Sleep is one of the main physiological needs of the child. Sleep not only provides rest for the child, but also supports development and growth. During sleep, growth hormone is released in the child and regeneration of all organs in the body occurs. At the same time, regular and quality sleep has a supportive role in the child's socio-emotional and cognitive development.
When we look at the sleep-related problems experienced in the preschool period, we see that the child resists not to sleep at bedtime and goes to bed with the parents. It is one of the most frequently asked questions. In order to solve these two problems, it is necessary to know the child well and be aware of his sleeping habits. Having a child sleep in his or her own bed and have a regular sleeping habit is not something that happens overnight. It requires a certain process that includes having a stable attitude as a parent and having flexible but clear rules.
The amount of sleep that children need in the preschool period varies between 11-13 hours, according to research. However, at this point, it should not be forgotten that every child is different and sleep time should be adjusted according to their developmental level. Therefore, the ideal bedtime should be determined according to the child's condition. Putting the child to bed at the same time every day, setting a limit for the child in this regard, is the first step towards gaining sleep habits. However, the bedtime rule should be adjusted to be flexible according to some exceptions.
Setting some routines before bedtime is psychologically beneficial in preparing the child for sleep. The first step in this preparation is to cut off the child's communication with technology at least one hour before sleep. Because of this, the child will express restlessness, but activities that replace it will help fill the deficiency he feels. During this period, mother or father can help the child with bath preparations and then spend time with him in the child's room. Spending time together before sleep can include playing a game/activity that does not involve movement. Listening to relaxing music during this time can help the child relax. sleep Reading fairy tales in a dim light beforehand is beneficial in terms of both strengthening the child's communication with his/her parents and preparing for sleep.
The critical factor for the child to sleep is that he/she is mentally relaxed. For this reason, a conflict at home before sleep, an animated movie watched on television, games and activities involving physical activities pose a negative impact on the child's preparation for sleep and sleep.
Another important issue is that the child sleeps in his own room. It is psychologically important for the child to sleep in his own room. The individualization and independence process of a child who sleeps on his own in a separate room progresses more healthily. For this reason, sleeping on your own makes a valuable socio-emotional contribution to the child.
Learning the reason behind this desire of a child who wants to sleep with his parents is the first step towards solving the problem. This may be due to habits, or it may be due to fear. For a child who is afraid of going to bed on his own, factors such as leaving his room door open and having dim lighting may be beneficial. Even if the child sleeps in his own room, he can be reassured that he can reach his parents when necessary. The child may not want to sleep in his own room because he cannot spend much time with his parents. In this case, activities done together before sleep allow the child to satisfy his/her need for togetherness.
One of the common situations is that a child sleeping in his own room wakes up in the middle of the night and goes to his parents' room. In such cases, the mother or father's permission to sleep with the child is one of the biggest reasons for the child to continue this habit. For example, giving permission to sleep together one night, but continuing not to allow it in the following days, will cause the child to constantly try to sleep together, keeping in mind the night allowed. Every time the child comes to his parents' room, he should be consistently taken to his own room and encouraged to relax and sleep in his bed. At this point, the attitude of the parents is very important. Strictly telling your child to go back to bed when he comes to his room will overpower the fears of the child who says he is afraid. Forcing someone to sleep by giving a blunt answer is a negative attitude. In such a case, it is necessary to reassure the child about his fears, to take the child to his bed and stay with him for a while, and to comfort him by making physical contact. It is quite normal for it to stick. At this point, it is of great importance for parents to be patient, tolerantly indicate the boundaries and show the same attitude each time. It should not be forgotten that it takes a certain time to develop the right habits in children and that the adaptation process may be difficult for some children.
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