Let’s talk about the importance of sleep.
Why is it so important?
‘Sleep is the power source that keeps your mind alert and calm. Every night and at every nap, sleep recharges the brain’s battery. Sleeping well increases brainpower, just as weight lifting builds stronger muscles, because sleeping well increases your attention span, and allows you to by physically relaxed and mentally alert at the same time. Then you are at your personal best’ – Dr. Marc Weissbluth, author of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.
Ever wondered how much sleep your child needs?
Just like when people eat an unhealthy diet, they become malnourised, causing their body to suffer. Lack of sleep can starve little ones of the energy they need to be happy and well adjusted. In addition, a child’s ability to deal with the pressures of the day, and their ability to absorb and retain knowledge, suffers, as a result of sleep deprivation.
Sleep experts agree that ‘consolidated’ (uninterrupted) sleep is the most restful and healthy kind of sleep for both infants and adults.
Sleep that is interrupted by one or more awakenings during the night, often leads to daytime sleepiness. Furthermore, it leads to a decrease in mental flexibility and attention, and moodiness.
A night made up of several night wakings is not the same as sleeping gently through the night.
Even adults who have had just one night of fragmented sleep show a dramatic reduction in motivation and attention the following day.
Adults getting poor amounts of sleep often feel overwhelmed by the tasks of the day and have difficulty making decisions. The effects on infants and children are even greater.
Children who sleep 11-12 hours a night wake up well-rested, attentive, cheerful, and are equipped to cope with, and learn from their environment.
Parents too.
Parents who get a good nights sleep will feel better equipped to perform the demanding tasks of work and family life. It is very important that adults and children get all the consolidated sleep they can.
The importance of sleep is very real.
Sleep deprivation is a powerful thing.
Children can suffer. Relationships can suffer. Work productivity can suffer. I can not recommend focusing on getting your children to sleep well, enough.
When wrapping up a sleep package, life in general will change for you, for the better. Once your child is sleeping through the night, you will start to get the sleep you need too.
The effects of being well rested will filter down positively into your every day life.
If you are currently struggling to get your child to sleep well. If your family is currently suffering from sleep deprivation, I can work with you to change this. The results from my gentle sleep training programs are amazing. Hear from parents that I have worked with.
