NMCM All Things Family Blog

Up to the third or fourth year the child should be allowed to sleep for an hour or so before their dinner. After this time it may gradually be discontinued; but it must be remembered, that during childhood more sleep is required than in adult age. The child, therefore, should be put to bed every evening between seven and eight; and if healthy they will sleep soundly until the following morning. No definite rule, however, can be laid down in relation to the number of hours of sleep to be allowed. One child may require more or less than another. Consistency as to the time of going to rest is the chief point to attend to. Where possible let the child sleep without disturbance, until they awakes of their own accord the following morning.

The amount of sleep necessary to preserve health varies according to the state of the body, and the habits of the individual. Infants pass much the greater portion of their time in sleep. Children sleep twelve or fourteen hours. The schoolboy generally ten. In youth, a third part of the twenty-four hours is spent in sleep. Whilst, in advanced age, many do not spend more than four, five, or six hours in sleep.

It is a cruel thing for a mother to sacrifice her child’s health that she may indulge her own vanity, and yet how often is this done in reference to sleep. An evening party is to assemble, and the little child is kept up for hours beyond its stated time for retiring to rest, that it may be exhibited, fondled, and admired. Its usual portion of sleep is thus abridged, and, from the previous excitement, what little he does obtain, is broken and unrefreshing, and he rises the next morning wearied and exhausted.

Once awake, a child should not be allowed to lie longer in bed, but should be encouraged to arise immediately. This is the way to bring about the habit of early rising

A child should never be suddenly aroused from sleep; it excites the brain, quickens the action of the heart, and, if often repeated, serious consequences would result. The change of sleeping to waking should always be gradual.

The bed on which the child now sleeps should be a mattress. Instead of the bed being made up in the morning as soon as its vacated, the bed-clothes should be thrown and the window thrown open for several hours, so that the room is thoroughly aired.

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