Child Sleep and the Importance of a Bedtime Routine

The best way to prevent sleep issues in children is to make sure they have a bedtime routine that is followed each and every night. If you are reading this, it means your sleep is being impacted in a negative way due to some sleep issues that your own child may be having. There are many things that you can incorporate into your child's bedtime routine so that their sleep and your sleep are no longer in jeopardy. We hope to share some useful tips so that you and your family can get the rest that you need and deserve.

Lack of sleep

Having a lack of sleep affects everyone differently, but what is clear is that it is always in a negative way. We all know that when we don't get enough sleep we get cranky. As adults we handle this pretty well by making up this sleep at other times. Children are different. When they aren't sleeping well, they become overtired and cranky, often making it very hard for them to actually fall asleep, and snowballing the whole lack of sleep situation. Lack of sleep can cause poor concentration, poor schoolwork, reduced efficiency in all their activities, and did I mention it makes them cranky? Long term, a lack of sleep can start to take a toll on your child's health.

How Much Sleep Should a Child Get?

All children are different and there will be a point in your life that you will just come to realize that your child functions best after so many hours of sleep. But, until you figure that out it can be very troubling for many parents. Here are some general guidelines:

• Under six months old: 16-20 hours each day
• Six months to 1 year: approximately 14 hours (including naps)
• One to three years: 10-13 hours each night, plus a daytime nap
• Four to six years: 10-12 hours each night, may or may not nap during day
• Six to ten years: 11-12 hours each night

As I said, this is a general guideline. Your child may verywell need more or less sleep than is recommended above. I have a five year old that only needs around 10 hours each night with no nap, and I have a four year old that needs around 13 hours each day, sometimes even more. We have come to learn this after a couple years of bad decisions, not realizing that they actually couldn't fall asleep because we weren't making sure that they got enough sleep to begin with.

The Importance of a Soothing Bedtime Routine

One thing is certain, all children will fall asleep better if they are eased into it in a relaxing manner. Set your child's bedtime to be the same every single night. Young kids generally do better with some quiet time just before bed. This may include several things such as:

• A small healthy snack
• Story time with great bedtime story books
• Soft and soothing lullaby music
• A warm bath or shower
• Some fun and positive conversation with family

Certain TV shows are not recommended just before bedtime as they can impact the dreams of the child. If your family is big on having the TV on, keep shows light and educational. Reading stories is much more effective that TV time, and lullaby music or soft soothing music has been proven to alter the deepest parts of the brain in children, calming and soothing them in most situations.

Bedtime Comforts

Make certain your child has comfy pajamas. You must know how uncomfortable it can be to fall asleep in certain clothes and materials. Even though your child can't always express that, they fall asleep much more easily when what their wearing is soft and comfortable. Let them pick out the pajamas that they want to sleep in. Allowing some decision making is important.

A child's bedding is also important. Most children's bedding is made in China and very uncomfortable for children. This is one of the reasons that I began a business based on children's bedtime routines. I was tired of getting low quality bedding that was made in China and that felt like sandpaper. Look for soft cottons...just think about whether or not you would like to be sleeping with your face and skin against the fabrics that you are choosing for your child.

And, most important of all, make sure your child has their favorite stuffed buddy. This can often comfort them when they are feeling alone or scared while in their room.

Atmosphere

Nightlights can be pivotal. Most kids will fall asleep better if there is some light in their room. There are some great options out there from lava lamps to the Twilight Turtle. Playing soft music can also help a child drift off to sleep.

All of these tips are sure to make your evenings more pleasant. Children do respond better to transitioning from one activity to another if they are given some transition time, so always let them know the plan. Give them a countdown to each stage of their bedtime routine.

This is also the best time of the day to cuddle, snuggle and tell your child how much they mean to you and what a good job they did that day at something. Wouldn't you like them to go to sleep with a happy thought in their head and a smile on their face?

Sleep Well!

