Sleep is an integral part of a child’s development and overall well-being. It is extremely important for memory, learning, emotions, and health. Yet, many adults and children are not getting adequate sleep.
Why? Adults are having tight work schedules and high-stress levels that explain the inadequate sleep or poor quality sleep. Children’s sleep is often impacted adversely by their mom’s hectic work schedules and also their elaborate school projects and activities. However, in recent times, several reasons could be attributed to this growing trend of children not getting enough sleep at night.
Until recently, many people believed that kids are spending way too much time on watching television, using mobile phones, computers, and other mobile electronic devices and that may be the cause of lack of sleep in adolescents and young children. Many caregivers, parents, and even policymakers were quite concerned in the recent past to see kids spending more and more time on such addictive electronic devices and they were worried about it as they could not understand the impact of these digital activities on the young minds.
As per https://www.pocket-lint.com, “The Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has published its findings on research examining the impact of screen time on children and has come up with a result that might surprise some: there’s a lack of evidence that suggests that screen time is actually detrimental to your child’s health.” So it practically has very little impact on children’s sleep. A bad mattress, however, is often the culprit and needs to be blamed. You must choose your child’s mattress with a lot of care because if the mattress is not appropriate, your child could encounter sleep deprivation and other sleep-associated health issues. You may take into account the following considerations:
Buy a Mattress that is Firm Enough
A mattress for a growing child must have just about the right firmness required for supporting his weight.
If a child is obese or overweight, he could get better sleep and feel more comfortable if the mattress provides extra support. However, even thinner and lighter growing kids must sleep on mattresses that are supportive and allow perfect spine alignment and proper support so that their body weight is evenly distributed.
The Bed’s Height:
Mattresses have become thicker nowadays. When it is integrated into the standard foundation, you may find that the bed has become quite tall for young kids. A very tall bed could be unsafe and uncomfortable for growing kids as they are generally, still quite short. If you are choosing a thick mattress, it is best to opt for a low-profile foundation around 4-6 inches in height.
Softer Surfaces for Kids with Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia could be difficult to spot in kids as it is certainly more common in grown up or adult individuals. However, between 1 percent and 7 percent of kids are having fibromyalgia or some similar conditions. We understand that getting deep sleep at night could be a major issue for such kids. So you need to choose a mattress with utmost care. The sore and sensitive areas would feel better if a soft and comfy surface is chosen for them. Some parents even invest in an adjustable bed to ease the discomfort and pain associated with fibromyalgia in kids.
Conclusion
You have access to a plethora of mattresses in varied designs, styles, materials, etc. You must keep in mind all the special considerations while buying the best mattress for your growing child.
