A PowerPoint to share about sleep and rest of babies and young children.

1. Sleep and
rest

2. Sleep and rest
 Everyone needs sleep but the amount a
baby needs varies enormously and will
depend on the maturity of the brain and
the need for food.
 Sleep is divided into two distinct states:
 Rapid eye movement (REM) active sleep
 Non-rapid eye movement (NREM)quite
sleep

3. REM sleep
Mind is active
Processing daytime emotional experiences
NREM sleep
Body rests and restoration occurs
Babies under one year more sleep is active
Do not wake babies during deep sleep as it
plays a vital part in restoring energy levels.

4. What are the benefits of rest
and sleep
 Allows tissues to recover
 Heart rate will fall
 Oxygen will be replaced
 Body temperature will fall
 Central nervous system will relax
 The body will absorb food if needed
 Prevent muscles aching or getting stiff

5. What are the benefits of rest
and sleep
 Brain develops and matures
 Rests and restores our bodies
 Growth hormone is released
 Recharge and energise

6. What are the signs that a child
needs sleep or rest
 Short attention span, irritability or intolerance
for toys and games
 Rubbing eyes
 Sucking thumb or fingers
 Needing a comforter or a special toy
 Loosing interest in activities
 Easily becoming irritable
 Withdrawn
 Emotional

7. In your groups discuss what
are the implications of
interrupted sleep or lack of
sleep for the child and
parent?

8. Sleep needs 6 weeks old
 New-born babies tend to sleep a great
deal.
 Shorter spells of sleep during the day
 Longer periods of sleep during the night
Will wake for a feed
 Sleep is spread out throughout a 24hr
period – usually every four-five hours
lasting two-and-a half hours
 15 hours in a 24 hour period is required.

9. Sleep needs 7 months old
From four and a half months onwards, most
babies are capable of sleeping for eight
hours without needing a feed.
By seven months babies usually have two to
three daytime sleeps each between one-and
a half and two hours.
13- 14 hours sleep and rest in a 24hr period.

10. Sleeps needs of 15 month old
 From 1 year until 2 years babies will sleep
for approx. 11 hours at night.
 Rest of their sleep is daytime naps.
 15- 18 months will have one longer
daytime sleep rather than two shorter
naps
 14 hours sleep and rest in 24 hour period

11. Sleep needs of two and half
years
 Between ages of two-three years most
children still need one nap a day, which
may range from on to three and a half
hours long.
 At this age children usually go to bed
between 7 and 9pm and wake up
between 6 and 8am
 13 hours sleep and rest in 24 hour period

12. Sleep needs of four to five
years
 By four years a child will meet all their
sleep and rest needs at night, though
some children may need short daytime
rest or sleep.
 11- 11.5 hours sleep and rest in a 24 hr
period

13. Sleep needs of six to seven
years
 Daytime sleeps has disappeared and all
sleep needs are met at night-time
 10-11 hrs sleep and rest in a 24 hour
period.

14. Cultural differences
 Some parents believe a child should sleep
in with them
 Later sleep times
 Sleeps in the afternoon mean child can
stay up in the evening
 Energy levels of the child can impact on
sleep allowance

15. Establish a routine
 Children will only sleep if they are actually
tired
 Provide enough activity and exercise
 Some children do not have a nap during
the day but should be encouraged to rest
in quiet areas.
 Treat each child uniquely – needs for
sleep
 Find out the child’s individual sleep habits

16.  Be guided by the parents and carers
wishes
 Reassure children when lying them down
 Keep noise to minimum and darken the
room
 Provide quiet restful activities before
laying to rest or sleep – some children may
be unable to fall asleep.

17. Bedtime routine
Why do you need to have a bedtime
routine?
 Between three to five months, most
baby’s are ready to settle into a routine
What should that routine consist of?

18. Bedtime routine
 Give baby a bath or wash and put on
clean nappy and nightwear.
 Take child to say goodnight to other
members in the household
 Carry to his/her room, telling in quiet voice
that it is time for bed.
 Give the last breast or bottle feed in room
where baby sleeps.

19.  Sing a song or lullaby to help settle, while
gently rocking in arms
Wrap securely and settle in cot or cradle
saying good night – feet to foot position
 Controlled crying sleep routine – in tune
 If liked, gently pat to sleep.

20. Swaddling

21. SIDS
'Sudden Infant Death’ is the term used to
describe the sudden and unexpected
death of a baby or toddler that is initially
unexplained.
The Lullaby Trust

22.  221 unexplained infant deaths occurred in
England and Wales in 2012, a rate of 0.30 deaths
per 1,000 live births.
 Unexplained infant deaths accounted for 8% of all
infant deaths occurring in 2012.
 Eight out of ten unexplained infant deaths
occurred in the post-neonatal period (between 28
days and 1 year).
 Almost two-thirds (64%) of unexplained infant
deaths were boys in 2012 (141 deaths).
 The rate of unexplained infant death was three
times higher among low birth weight babies (less
than 2,500g) than babies with a normal birth
weight (2,500g and over).

23. Precautions
 In your groups discuss what you will do as
precautions to reduce the risks of sudden
infant death syndrome?

25. Working in partnership with
parents.

26. Top ten tips on how to stop a
baby over heating
1. Keep the room in which the baby sleeps
between 16- 20 0c.
2. Use a thermometer in the room where the baby
sleeps as it difficult to judge the temperature
3. Check babies to see if they are sweating or their
stomachs feel hot to the touch if so remove
some bedding
4. Use light weight blankets and do not use a
duvet, quilt or a pillow for babies under 12
months old
5. Babies who are not well or feverish need fewer
bed clothes even in the winter

27. 6. Make sure the babies head cannot be covered
by the bed clothes by laying them down with their
feet at the base of the cot so they can not
wriggle under the covers
7. Never let babies sleep with a hot water bottle,
electric blanket next to the radiator or in direct
sunshine
8. When it is warm cool the room by closing curtains
and opening the windows during the day. Offer
the baby plenty to drink
9. Remove the babies hat or extra clothing as soon
as you get in doors even if it wakes the baby