Rae Lynn Glispin is owner of Kidz Comfort, offering great sleep solutions for children and encouraging a calm and soothing bedtime routine. First to create the Bed Bumper for Big Kids, she expanded her product line to include comforting and stylish items for every child.

Visit http://www.kidzcomfort.com for more information. You will also find other parenting and child resources by visiting her blog at http://www.kidzcomfort.com/blog

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7 Serious Long Term Lack of Sleep Effects

Lack of sleep is a rising problem in our society, and lack of sleep effects are getting stronger and more dangerous as the time goes by. Almost everybody has suffered of it at one time or another. If you have mild insomnia, it is easy to fix it with some home remedies. But if your lack of sleep is chronic, you might encounter some long term effects which can prove to be really dangerous.

1. The first long term lack of sleep effect is getting various heart diseases.

2. Diminished concentration and memory lapses is another nasty effect of a prolonged lack of sleep.

3. Depression is something that people automatically associate with lack of sleep, and with good reason.

4. Sadly, a prolonged lack of sleep can even cause death.

5. Hallucinations and psychotic episodes have been also noticed in various cases of insomnia.

6. Also several physical symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, blurred vision and even nausea.

7. Weight loss - and not of the good kind, is often experienced in people who are constantly fighting with lack of sleep.

These are just the most common serious lack of sleep effects one can experience. It does not mean that one will have all these symptomps and effects at all times. You can have one of them, or several. It really depends on many factors, such as for how long are you already suffering of lack of sleep, what is your physical condition throughout (if your immune system is weaker, you will be stronger affected by it), whether you are a male or female. Studies showed that females are most prone to lack of sleep, and particularly effects such as depression, weight loss and nausea.

For further information on lack of sleep symptoms, causes, effects and treatments, visit my lack of sleep blog, where you can take the insomnia test and see for yourself if you need help in conquering your lack of sleep.

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3 Major Signs That You Have a Sleep Disorder

If you have a suspicion that you might have a lack of sleep disorder, here are 3 signs that will reveal the truth. Sometimes you might just be stressed, or tired, or simply in a bad phase, but that doesn't necessarily mean you have a sleep disorder.

Various studies have put these 3 signs at the top of the list of suspicious sleep disorders, all done after careful research.

So what are these signs that show a sleep problem, anyway? And what are some tips to alleviate the problems?

Well, first, do you wake up in the night often and have troubles falling back asleep? And that night after night? If yes, then you might have a sleep disorder.

What about if you only fall asleep very late or keep waking up day after day way too early? This too points to an existing sleep disorder.

Finally, if you snore loudly during your sleep and stop breathing at times, most probably you have a particular sleep disorder, called sleep apnea.

The good news is, several of these problems might come from other, non-serious, causes as well. For example, if you wake up every night at a certain time and have problems falling back asleep, there are a few things you can do. Your body might tell you that it's hungry, subconsciously of course. When you wake up, actually get up and move a bit. If you are hungry, you will feel it soon enough. Just go to the kitchen, eat a slice of bread, drink a bit (not too much) water, and then get back to sleep. Don't overeat, as you only want to give something your stomach to work on, not to overload it.

Or it might be that you're too hot. If you have an extra cover, remove it from the bed. If your pajama is thick, maybe it's time to search for something thinner.

However, don't forget that although there might be some very common reasons for your sleep issues, you might indeed also be suffering from a sleep disorder.

Here is a self-test that you can do to see whether one or more of these symptoms are relevant for you. Also check out this article to read more about Lack of sleep, its causes and remedies. Visit http://lack-of-sleep.com/ and get informed about lack of sleep and how it can affect you

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Lack of sleep dangers

Lack of sleep or sleep deprivation can cause similar effects to those of alcohol. These include symptoms such as blurred vision, poor balance and decreased concentration. Thousands of accidents occur each year from lack of sleep - costing millions of pounds and loss life. The main dangers are when driving or operating potentially hazardous machinery.

