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Kids and Sleep: The Problem of Summer Sleeping
Author: Jonathan Warren
We all know that children can suddenly become experts in delaying tactics when the clock ticks around to bedtime! Excuses such as needing another drink, having to clean their teeth or do their homework are all too common.
In fact, we've found recently that the UK's kids are getting far more creative with their excuses! From claiming that there are mermaids under their bed, to insisting that they need to eat their toast in the bath first (we have no idea where that one came from!), our little ones are certainly costing their parents their fair share of sleep too.
Our research shows that for parents (aged 18 to 24-years-old) of children under 10, a giant 1,820 hours of sleep are lost each year, with many only getting three hours of sleep a night!
When it comes to this warm weather, sadly, things do not improve. The heat has a tendency to cause tempers to fray that bit quicker, and before you know it, bedtimes are one big argument. However - there's no need to fret. Though you can't control the weather, there are some simple steps you can take to ensuring that bedtime is plain sailing - and that you get the sleep you need!
Time4Sleep's top tips for sleeping in the heat
In fact, we've found recently that the UK's kids are getting far more creative with their excuses! From claiming that there are mermaids under their bed, to insisting that they need to eat their toast in the bath first (we have no idea where that one came from!), our little ones are certainly costing their parents their fair share of sleep too.
Our research shows that for parents (aged 18 to 24-years-old) of children under 10, a giant 1,820 hours of sleep are lost each year, with many only getting three hours of sleep a night!
When it comes to this warm weather, sadly, things do not improve. The heat has a tendency to cause tempers to fray that bit quicker, and before you know it, bedtimes are one big argument. However - there's no need to fret. Though you can't control the weather, there are some simple steps you can take to ensuring that bedtime is plain sailing - and that you get the sleep you need!
Time4Sleep's top tips for sleeping in the heat
- During the day, make sure the curtains in the bedrooms are drawn. This will diffuse any direct sunlight.
- Before going to bed, don't be fooled into thinking a cold shower is the best way to stay cool throughout the night. Tepid water is best, as it does lower your child's body temperature, but doesn't close their pores to keep warm as a cold shower would.
- Light pyjamas are key in the heat! If things get really warm, a little vest and underwear will see them through until morning. You could even take the duvet out of your child's bedding, so they can keep cool but still snuggle under the sheets.
- Though the windows are likely to be kept closed during the day while you're busy away from home, opening the windows about an hour before you intend to send your little monkeys to bed will promote good air circulation and, hopefully, cool the room down a little.
- If things are still unbearable after having the windows open, it might be time to consider investing in a fan. Bear in mind that the cheaper the fan, the noisier it is likely to be.
