You'll be surprised that until know, no one really knows what sleep actually does to our bodies. There are theories that say it helps in learning, building memories, and conserving energy, but scientists still have no clue as to what sleeping does exactly.
What is sleep hygiene?
Chances are, this might be the first time you've ever heard of 'sleep hygiene.' In a nutshell, good sleep hygiene is anything that you do in order to improve your quality of sleep.
Of course, sleep hygiene is important as sleep has a lot of benefits, most especially for kids since sleeping helps them develop faster, and keeps them healthy.
Sleep hygiene is also important for adults since it can help relieve stress, and getting enough sleep can make you feel invigorated and ready for the day.
Follow these steps for good sleep hygiene
Here are some steps to help build good sleep hygiene for your kids:
- Always have a routine before going to sleep. That way, your kids know when it's bedtime, and they can get themselves ready for bed.
- Make sure that your kids don't have access to any electronics, or anything else that might keep them awake at night.
- A warm bath can help your kids sleep better at night, so you can add it as a part of your bedtime routine.
- Use night lights, or dim the lights in your child's bedroom an hour before bedtime, so that they can sleep easier. Bright lights tend to make it harder for them to sleep.
- For older kids, avoid giving them caffeine or any sweet drinks or food an hour before going to sleep, as it will keep them awake at night.
- Try to make sure your kids sleep at the same time everyday, even during weekends. Changing their sleep schedules can mess up their biological clocks, and cause them to have poor sleep.
- If you're having trouble sleeping, you should try to take some naps in the afternoon. Taking short naps can help you quickly fall asleep at night.
- Make sure that you and your kids get at least 7-8 hours of continuous sleep at night. Disrupting the sleep cycle can actually make you feel worse, and cause you to get tired faster.
Sources: familyandchilddevelopment.com, familydoctor.co.nz
READ: My daughters sleep at 8 and here’s how I developed their routine!
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