SLEEP GUIDELINES: INFANCY TO CHILDHOOD:

Infant Sleep Pattern:

During the first twenty to thirty days the infants sleeps almost entire twentyfour hours waking only to feed milk when hungry.After this period ther is increase in wakeful period with reduction in sleep with increase in sleep at a stretch.

This natural sleep pattern should be continued to go on uninterrupted during the first few weeks of  infant's life, at the same time it is important to bring regularity of sleeping hours, otherwise more sleep hours shall be in daytime and comparatively less during night  a source of disturbance for the mother. The child's habit needs regulation with sleep during mid day, and before dinner for two hours or so. If infant is allowed rest  later on. The result will be more awakening during night.

Body Temperature Considerations:

In the beginning infant sleeps alongwith mother. Lower body temperaturewith little  power of liberating heat, requires this necessary. In case of disturbance and restless night infant should be shifted to a separate bed under the care from some other female member of the family. Infant shall be brought to mother early morning only for feeding the infant. It is necessary helping the mother to remain healthy, which due to sleepless nights gets badly affected. The infant shall also suffer in the process due to health of mother affecting milk for which infant is solely dependent.

By the age of around forty days and if infant has good health, he can be made to sleep in the cradle or bed with care regarding sufficient cloth covering on the body. Besides the care of clothings, the room has to be  warm say 60 degrees centigrade.Position of cot is to be so adjusted that it does  not  receive cold air from any external opening of the room. It is utmost important and necessity because during sleep because of deficient ability to produce self heat while sleeping hence exposure of  cold can be harmful to the infant.

Infant Care:

Without real source of infection inflammation of the respiratory organs do not take place, but the necessary precaution should be taken regarding the covering the infant with cloth thus retaining the warmth inside and face should be covered with a muslin handkerchief so that infant gets pure air during winters and the room is kept warm.

The infant of about two year age, should sleep on bed made of feathers which shall act as insulation and prevent any loss of heat. 

Childhood Sleep Patterns:

Up to age of three years or four years child should be made to sleep for one hour before dinner. Afterwards this practice should be gradually discontinued. This is because of fact that in childhood  needs sleep more as compared to adults age. Child sleeping every evening between between 7 PM to 8 P.M is refreshing and good for health. depending upon the health of child if it is good he shall have a sound sleep.
Infants spend most of their time sleeping. Children also sleep more than half time of whole day. The youth age spends almost 33 % of twenty four hours in sleep. The sleep of advanced age ranges between five to six hours.

Awaking Guide Lines:

A very damaging act by the mother of the child is almost cruel for the health of child to satisfy her own unreal cover up sacrifices the sleep of child on the event of evening  party the small child made to remain awake beyond the routine hours pertaining to the age and child becomes an item of display getting love and admiration at the cost of refreshing sleep. The sleep gets reduced on account of meaningless excitement the next day awakening is affected of by exhausation..

The moment child is awake, he should not remain in bed for a long time and encourage him to get up immediately. This way early rising habit is induced in the child preventing a number of serious problems for the parent, which they donot realize in the beginning . such habits promote mental as well as physical health of the child. Getting up early habit is very essential for learning and longevity of life.

Child should be allowed to wake up from sleep steadily, a hurried awakening is cause of unnecessary brain excitement, makes heart beat fast. Regular repetitions of this can cause serious completions and hence should be avoided. Make awakening a gradual process.

Bed Requirements:

Now bed of child advised is a mattress. The feather bed proves harmful to the health of children, because body due to increased weight, there is sinking effect being buried among feathers producing sense of warmth which relaxes and make systems weak. The child becomes more susceptible to catching cold.

The bed linens instead of folding and storing should be should be removed from bed, shaked well and spread on the chairs so the that  the night exhalations of the body are removed  from them. Keep the windows open for many hours for the nights odour of gaseous excretions released by body escape out and fresh air occupies the room. Ensure child does not  sleep in company of a person with bad health, or with persons of advanced age. If possible make child sleep alone.