The Importance of a Good Night's Sleep for Children

A good night's sleep is very important for everyone, no matter what your age, but it is especially beneficial for children.  Sleep affects both mental ability and physical growth.  Even with enough sleep, if your child has an old or poor-quality mattress, this will affect them in a negative way.  The best mattress store at the Lake of the Ozarks has some information for you about the quality of good sleep for children, and advice on how to make sure that they get it.

The reasons for a good night's sleep.

The recommended amount of sleep for everyone is:

• 7 hours for adults
• 9-10 hours for teens
• 10-12 hours for younger children

This can be difficult to fit in between busy schedules full of school, practices, games, lessons, etc...  Still, you need to make the time.  Sleep allows a body the chance to regenerate cells, repair muscles, and recalibrate hormone levels.  Lack of sleep, or poor sleep, affects your child in many ways.  

Mental Ability
The quality and quantity of sleep greatly affects a child's ability to understand and retain information, and also to concentrate.  

Physical growth 
The possibility of obesity increases when proper sleep is not achieved.  Also, a bad mattress can affect your child's bone strength and posture.

Emotional Stability
Not getting enough good sleep can leave children feeling depressed, which can lead to behavioral problems.  

How to get a good night's sleep.

There are a few things that you can be doing to help your child get the amount of quality sleep that their body needs.  

Limit access to electronics.
At least 1-2 hours before turning in for the night, your child should turn off ALL electronics (video games, TV, cell phones, computers...).  These things keep the brain stimulated, which disrupts the sleep cycle.  If electronics can be kept out of the bedroom completely, that will help with this effort.  

Stick to a set bedtime routine.
Doing your best to make sure that your child goes to bed and wakes up at the same time every day will train their body into this routine.  Stay as close as possible to these set times, even on the weekends, and your children will benefit.  

Be a good role model.
Children model the behavior that they see.  As hard as it may be, following the same rules for your own sleep will make your child more likely to follow them too.  An added benefit is that your own sleep quality will also improve, making everyday life a little easier and more enjoyable.  

Make sure they have a good, quality mattress.
A full night's sleep doesn't do the most good that it can if your child is trying to get that sleep on a bad mattress.  Slumberland Furniture is an expert at helping people find the right mattress for their body types and lifestyles.  Here are a few tips for finding the perfect one for your child.  

• Determine the right size.

Even if your baby's crib converts to a toddler bed, a new mattress may be needed for this stage of their life.  Consider how tall you expect your older child to grow and aim for a mattress and bed size that they are unlikely to outgrow.

• Find the right support.

Bring your child with you when you mattress shop for them.  Letting them try out the different types of mattresses can avoid complaints later.  The best for kids is usually a mattress with at least 225 coils and a gauge of 13.  

• Explore materials.

The most common children's mattresses are made from innerspring coils, but memory foam, latex foam, and pillowtop mattresses are all good options too.  

• Make it durable. 

Kids love to jump on beds, so their mattress needs to be sturdy.  A mattress protector will help extend it's life by helping to keep any spills off of it.  

• Consider allergies.

A synthetic-filled mattress is a good choice for a child that is prone to allergies. Microbial mattress covers are also available.  

The better the quality of your child's sleep, the better they can grow both physically and emotionally.  The best furniture store at the Lake of the Ozarks knows how to help you and your family get the best night's sleep possible.  Stop by our Osage Beach furniture store soon and let us talk to you about your options for both mattresses and great children's bedroom furniture.  

It's a good life!  

Slumberland Furniture at the Lake

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6241 Osage Beach Parkway
Osage Beach, MO 65065
(573) 302-4222