Sleep is one of those factors that, as everyday, we do not pay enough attention. It is an essential body habit that has a direct impact on intellectual and physical activity. Like all habits, although it has genetic and constitutional components (the child can be more nervous and active or more calm and rested), there is a margin of adaptation that is based on routines and ceremonies (the things children do before of going to sleep).
Combining the importance we give to a good rest with some tips to make it as restorative as possible, we will facilitate our child to develop this habit as an effective method to be alert during the day and enjoy the world around him with all his senses without generating stress or nervousness. A good dream will facilitate a quiet day.
First, the routine. The routine is a temporary structure that is repeated periodically, in this case daily. Whenever we break a child's routine (due to schedules or changing the place of sleep), we should be aware that we risk becoming more nervous, rest worse or have behavioral problems. This is not to be taken in an exaggerated way: the children are resistant and endure that the schedule is altered a little. But if their limit is exceeded they become restless and intolerant. As an example of this, summer or Christmas holidays usually leave them a little "out of place" and it seems that the return to normal is a guarantee of stability.
As for the ceremonies, the pre-sleep actions usually make it easier for the child to get to the idea that he cannot continue with the same rhythm and that he has to rest. The bath, putting on pajamas, a story, drinking a glass of water and a kiss of the potatoes, is an example of a ceremony prior to getting into bed that can facilitate such an uncomfortable action for a child that is to stop playing and getting Between the sheets to sleep.
Finally the environmental factors: noise and light. In this matter, I received suggestions that it was not appropriate in the nap and in the night dream to adapt his room too much, that they would have a fragile dream and then they would not withstand a noise or a light. My opinion now is that the natural thing is that a protected dream (in silence and without light) is more restful than one lying on the sofa in the living room and with light (for example). What is important is to try to maintain this, that is, that the whole family goes to bed more or less in the same cycle (because of the noise) and that they get used to sleeping in the dark or with a dim light (like the ones that plug in). The latter of the light seems to be related to the circadian cycles that affect us as a species (we are genetically prepared to sleep at night, so it is hard for us to rest deeply during the day). And if not, ask the professionals who work night shifts.
