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New infant sleep guidelines: No co-sleeping, cot décor, blankets

Posted on by lionel

The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) has released an updated list of infant sleep guidelines. In its first update since 2016, the AAP strongly advises against co-sleeping with babies, using weighted blankets and swaddles, cot décor, inclined sleeping products and babies sleeping in hats.

The updated guidelines are based on the study of nearly 160 scientific articles since 2015 that cover risk factors and statistical trends for sleep-related infant death.

Infant sleep guidelines for co-sleeping

In South Africa, co-sleeping is common because of cultural preferences and because many families simply cannot afford to give their baby a bed of their own. However, Dr Rebecca Carlin, co-author of the new guidelines and member of the AAP Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), says the evidence is clear that co-sleeping significantly raises the risk of baby’s injury or death.

A recent study reveals that the prevalence of SIDS ranges from 3.7 deaths per 1000 live births in South Africa. The same study reported that 60% to 91.8% of South African mothers who attended well-baby clinics reported bed sharing with their babies.

While the AAP is strongly against co-sleeping with infants, they do recommend that babies sleep in the same room as caretakers on a separate firm and flat mattress that is covered with a snug-fitting sheet. According to the new guidelines, room sharing can decrease the risk of SIDS by as much as 50%.

Babies should sleep on their backs with no blankets, pillows, soft bedding, or cot décor that could suffocate the child. Hats should also be removed as they pose a suffocation risk. If you’re worried about your baby getting cold, use infant sleep clothing, such as a wearable blanket or a swaddle. Be careful not to swaddle your baby too tightly, ensuring your baby is able to breathe with ease and move their hips.

If you are using an inclined sleeping product, like a wedge for a pillow, do not use any pillow with an incline higher than 10 degrees. In America, it has recently become illegal to sell products with an incline higher than 10 degrees.

Sealy cot and baby mattresses

Sealy cot mattresses are specially designed to give babies the support they need as they grow. We use only top quality, natural, non-allergenic materials, with an aloe vera fabric covering that allows breathability of the mattress. In terms of durability, the fabric is washable with mild soap and a cloth. The Sealy Posturepedic® Soft Touch Bamboo Mattress Protector featuring a Two-Way Stretch Skirt will also help prolong the life of your Sealy cot mattress.

 

 

Co-sleeping: Does your child sleep in the same bed as you?

Posted on by lionel

For many South African parents, sharing a bed with their growing children is a reality of economics rather than choice. However, co-sleeping and bed sharing is also a common practice in many cultures around the world because it encourages bonding and helps the children feel safe.

Although bed-sharing with babies is often controversial, with some paediatricians saying it increases the risk of suffocation, for many people it makes sense to sleep with their children for the first few years of their life. Co-sleeping with a baby can be easier for a breastfeeding mother, encourages skin-to-skin contact and can help to cement the emotional bond between the baby and parents.

Most experts advise that children should learn to sleep in their own beds between the ages of 5 and 8. However, there seems to be strong views for and against co-sleeping with older children. It’s important for families to understand the pros and cons and to ultimately make the decision that fits best with their financial reality and their family values.

The pros and cons of co-sleeping with older children

Pros

  • It encourages closeness and kids feel safe throughout the night
  • It reduces bedtime struggles
  • Could help foster higher self-esteem in children
  • Many cultures around the world view co-sleeping as totally natural

Cons

  • Children might struggle to fall asleep without a parent present
  • Differing bedtimes might mean interrupted sleep for everyone
  • Sleep quality might suffer if your child is an ‘active sleeper’
  • Less time or space for intimacy

Invest in a Sealy Singles for your growing child

If you feel that it’s time for your child to move into their own bed, you might place the bed in your room or move your child into their own room entirely. This will require some strategizing and planning from your side, to make sure your child is emotionally ready for the move.

The Sealy Singles range is designed for toddlers to teens, providing all the support and comfort they need for healthy growth and development. These mattresses are made with Allergen Protect fabric, keeping the mattress fresh, healthy and free from common allergens such as dust mites. Click here to find out more about the Sealy Singles range.

Co-sleeping – time for a bigger bed?

If you decide that co-sleeping is the answer for your family, a family-sized bed will give you all a little more room. Below are mattress measurements for each Sealy bed size:

  • Single – 915mm x 1880mm
  • Three Quarter – 1070mm x 1880mm
  • Double – 1370mm x 1880mm
  • Queen – 1520mm x 1880mm
  • King – 1830mm x 1880mm
  • Extra length (2000mm) is available on request

We have a list of approved Sealy retailers on our website. Click here to find your closest Sealy approved retailer.