Just recently, two commercial pilots were suspended for falling asleep at the cockpit and missing their landing! Can you imagine how many lives could have been lost? The dangers of lack of sleep are very real. One pilot later confirmed that he suffered from sleep apnea - a sleep disorder causing the sufferer to wake frequently without breath.

Without proper sleep we can't operate at optimum level; we feel sluggish, tired, irritable and drowsy. But there are other more serious problems that lack of sleep can cause. Long-term sleeplessness increases the risk of psychological disorders and disease and potentially life threatening conditions. These include obesity, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, psychosis and hypertension.

Sufferers of lack of sleep may find themselves becoming socially inept and may depersonalize themselves from colleagues, friends and even family. Many chronic sufferers feel that they are at a loss and there is little that can be done about their condition.

Sleeplessness, also known as insomnia is a modern condition that currently affects almost half the adult population. Although the severity of insomnia can vary, even infrequent nights of lack of sleep can affect a person's quality of life.

Thousands of sick days are taken off work due to lack of sleep. Often sufferers are reluctant to admit that they have a sleep problem since many see this as having a psychological problem. Of course, this isn't necessarily true, however a lot of insomniacs feel alone in their suffering.

Lack of sleep can affect confidence and performance at work. In this competitive and success driven world, lack of performance could lose you your job. Relationships can be affected too. With little energy and confidence to socialize, most insomniacs spend most of their evenings at home alone.

If you suffer from lack of sleep, talk to a medical professional about your problem. Don't be afraid to let your friends, family and even colleagues know about what you're going through. It's been proven that people with strong social relationships have a healthier lifestyle. By talking about your problems you will feel less alone and you'll be surprised at how good it feels to have support.

Lack of sleep making you feel tired and stressed? Find out how you can sleep like a log every night at http://www.howtobeatinsomnia.com/lack_of_sleep.html

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Lack of sleep and its problems

Looking for a solution to your lack of sleep problems? Well, you're definitely not alone there. An estimated 25 million people in the United States, not to mentioned the countless others around the globe, are suffering from chronic insomnia. They all want a cure for their insomnia, one that works and doesn't cost too much. Fortunately, their prayers, as well as yours, have been answered! Here is a jaw dropping, 100% effective, natural cure for insomnia!

A no-nonsense cure for chronic insomnia and lack of sleep problems has finally been discovered... sleep sound therapy!

Sleep sound therapy -- which also goes by the name sleeptracks and brainwave entertainment -- is a simple remedy that involves listening to gentle tones, pulses, and rhythmic beats. These different sounds lull the listener to sleep quickly and they do so naturally; meaning there are no "druggy" after-effects like there are with sleeping pills.
WAIT! Don't go running for the hills just yet. I'm not trying to convince you to buy a "Sounds of the Ocean" or a "Sounds of the Rain forest" CD. Such CD's might help to calm & relax you, but they are in NO WAY a cure for chronic insomnia or lack of sleep problems -- and anyone that says otherwise is a straight faced lier. Having said all that, you should be well aware that sleep sound therapy is NOT like those other all-too-common gimmicks used to screw people out of their cash. It's a scientifically proven method of treating chronic insomnia; and if you don't believe that, then you can just check the facts for yourself.

How Sleep Sound Therapy Works
Without wasting too much of your time with medical jargon and technical info, I'll try to explain how this cure for chronic insomnia actually works.
Step 1. Put the Sleeptrack CD Into the CD player.
Step 2. Turn On CD player and slide into bed.
Step 3. Try to Go to Sleep As Normal.
Step 4. You're Sleeping.

That's how this treatment works -- really. By step 3, the sounds & rhythms from the track are already being followed and copied by your brain's electrical pulses. Since these sounds & rhythms have been calibrated for the one and only goal of getting to sleep fast, your brain won't know what hit it. Rather than it staying in it's "overactive" state -- which is the main reason you're not sleeping -- it will have been calmed and slowed dramatically, allowing you to get the sleep you need, not to mention deserve.

