2015-09-06
600
SLEEP
The growing organism must have efficient sleep. The newborn baby whose mechanism is largely vegetative sleeps from 20 to 22 hours out of 24. From this time on the amount of sleep required gradually decreases. At 6 months the average length of sleep is from 16 to 18 hours and at 1 year from 14 to 16. From the second to the six year 12 hours at night and a daily nap or rest meet the needs.
The decrease in sleeping hours should always be made at the expense of the day sleep. At 6 months the baby usually sleeps 2 hours in the forenoon and 2 in the afternoon. The afternoon period should be over by 3 p.m. One of these periods is gradually shortened until the second year but one nap a day is taken, and this should be continued until the sixth year. Even if children of 5 or 6 no longer sleep they should be made to rest in bed alone in the room, without toys and books.
The infant and the child should sleep alone. The bed clothing must vary with the season and the weight should never be too heavy or too light. Sleeping without pillows is best and if the child is trained this way pillows are not liked or needed. Sleeping out of doors when it is not too cold is advisable if it is available; otherwise the windows should be always open. Some children require more sleep than others. Every child must have, however, a certain minimum. The bed hour should be quieting. Rough play and intense excitement at this time are apt to delay the on-coming of sleep. When the child wakes from the nap or night rest it is important to teach habits of rapid dressing, and to prevent dallying and playing until dressing is complete and the morning toilet is finished.
