| During infancy | | | | to rest for about an hour beforedinner, after this period |
| The sleep patterns of an infant varies with each child. | | | | you can slowly discontinue the rest period. Keep in |
| The first three or four weeks, outside the womb, your | | | | mind, that from infancy, all throughout childhood your |
| infant will have intervals of long times of sleep and | | | | child needs more sleep then at the adult age. Keeping |
| short. Your infant hasn't made the distiction between | | | | your child on a regular sleep schedule, will ensure |
| night and day so he or she will wake in the night just | | | | basically healthy life style. |
| the same as the day; only to wake to nurse and take | | | | There is no defined rule as to the specific number of |
| care of hunger pains. | | | | hours is required; each child requires a different amount |
| As your infant grows, you will notice, he or she will | | | | of sleep. The regularity of the rest period is the chief |
| sleep less and stay awake longer. The periods of | | | | point to tend to, permitting nothing to interfere and |
| sleep will increase in length. Your child will be learning | | | | when your child recieves this undisturbed sleep, waking |
| the difference between night and day as well. | | | | in the morning on his or her own accord, will he or she |
| This tendency to rest during his or her early days of | | | | get sufficient rest. |
| life must not be disrupted; however, as your infant | | | | What state of health your child's body is in, determines |
| grows it is important to develope the practice of | | | | the amount of sleep required to preserve, heal and |
| regular sleep schedules. Thus, encouraging good sleep | | | | care for their body. Infants will pass a larger part of |
| habits during the night. In the young years, your child | | | | their day sleeping. Infants and young children will spend |
| should nap for about two hours, give or take, during the | | | | twelve to fourteen hours sleeping in a day, this includes |
| day to regenerate their system. If the nap is taken | | | | naps and all night. Schoolage children can average |
| later than dinner it could result in a bad nights sleep. | | | | about ten hours, as a youth will average a third of |
| Do to your infants size, he or she will have a difficult | | | | twenty four hours sleephing. As we age we require as |
| time generating and amintaining his or her own body | | | | little as four hours and as many as six sleeping, |
| heat. Sometimes it is recommended the infant sleep | | | | sometimes a little more. |
| with the parents. However, if your infant experiences | | | | A selfish and cruel act on a mother or father's part is |
| disturbed and restless nights it is best to have him or | | | | to indulge in her or his pleasures at the risk of the |
| her sleep in their own bed. Sometimes placed in the | | | | child's health. Surprisingly, this happens often in relation |
| care of a nanny or relative staying with you, to be | | | | to the sleep habits of children. For example; if there is |
| brought to you to nurse. | | | | an evening party, some parents will choose to keep |
| Taking these steps will help your infant get a good | | | | their child up long after their bedtime so the parents |
| nights sleep, also this will ensure you get enough rest | | | | can show him or her off. With this kind of excitement |
| to preserve your health. In which case, if you lack in | | | | and disrupted sleep, the child will be extremely tired the |
| sleep, you could suffer from deragement, stress and | | | | next day. |
| tension, concluding your infant could also suffer from | | | | Once your child awakes for the morning, he or she |
| the affect such unstable health would put upon your | | | | shouldn't be permitted to linger in bed. this is the good |
| milk. | | | | habit of rising early to enjoy the day, and stopping the |
| At the age of one month to six weeks your child, if | | | | many serious issues which could effect their health. |
| healthy, can sleep in a cradle or cot. Take care to | | | | This also promotes good mental and physical health, |
| dress your infant according to the temerature. The | | | | and encouraging good habits of sleep will be most |
| room should be around 60 degrees, position to cradle | | | | productive to longevity. |
| or cot so it is not exposed to cold currents of air. | | | | You should refrain from waking your child, except for |
| Sufficent blankets should be used to help maintain your | | | | in an emergency, do to the effects caused. The brain |
| babies body temperature. Until your child has | | | | gets excited, the heart begins to quicken; if disturbed |
| developed the ability to produce and maintain his or her | | | | sleep continues, serious consequences could occur. |
| beat. | | | | The course of sleep and wake should be gradual. |
| During sleep the the body slows, therefore he or she | | | | There are two styles of beddings to consider; feather |
| can become more susceptible to colds and viruses | | | | beds and mattress supporting bedding. Some experts |
| that can be injurious to your child. It is common for | | | | feel it is best for infants to sleep on feather beds; |
| infants to develope inflammation of inner organs when | | | | however, as they grow move your child to a mattress. |
| exposed to drastic temperature changes. Not always | | | | The reason being as the infant will benefit from the |
| will the true cause be connected to the illness. | | | | feathers providing the warmth he or she cannot |
| However, great care should be taken. First, not to | | | | generate yet. The young child will generate too much |
| cover your infant with too many clostes or blankets | | | | heat and will cause a dchain reaction and weaken his |
| that can inevitabily crowd your infants face. Your | | | | or her system causing hour child to be more |
| object is to provide your infant with plenty of warm | | | | susceptible to colds and viruses. |
| pure air with nothing, such as blankets, to block access | | | | A good practice to incorporate is to change your habit |
| to your infants nose and mouth. Your goal is to provide | | | | to making the bed as soon as you climb out of it. |
| the best atmosphere, of the whole room, should be | | | | Instead, while bedding is still saturated withsweat and |
| kept warm and allow for free breathing. Taking extra | | | | dead skin cells; remove the bed covers, hanging them |
| care in the winter for good temperature control. | | | | over chair backs. Shake the mattress if possible and |
| Some recommend your infant sleep on a feather bed | | | | open windows breifly to allow fresh air into the room |
| until he or she is two years old. At the six month | | | | and proper ventilation. |
| tombstone the pillow should be changed to horsehair. | | | | It is also a good practice not to allow your child to |
| This is the time he or she begins teething and it is | | | | sleep with someone in ill health or with someone |
| recommended to keep your infants head cool due to | | | | advanced in years. If, and when, it is possible your chld |
| fever from teething. | | | | should occupy his or her own sleep space. Always |
| During childhood | | | | remember to keep your child's health and well-being |
| At age three or four, your child should be encouraged | | | | first. |