, playing with stickers or listening to relaxing music will lower the child's activity level, relax your nervous system and prepare for sleep. Physical activities should be avoided in the hours before sleep, as the excitation of the nervous system will make your sleep difficult.
The atmosphere of your room, the temperature and the lighting of the room are also determining factors. It should not be cold or excessive heat in the room and the light must be dim, to help the brain produce melatonin, a chemical that induces sleep.
Likewise, naps should not be done very close to bedtime, since they can delay the night's sleep. We must also prevent the little ones from eating late or pecking something just before bedtime, as well as providing them with sugars at the last minute.
There is only one good night kiss and wish you happy dreams. Following these guidelines everyone at home can rest better.
Images / Pixabay | Smengelsrud | Ddimitrova | Unplash / Annie Spratt | IKEA