If there is a better, faster, safer, or even a cheaper cure for chronic insomnia and lack of sleep problems, well, it has yet to be found!
Want to be pointed in the direction of the best sleeptrack CD around? Then simply visit http://www.SleepTracks.org, a highly popular website that specializes in natural cures for insomnia.

Lack of Sleep Can Affect Your Metabolism

The lack of sleep has been shown to change hormone levels in the body. As sleep decreases, the adrenal gland produces more of the hormone cortisol. It regulates appetite and when its levels increase people continue to feel hungry despite being full. Lack of sleep also causes levels of growth hormone to decline. This reduces muscle mass and strength, increases fat tissue, and weakens the immune system. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to carry sugar (glucose) from the blood to the muscles and other tissues within the body. Insulin levels increase when the body does not get enough sleep. Because insulin causes sugars to be stored as fats, increased insulin makes weight control difficult. Sleep deprived individuals often eat candy or cookies when they feel their energy level dropping. As their blood sugar rises, energy returns, but the unneeded calories are converted to fat. Tired people burn fewer calories because they lack the energy to exercise or work out intensely. They may exercise the same duration as a rested person, but they will burn fewer calories. Getting enough sleep reduces the effects of increased cortisol levels.

Wayne Mcgregor has a degree in nutrition and dietetics, a diploma in fitness training, and a wealth of experience in helping people to lose weight and build muscle. His website provides hundreds of free weight loss articles, sample diets, tools and charts of calorie content of different foods.

http://www.weightlossforall.com

Dire symptoms of lack of sleep

Lack of sleep can really have an effect on your life. The symptoms of insomnia are unmistakable. Loss of memory and concentration, irritability and mood swings and poor coordination can all be expected along with poor health and sickness.

There are a few different causes for the disorder, generally separated into a transient type and the more serious chronic cases. You may have the primary sort, where the poor sleep is the main concern, or a secondary kind, whereby an underlying reason is responsible for the insomnia.

The most common definition is lying in bed for longer than 45 minutes without drifting off. Counting sheep doesn't work. This can be brought on by too much caffeine or exercise too close to bedtime

Frequent night waking is another. A restless mind brought on by stress, worrying or anxiety will instigate this. It is your body's way of telling you that something in your life needs to be addresses. Removing this external "threat" is often enough for the problems to cease.

These problems can also trigger the issue of rising too early. Your bedroom set up may help here. Invest in some good quality curtains to mask and possible light source and keep the TV or radio off until you really want to get up.

Fatigue is an obvious symptom. Feeling tired throughout the day is not normal and can be addressed along with daytime tiredness and the usual link with poor concentration and irritability.

There is a range of over the counter, herbal and prescription medicines available that will treat these symptoms. Addressing any underlying issues will have a much more successful outcome than the drugs though. You will also avoid the side issues common with sleeping pills. If your symptoms of insomnia are really serious you should see a doctor.

Pills and potions aren't for everyone. There is a scientifically developed solution for the treatment of insomnia that isn't addictive, can be used anywhere or anytime but will train you to fall asleep more easily. For more information click here or visit http://www.insomniasleep.info

7 Serious Lack of Sleep Effects

Lack of sleep is a rising problem in our society, and lack of sleep effects are getting stronger and more dangerous as the time goes by. Almost everybody has suffered of it at one time or another. If you have mild insomnia, it is easy to fix it with some home remedies. But if your lack of sleep is chronic, you might encounter some long term effects which can prove to be really dangerous.

1. The first long term lack of sleep effect is getting various heart diseases.

2. Diminished concentration and memory lapses is another nasty effect of a prolonged lack of sleep.

3. Depression is something that people automatically associate with lack of sleep, and with good reason.

4. Sadly, a prolonged lack of sleep can even cause death.

5. Hallucinations and psychotic episodes have been also noticed in various cases of insomnia.

6. Also several physical symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, blurred vision and even nausea.

7. Weight loss - and not of the good kind, is often experienced in people who are constantly fighting with lack of sleep.

