Sleeping Well

Information

Keeping to a regular bedtime routine can be difficult, but it can help improve the quality of your child’s sleep. For some children, irregular sleeping hours can be problematic. Setting a regular bedtime schedule can really help children get the right amount of sleep. It’s important to devise a routine that works for you and your child and to stick to it.


Relaxation techniques to aid sleep

Winding down is a critical stage in preparing for bed. There are many ways to relax:

  • A warm (not hot) bath will help the body reach a temperature where it’s most likely to rest.
  • Relaxation exercises, such as light yoga stretches, will help relax their muscles.
  • Relaxation CDs work by relaxing the listener with carefully chosen words and gentle hypnotic music and sound effects.
  • Reading a book or listening to the radio will relax the mind by distracting it from any worries or anxieties.
  • Everyone will have their own way of relaxing. If you need more advice on methods of relaxation, see your GP.

 

Avoid TVs in the bedroom

The bedroom should be a relaxed environment. Experts say that bedrooms are strongly associated with sleep, but that certain things weaken the association. These include TVs, other electronic gadgets, light or noise and a bad mattress or
uncomfortable bed. If these things are present, we subconsciously no longer think of the bedroom as purely for sleep. The bedroom needs to be dark, quiet and tidy. It should smell fresh and be kept at a temperature of 18-24°C. A comfortable bed is essential. Research by The Sleep Council shows that a good-quality mattress and bed frame will give you an extra hour’s sleep a night.

 

Dealing with sleeping problems

One of the first things your GP or sleep expert will get you to do is to keep a sleep diary for your child as part of diagnosing any sleep problems. A sleep diary might reveal lifestyle habits or experiences in your child’s day-to-day activities that contribute to sleep problems. A sleep diary could include answers to the following questions:

  • What were your child’s sleeping times?
  • How long did it take them to get to sleep?
  • How many times did they wake up during the night?
  • How long did each awakening last?
  • How long did they sleep in total?
  • Did they do any exercise shortly before going to bed?
  • Did they take any naps during the day or evening?
  • Has anything made them anxious or upset?

 

How much is enough?

The following are the approximate number of hours that a child needs at each age, as recommended by the Millpond Children’s Sleep Clinic:

  • 5 years: 11 hours
  • 6 years: 10.75 hours
  • 7 years: 10.5 hours
  • 8 years: 10.25 hours
  • 9 years: 10 hours
  • 10 years: 9.75 hours
  • 11 year: 9.5 hours
  • 12 years: 9.25 hours
  • 13 years: 9.25 hours
  • 14 years: 9 hours
  • 15 years: 8.75 hours
  • 16 years: 8.5 hours

 

Choose care at home if…

  • Your child has a minor injury – most bumps, bruises, cuts and grazes can be safely treated at home



Choose Your GP if…

  • Your child’s injury doesn’t seem to be getting better
  • You think a cut or graze might be infected
  • Your child has a fit for the first time, even if they seem to recover

 

Call 999 A&E if…

  • Your child stops breathing
  • Your child is struggling for breath (for example, you may notice sucking in under the ribcage)
  • Your child is unconscious or seems unaware of what’s going on
  • Your child won’t wake up
  • Your child has a fever and are persistently lethargic despite having paracetamol or ibuprofen
  • Your child is having difficulty breathing (breathing fast, panting or are very wheezy)
  • Your child has severe abdominal pain
  • Your child has a cut that won’t stop bleeding or is gaping open
  • Your child has a leg or arm injury and can’t use the limb
  • Your child has swallowed a poison or tablets

 

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