Choosing the best mattress for your child

Posted on by lionel

When your child is ready to transition from cot to bed, it’s time to start thinking about the best mattress to buy. A good quality mattress can promote brain development and physical growth from a great night’s sleep.

Initially, you might be able to convert your cot to a toddler bed, or you might buy a small toddler bed. However, when you consider that children between the ages 2 and 6 grown an average of 7cm per year, it might be more economical to buy a single, three-quarter or double sized bed upfront, giving your child space to grow into. Parents are sometimes tempted to use a hand-me-down bed for their growing child. In these tough economic times, it might be the only option. But if possible, rather invest in a new mattress specifically designed to support the growth of your child.

The Sealy guide for choosing the best mattress for your child

Choosing this mattress doesn’t need to be challenging, but it is important to make careful considerations. It’s best to do your research first to ensure you choose the right mattress. After all, if your child is sleeping well throughout the night, so are you!

After a full day of activity, children need sufficient rest at night so they can start the new day well rested. The best mattress for your child will:

  • Cushion their developing bodies
  • Keep the spine and bones aligned (an especially important thing to bear in mind concerning your child’s growth)
  • Provide a soothing level of comfort to help with relaxation
  • Reduce rolling and fidgeting, allowing your child to sleep more soundly
  • Be made with a breathable, easy-to-clean fabric ensure good air circulation, keeping the body temperature well regulated. This will help encourage deep sleep cycles that are necessary for better health and development

Choose a Sealy mattress to support your child

Sealy mattresses are orthopedically developed with exclusive Posturepedic Technology™, an interconnected spring system topped with foam and comfort layers, that will support your child’s ideal sleeping posture. Sealy Posturepedic Technology™ targets the heaviest part of the body, with reinforced support where your child needs it most.

Protect your investment with a Sealy mattress protector

Even if your child is toilet-trained, accidents may happen overnight, so the mattress you choose should be made with an easy-to-clean fabric. Even then, it’s advisable to cover the bed with a waterproof mattress protector. Sealy Posturepedic mattress protectors are manufactured with a fully elasticised 4-way stretch skirt, ensuring a secure fit to protect your mattress and prolong the life of your investment in your child’s sleep.

Our top tips for transitioning to the big bed

Now that you have found the perfect bed for your child, you need to get them in the bed. This can sometimes be challenging. Here are a few tips to get your child into the new bed.

  • Be patient. It may take a few days for your child to get used to their new sleep environment.
  • If you are worried about your child falling off the bed, install a rail guard or try placing a rolled-up towel between the mattress and base side edge. You can also put extra pillows and blankets on the floor next to the bed to cushion a fall.
  • New bedding. You’re probably already going to get new bedding for the bed, but get your child involved by letting them choose their big-kid duvet.
  • Introduce it early. Help them understand and anticipate the change.

Your child will need a quality mattress when transitioning to the big-kid bed. Choose the right mattress for your child’s needs and avoid using old mattresses. A good quality mattress can promote brain development and physical growth from a great night’s sleep.

 

 

Dreading the cot to bed transition? Read these four tips

Posted on by lionel

One of the biggest milestones in your child’s first few years is the transition from cot to bed. The timing of this move often depends on your child’s physical skills and emotional readiness. Read on for some advice on how to know WHEN to make the move, and a few tips on HOW to do it.

When to move your child from cot to bed

Children develop at different rates, so don’t worry about making the change by a specific age. However, as a general guideline, children are ready to move to a big bed from around 18 months to three years old. This might even vary between siblings, so don’t be surprised if your second child is ready to make the move sooner or later than your first.

Instead of waiting for a certain age, rather consider your child’s readiness to move to a bigger bed. Below are a few signs that might let you know they are ready:

  • Climbing: If your baby can climb out of the cot, then it’s time to change. Climbing could cause falling and injury, so your child will be safer in a low bed.
  • Growth spurt: Your baby may physically outgrow their cot. Once they start to get tall enough that they are no longer comfortable laying down their cot, then a bed could be a better option.
  • Toilet training: If you’re potty training your child and they no longer use nappies at night, then knowing how to get in and out of bed at night will give them the freedom and control they need.

Try to notice signs like these and make the decision to move them when they seem ready. Don’t worry if your child is turning three and still doesn’t seem ready; you have to let them develop at their own pace.

How to choose the right bed

Once it is time to make the change, you’ll want the right type of bed and mattress for your child. The two most important aspects of this choice are comfort and safety. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for your child’s growth and development, and a comfortable bed can make all the difference. A firm mattress provides optimum spinal support for your child.

