Why is healthy sleep so important for child development? The experts from Sleepeezee explain
Adequate sleep is a fundamental foundation for the mental and physical well-being of your child, playing a vital role in the development of young minds. Beyond its direct influence on happiness, studies indicate that sleep significantly affects alertness, attention, cognitive performance, mood, resilience, vocabulary acquisition, learning, and memory. Additionally, sleep plays a crucial role in growth, particularly during early infancy.
How much sleep do children need?
The response really depends. Recognising the significance of sleep for the health and development of children, both newborns and older kids, it’s crucial to consider age and activity levels. Despite individual differences, experts provide general guidelines on the recommended duration of sleep for children.
Newborns, requiring the most sleep, are advised to get about 14-17 hours of sleep dispersed throughout the day. As children reach approximately 4 months old, their sleep needs gradually decrease. From 4-11 months, children typically need around 12-15 hours of sleep daily, consisting of naps and a more consolidated 8 hours of undisturbed sleep at night, though establishing this routine takes time.
Toddlers, aged 1-2 years, are recommended to have 11-14 hours of sleep daily, including a substantial nap during the day and an extended night sleep. As children progress to the preschool ages of 3-5, their sleep requirements generally decrease, and experts suggest approximately 10-13 hours of sleep each night, often eliminating daytime naps.
By the time children enter the age range of 6-13, their need for sleep further decreases, with this group typically requiring around 9-11 hours of sleep each night.
What are the best tips for developing a healthy sleep environment for children?
“For me the key thing has always been creating a routine for my two children around bedtime – making sure that bedtime is a positive experience and where possible keeping the time similar, then using night lights, reading stories and as they have got older leaving them to read themselves.” – Sleepeezee Brand Ambassador, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill.
What is the importance of keeping to a regular sleep schedule for children?
Encouraging your child to adhere to a regular sleep schedule has several advantages. It promotes an earlier bedtime, reduces the time taken to fall asleep, prolongs sleep duration, and minimises nocturnal awakenings. Beyond enhancing sleep quality, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule instils principles of self-care and establishes the foundation for the development of cognitive skills, including working memory and attention.
What is the importance of the mattress to healthy sleep?
A mattress is crucial to aid in getting good quality sleep. A mattress that does not offer the right support or comfort, can cause you to unnecessarily wake during the night, disturbing when your body is in a deep sleep. Your body repairs and recovers during sleep, so anything that impacts the quality of sleep you’re able to get ultimately will impact on how well your body can rest and recover for the next day. This is extremely important for children especially whose bodies are still growing. A good quality mattress is important for children to ensure that it is providing a supportive foundation for their bodies as they grow.
Of the different types of mattress technology, which is most suitable for children?
We believe a pocket spring mattress is the best type of mattress for children. The springs are formed in individual pockets, which mean they move independently from each other around the weight and shape of the individual. As children’s bodies grow, the support they require from their mattress will naturally change, so a pocket spring mattress will help support to a child’s unique body shape as they get older and grow. A mattress with hypoallergenic fillings is also ideal for those children who might suffer with allergies.
What are the most important issues when choosing a child’s mattress?
This is very dependent on their age, but I think ensuring a mattress is both super comfortable yet supportive is key. As kids grow their mattress needs to give them the support they need at the different ages so it needs to be a really well structured and sprung one.
Will it offer the correct level of support as they get older and grow? Does the child have any allergies that could be heightened from certain comfort fillings. Does the mattress come with a guarantee period for peace of mind?
How often should I buy a new mattress?
A good quality mattress should last anywhere between 7-10 years. Our Sleepeezee Little Bedz mattresses all come with a 10-year guarantee, providing peace of mind the mattress is built to last right up until your little one is fully grown.
What’s the story behind Sleepeezee?
Sleepeezee was founded in 1924 by the Price family in Croydon, London. A few years later, the company became one of the first manufacturers to produce pocket spring interior mattresses. Today, Sleepeezee still make all their mattresses at their factory in Rochester, Kent, using traditional, time-honoured techniques and high-quality materials.
Through innovation and market-leading mattress designs, Sleepeezee has grown into one of the most well-known bed manufacturers in the world. Every detail is diligently checked for consistency and quality which allows each and every one of their customers to be reassured that the bed they are investing in will provide them with the perfect night’s sleep.
Where can I find out more about Sleepeezee?
