Have you ever noticed that gummy smile, those sleepy eyes, that adorable yawn before your child falls asleep? It’s a well-deserved break after play; according to paediatric experts, it takes up 50 per cent of a child’s first months of life. However, sleep is more than just a simple break–it’s a critical process.

The importance of sleep for children proves itself through its effect on their physical, mental and social health. Since children spend half of their time asleep, our job as parents and caretakers is to provide the best quality of rest through healthy sleep routines for toddlers.

At IPSAA Preschool and Daycare Centre, the best playschool in Gurgaon, we promote consistent, healthy sleep routines for toddlers. Through this guide, we will show how the IPSAA Centre establishes these habits and how you can apply them at home.

The Importance of Sleep for Children

Sleep is a natural process that helps your body relax, unwind, rejuvenate, and so much more. Sleep’s role in physical, mental and emotional development is irrefutable, and we at IPSAA Centre, the best playschools in Noida, have compiled a list of its benefits for your child on each of these levels.

Physical Growth and Development

• Growth Hormone Release: Proper sleep routines for toddlers ensure that they succumb to a deep sleep. But why is this state important? The physical development of organs, muscles and bones depends on the secretion of growth hormones, which can only be produced during deep sleep.
• Immune System Boost:The immune system is our body’s way of defending itself from illnesses, germs and infections while protecting cells. However, according to the American Academy of Paediatrics, sleepiness stifles the immune system, which can give rise to problems within it.
• Energy Restoration: One of the most critical aspects of sleep is that it combats fatigue and replenishes the body. A well-rested child has enough energy to be active and playful during the day and has the stamina to be curious to learn about the world around them.

Cognitive Function and Brain Development

• Brain Development: The importance of sleep for children proves itself through its support for the growth of neural connections. According to a study, REM sleep prunes new spines during development, which are essential for development and performance improvement after learning.
• Creativity: A studyby Dr. Jiang Fan, an expert in Early Childhood Development Research, shows that sleep can stimulate creative thinking, which is vital in encouraging imaginative play and kindling a passion for curiosity and learning.
• Learning and Memory Consolidation: Children are like sponges, absorbing every little incident during the day. However, they can’t immediately process everything they experience.

One of the reasons for the importance of sleep for children is that it gives them a chance to consolidate their memories, which refers to transforming short-term memories into long-term ones by giving them time to process and retain information.

On the other hand, according to a study by the Sleep Foundation, sleep deprivation is linked to difficulty remembering things and a dip in the ability to focus on learning new things. That study found that a lack of sleep can decrease a child’s learning ability by 40 per cent.

Emotional Regulation, Behaviour and Social Skills

Mood Regulation:

It’s no secret that routines, such as sleep routines for toddlers, benefit children greatly.

But what if a child’s routine is broken?  

Children’s responses will vary depending on their personalities. Still, a lack of sleep has proven to lead to heightened irritability and difficulty in regulating emotions, making it harder for children to deal with their feelings healthily. Therefore, a child who doesn’t get enough sleep is more likely to react negatively and throw a tantrum.

Regulating emotions is one of the brain’s many functions; thus, a child who has had enough sleep time is more likely to accept the change and take it in stride.

Hence, IPSAA Centre, the best playschool in Gurgaon, strives to provide children with the routine they need to feel happy and refreshed.

Behavioural Impact:

The importance of sleep for children encompasses not only physical, mental and emotional aspects but also social or behavioural implications as well. Cooperation and friendliness allow people to fit in and find their group in society. Similarly, well-rested children are more likely to be cooperative and focused, making it easier to connect and socialize with their peers.

Socialisation from an early age is essential, as it helps children understand how to interact with others in preparation for finding their place in society in the future. Therefore, enrolling your child in playschools in Noida, playschools in Gurgaon, or playschools near you is very important for their social development.

Healthy Sleep Routines for Toddlers

When the weight of exhaustion pushes down on you after a long, tiring day, a well-timed nap or a comfortable rest can combat this fatigue and help you regain your energy and vigour. However, while falling asleep is a natural process for adults, toddlers often face more difficulties.

As such, it’s crucial to establish sleep routines for toddlers to help them go to sleep. There are diverse ways to accomplish this task, so parents must try different methods and decide which is best for their children.

We at IPSAA playschools in Noida and playschools in Gurgaon always yearn to facilitate care, so we will share a few tips based on our research and experiences.

Calming Sleep Environment

A cosy, inviting bed is only the beginning when aiming to create a calming sleep environment for your child. What comes before you take your kid to their bed has proven to have significant effects on how quickly they can fall asleep.

Therefore, it would be a good idea to consider the following when crafting your sleep routines for toddlers:

• Turn down lights and noise: Give your child signs that the day is ending by encouraging them to wind down. According to current research, darkness stimulates the production of melatonin, which encourages sleep. Thus, by reducing loud noises and bright lights 30 minutes to an hour before bed, you can allow your kid to assimilate to the next and final task of the day: sleep.
• Avoid stimulants before bed: While electronics have become heavily integrated in today’s world, avoiding screens (phones, tablets, TV, etc…) and heavy meals 30 minutes to an hour before bed can disrupt your child’s sleep. This is due to exposure to blue light, which suppresses the secretion of melatonin and the mental stimulation these devices force upon your child.
• Avoid long naps too close to bedtime: While the importance of sleep for children is undeniable, it’s equally essential to control when your child naps. Rest that is too close to bedtime could interfere with your child’s sleep cycle and prevent them from falling asleep.

Consistent Sleep Routine for Toddlers

As kids, we’ve all fallen asleep on the couch and mysteriously woken up in bed the morning after. While such instances are pretty endearing and acceptable, establishing a consistent sleep routine for toddlers is key in ensuring your child gets enough sleep.

Try not to lay your child down to sleep when they’re already asleep. Instead, encourage a healthy routine that could help them have a better rest instead:

• Set a consistent bedtime: The first step in creating a healthy sleep routine for toddlers is to put your toddler to bed simultaneously each night. It may be challenging initially, but the results will be well worth the effort. Many kids tend to thrive on routines as they provide the necessary security and comfort that they seek.
• Relaxing bath: A warm bath soothes the body, calms the nerves, and signals that it’s time to wind down.
• Put on pajamas: After a peaceful bath, dress your child in comfy pajamas to prepare them for sleep. Ensure they’re appropriate for the room’s temperature, whether hot or cold.
• Brush teeth: Brushing and flossing is a healthy habit and equally as imperative as the importance of sleep for children. You can encourage it before bed so that it also serves the purpose of signalling the end of the day. Slow and steady wins the race, but don’t forget to make it a fun experience for your little one, too!
• Storytime: Now that your child is ready to crawl into bed, let them snuggle with their favorite teddy bear or blanket as you read them a calming bedtime story. It creates a calm atmosphere, develops your child’s language skills, and deepens the bond you share.
• Goodnight hug: Make sure your child feels safe, secure and loved every night before they go to bed with a hug, a kiss and a promise to do it all again tomorrow.

Healthy sleep routines for toddlers are vital in encouraging their physical, mental, social and emotional development.

At IPSAA Centre, the best playschools in Noida and playschools in Gurgaon, we strive to provide children with the best care and practices that would allow them to blossom intellectually, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

As such, we constantly research childcare to stay up to date with everything new. With a focus on the importance of sleep for children, we provide calming, cosy nap-time areas so that they can get enough sleep for the day, depending on their ages.

IPSAA Centre is well-equipped with a consistent schedule and a loving environment. So what are you waiting for? We encourage you to connect with us and explore our programs and resources to see if we’re the right fit for you and your child!