These are just the most common serious lack of sleep effects one can experience. It does not mean that one will have all these symptomps and effects at all times. You can have one of them, or several. It really depends on many factors, such as for how long are you already suffering of lack of sleep, what is your physical condition throughout (if your immune system is weaker, you will be stronger affected by it), whether you are a male or female. Studies showed that females are most prone to lack of sleep, and particularly effects such as depression, weight loss and nausea.

By: MarciaG

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For further information on lack of sleep symptoms, causes, effects and treatments, visit my lack of sleep blog at lack-of-sleep.com/, where you can take the free insomnia test and find exactly how to beat your lack of sleep for good.

Lack of Sleep Effects

Are you aware that there are numerous effects lack of sleep can have on your life -- some of which are potentially dangerous? Well, it's true. Not only that, but these effects might not even be noticed until serious treatment is required; thereby leading you to believe that you were in perfect health all along. If you want to avoid this scenario, then you really need to take a look at the information below.

Who's At Risk?

Anyone and everyone is at risk when it comes to lack of sleep (insomnia); even children and babies. Admittedly, some people are more at risk for sleeping disorders than others -- but that doesn't change the fact that a lack of sleep can hit anyone at virtually any time.

If you have any of the following conditions, you are far more likely to suffer from sleeping disorders; I.E. insomnia, sleep deprivation, sleep apnea, etc.

- Depression
- Obesity
- No Exercise or Physical Activity
- Frequent Use of Prescription Drugs
- Poor Diet
- Overly Stressed

The Effects Lack of Sleep Can Have

Depending on the severity of your lack of sleep, the effects can range from mild tiredness to day-long exhaustion & irritability to blurry vision & memory loss to "all of the above". In truth, the effect lack of sleep has on your life really rests on how much sleep you AREN'T getting. If you're only lacking a little sleep each night, you won't likely feel the full force of what insomnia can do, and vice versa.

Serious Effects of Lack of Sleep

Here we are at last, the reason you're reading this article -- to learn why lack of sleep can be deadly. Well, believe it or not, there are two reasons lack of sleep (insomnia, sleep deprivation, or whatever you want to call it) can be dangerous.

The first reason is rather simple and straight forward. It has to due with the lowering of your immune system. Your prolonged lack of sleep has put a serious toll on your body and immune system, causing it to be less effective when it comes to eliminating bacteria and viruses. This lowered efficiency will result in you getting more sick, more often. Suffice it to say, your continued habits of poor sleep (if not taken care of) will open up the flood gates for other diseases and illnesses.

The second reason is due to the drastic reduction in focus, concentration, reaction time, and mental ability. These things, when diminished, pose a significant threat to you and those around you. Why? Because you aren't operating at 100%, or even 70%, efficiency.

The severe lack of sleep has caused your brain to go into "low power" mode. Yes, it can allow you to do basic things, such as walk, talk, eat, and interact with others -- but it can't do anything more than that. This becomes a serious danger to you and others when attention, focus, & reaction time become critical factors in the task at hand. When might this happen? On the road, driving.

When at the wheel, the driver must be fully aware of everything going on in the car and outside the car. He/she must be able to make snap decisions, be they small or big, in order to safely navigate the road and reach his/her destination. When under the effects lack of sleep can bring, it's not uncommon for a driver to become disoriented and suddenly crash. If you're in a dewy meadow when this happens, you won't likely cause damage, get hurt, or hurt someone else. However, if you happen to be on a 4-lane highway or in a neighborhood full of children, well, the result of your accident could be quite horrendous to say the least.

The most important thing to remember about the deadly effects lack of sleep can have is that they don't need to be lived. These effects can be COMPLETELY avoided when an individual takes the necessary steps to get more restful sleep.

By: Sean Saunders

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Feel that you've dealt with sleeplessness long enough? Want to try your luck with the best natural cure for lack of sleep there is and see if it makes a difference? Then you really need to visit www.SleepTracks.org, the one website that can guarantee an insomnia cure for you!