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]]>The study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, examined the sleep routines of 337 US preschool children and their families, taking into account socioeconomic characteristics and observing the influence of TV time and meal routines.
Researchers considered four routines protective against childhood obesity including limited TV time, not having a bedroom TV, quality family meal time and adequate sleep.
Yet sleep was the only factor that made a difference in the results.
Children who slept 10 hours per day or more were less likely to suffer obesity than those who did not, regardless of the other protective routines.
Given the importance of sleep, the most likely factor in a child’s risk for obesity was the parental sleep routine.
In a chain reaction, parents who slept inadequately had children who did the same and were therefore more likely to be overweight.
“Parents should make being well rested a family value and a priority,” said Barbara H. Fiese, director of the U of I’s Family Resiliency Center and Pampered Chef Endowed Chair. “We viewed how long parents slept and how long children slept as part of a household routine and found that they really did go together.”
Sufficient sleep has long been linked to healthy weight management and children are hardly new study subjects.
A recent study by the University College London found that 16-month-old toddlers who slept less than 10 hours per day increased their calorie consumption by 10 percent over those who slept 13 hours per day.
A 2009 study by the European Centre of Taste Science in Dijon in central France found participants were likely to consume up to 22 percent more calories than normal after a bad night’s sleep.
(AFP Relaxnews)
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]]>Having enough sleep is as important to your toddler as following a healthy diet and providing him with adequate stimulation. A well-rested child is less frustrated, more predictable and happier in his world.
Remember, your toddler may not necessarily develop healthy sleep habits automatically. He may need a little help from you!
Whether you have chosen to sleep with your child in the family bed, or whether your child sleeps on his own is determined by your personal beliefs, cultural views and your ability to separate from your child. Either way, choose a sleep zone that suits you.
It is important to regulate your child’s environment to ensure that his sleep zone supports sleep. I would recommend that by the time your child is two years old, that you try to let him sleep in his own sleep zone.
Children need to have their own space, and sleep space is interconnected with physical and emotional boundaries. Encouraging your child to foster some independence from you in the sleep zone paves the way for a sense of security with his own separateness and provides a sound basis for the development of self esteem and self reliance.
Some ideas of creating a calm and nurturing ‘sleep zone’ include:
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]]>Try and keep this time of the day calm and quiet, so if Dad is home, try and limit the amount of horseplay and excitement that takes place – rather stick to calming, nurturing activities such as watering the garden, doing a puzzle, or play “I spy”. Avoid intensive movement activities and rough house play at this time, but encourage them in the afternoon.
Try and serve supper at roughly the same time each evening, and perform the same activities thereafter until bedtime
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