How Au Pair can help you in shaping your child’s sleeping habit?
I’ve never been a good sleeper. Even when I’m sick, I can’t nap. My oldest son spent exactly two nights in my room until I moved him because he made so much noise when he slept that I was up all night. When I was at the bookstore with a friend last week, we were laughing over some recent controversial sleep study books (now that our kids are all old enough to just be sent to bed).
Still, it got me thinking about sleep habits. This topic sends most moms into instand defense mode. Cry-it-out or soothe to sleep? Bottle or breast at night? Family bed/co-sleep/in room/own room, etc. It’s actually a relief to realize that every culture has been putting their kids to bed for thousands of years, so there are lots of ways to make it happen (safety claim: I’m still committed to the SIDS recommendation that babies be placed on their backs to sleep until they are old enough to roll over). In America, the fact that most of our kids have their own room and own bed is a rather new phenomenon. Many cultures including India, Japan, and Mexico have shared family beds with their children well into their preteens.
A recent study of children and family sleeping habits by Aupare Care around the world discovered:
Children in New Zealand went to bed the earliest with an average bedtime of 7:16 pm. Children in Hong Kong went to bed the latest with an average bedtime of 10:10 pm. US children had an average bedtime of 8:52 pm.
Japanese children had the lowest total sleep time (i.e., nightly sleep plus daytime naps) of 11.6 hours of sleep per day. Children in New Zealand had the highest total sleep time of 13.3 hours of sleep. U.S. children averaged 12.9 hours of total sleep time per day.
Balinese babies are carried continuously for the first six months, after which they are accustomed to sleeping in a variety of chaotic conditions.
We all know that kids need their rest, so however you do it, make sure they get the time they need to recharge. As moms too, we’re usually the last one to turn out the light and the first one up. I’ve found it’s difficult to turn my mind off, since I’ll rehash the logistics of the day or the week or some upcoming event ad nauseum.
If you’re having a tough time closing your eyes, here are a few suggestions that experts from Aupare Care offer to sleep-deprived moms:
1. Exercise regularly, ideally 30 minutes every day, but complete the workout at least three hours before bedtime.
2. Establish a consistent, relaxing wind-down bedtime routine; even if it is just listening to music, chatting with your partner, or taking a bath.
3. Read instead of check up on those last few emails. The light from the computer screen is stimulating and will keep you up longer.
4. Avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime. Alcohol, in particular, can affect quality and depth of sleep.
Pleasant dreams!
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