Calming babies and children under 1 year.

The most difficult thing in getting a young child to sleep when they are resisting, is getting the child to be calm enough to relax and become drowsy. There are a number of simple techniques which can help with this.
If the child is still a baby and not yet mobile, there are the much lauded "4 S's"

Swaddling a baby is conforting, gives a feeling of being held without the need for a parent or carer to hold the child. It provides "deep pressure", avoids waking from the startle (moro) reflex when hand coordination is not fully developed, and for a majority of babies helps to calm.

Shuushing, providing background noise which reduces the effects of sudden loud noise and replicates the noises heard by baby while in the womb.

Sucking is calming for most babies unless they have reflux and associate this with pain. Using a comforter/pacifier/dummy to calm a baby is good but they should not be left in the mouth until the child is asleep or they may become dependant on this aid.

Shoogling, the short gentle movements which replicate the gentle movements felt as mum went about her day before delivering baby. Some parents use a swing, stroller, or rock baby in their arms.

All of the above in a variety of intensity and combinations will soothe a distressed baby. Unless a child is calm getting them to sleep is virtually impossible. Having a recognisable routine which is always done in the same order at the same time is reassuring for every child and the older the child the more important that routine is. This makes some certainties in the child's life. If a certain set of circumstances occur, then the anticipated response is also familiar and it is easy for the child to give the appropriate response. Our children want to please us and having at least one thing which they recognise and know how to respond to, helps build confidence in an otherwise uncertain world.

Some parents, who struggle with settling and sleep issues resort to the use of medications, or homeopathic, or herbal remedies. These may help but do not address the root cause of the undesirable behaviour. Adults come to rely on the administration of these products to acheive a calm and sleepy child. The child also learns that sleep can only be accomplished by the use of such substances. This is not a healthy route to sleep. It does not allow the development of independant abilities to self soothe to sleep. This can become a long term issue which, when behavioural interventions are used would be short lived.

There are very few occasions when it is appropriate to medicate to sleep. While there are treatments which will achieve this they are not without side effects and they do not address the problem, they only treat the symptoms.

If you have difficulties settling your child, Contact Dream-Angus.com

Depression in teenagers

Professor Gangwisch, of Columbia University College in New York, is the lead author of a recent study published in the journal Sleep which looked at the theory that inadequate sleep is a risk factor for depression.

Those of us working with children and families have always been aware that many young people spend their formative years chronically sleep deprived. As a result they are tired and inattentive and more prone to obesity,hypertension and depression.

Researchers now believe that sleep deprivation is directly linked to depression and suicidal thoughts, making it much more difficult for these young people to cope with daily stresses and making it more difficult for them to engage with their peers and with adults.

Teens allowed to stay up to midnight are 24% more likely to suffer depression and 20% are more likely to consider self harm than those who have set bed times of 10pm. Adolescents who sleep for five or fewer hours per night are 71% more likley to suffer from depression and 48% are more likely to consider suicide than those who reported getting eight or more hours of sleep per night.

The more sleep adolescents and teenagers get the lower the rate of depression, and the better this is for both their mental and physical health. Nine hours of sleep per night is the recommended level for adolescents. Of the 15,000 students, aged between 12 and 17, who took part in this study, the average sleep duration was only 7hours and 53 minutes. Those with a bedtime of 10pm or earlier slept on average 33minutes longer than those who went to bed at 11pm and 40minutes longer than those who went to bed at midnight.

This highlights once again the important part a good nights sleep plays in mental and physical health and wellbeing. Teaching your children good sleep habits is vitally important. Recognising when things are going wrong and working to resolve sleep issues at an early stage is worthwhile from a health perspective. Ensuring that young people get regular exercise, fresh air and have a regular sleep pattern gives them the optimum start in life.

If your child has difficulties developing a good sleep pattern contact Dream-Angus, we can help you to help your child to a better sleep.