In terms of safety, railings are a good idea. Your toddler is used to rolling around in a cot and being “caught” by the sides if necessary. Safety railings will prevent them from rolling out of bed. The bed should also be low to the floor so that they won’t injure themselves badly if they do fall out of bed or if they climb over the railings.

If a safety rail doesn’t fit with your child’s bed or if you choose not to have one, then just make sure the floor surrounding the bed is nice and soft. Lay down pillows and blankets if you need to.

Size may also be an important factor. If you get a small child-size bed, then you might end up needing a new one in a few years’ time as they grow, which will be another expense. Sealy single-sized beds last from toddler until teen so that they won’t grow out of it, as well as being safe and comfortable for your child.

Guidelines for an easy change

To make the change from cot to bed easier on you and your baby, here are some tips for you to follow.

  • Keep things familiar

A new bed is a change, so make the process easier by keeping some things the same. Transfer your child’s favourite toys or blankets into the bed. Keep their bedtime habit the same. Putting the new bed in the same place as the cot will also help.

  • Toddler proof the room

In the event the toddler can climb from their new bed, then make sure the room is a secure environment for them. Secure any electrical devices and install plug covers on plug points. If the curtains or blinds have cords make sure to move them out-of-reach, or change them with cords that do not have a loop. You could also fix a baby gate on top of the stairs or in the entrance to your baby’s room to avoid accidents.

  • Make it exciting

Let your toddler know ahead of time that they will be changing beds and ensure it is sound like a fun event. Make a big deal about it and praise them for trying out the new bed. You can involve them in the process as much as possible by letting them pick out the bed and bedding with you.

  • Be patient

Your toddler might not adjust straight away to their new bed. This means that, even though they have been sleeping through the night for some time, you might have some sleepless nights in the beginning. Give them time to adjust to the new arrangement and be patient. If you are frustrated, then your toddler is like to get more frustrated as well.

We hope these tips help you deal with any transition from cot to bed problems.

Back to School sleep tips

Posted on by lionel

The transition from the holidays to the new school year can be tough on the whole family. Children are likely to have fallen out of their usual routine. In this blog post, we highlight our best Back to School sleep tips to ensure that your children are ready and raring to go on the first day of school.

Prepare ahead of time

Don’t leave shopping for school supplies and uniform until the last minute! Getting prepared ahead of time will reduce your stress and will also let your children know it’s time to start getting ready for the return to school.

Use a calendar during the holidays

Using a calendar is a great way to give your kids a visual that they can use as a countdown to see when school starts again. You can get your kids involved with the calendar by asking them to mark down events and activities that you’ll be taking part in during the holidays, as well as the back-to-school date.

Get back into your own routine

Your kids will follow your example when it comes to getting back into their school routine, so start your own routine ahead of time. This might mean waking up earlier, preparing and eating meals at a ‘normal’ time, and getting dressed and ready for the day every morning.

Introduce your child’s Back to School sleep schedule

If your children have strayed from what would be their regular bedtime during term-time, start re-introducing this as the return to school creeps up. You might like to advance their bedtime by 10-15 minutes every night until they reach their regular bedtime, and you might also like to start waking them up a little earlier – with love and compassion of course!

See below for some tips for maintaining a good sleep schedule.

Tips for maintaining a good Back to School sleep schedule

·        Create a bedtime routine

Creating a bedtime routine is a wonderful way to help children prepare mentally and physically for bed. Turn off all electronics at least an hour before bedtime, dim the lights, and spend some time relaxing. During this time, your children might like to read, colour, or listen to an audiobook/music. The bedtime routine could involve a relaxing bath or shower, a bedtime story, relaxing music and massage.

·        Eat well ahead of bedtime

Eat dinner ahead of bedtime so that your children have time to digest their food and spend time relaxing before bed. This will help to prevent any digestive discomfort that they might be experiencing at nighttime.

Ensure a good night’s sleep

A quality mattress can be the difference between a good night and a bad night of sleep. Though it’s common to use hand-me-down mattresses, ensure that your child has a high-quality mattress that gives them the support they need. As well as keeping the spine and bones aligned, which is very important for a growing child, a good quality mattress will reduce rolling and fidgeting, allowing your child to sleep more soundly. Browse Sealy’s range of mattresses to find the best bed to support your child’s growing body.

Good quality sleep will boost your child’s memory and concentration, improve their mood, enhance emotional control, prevent or alleviate mood swings, and improve their overall well-being. Also, a good new bed will provide support to your child’s growing body and help them relax during the night. Finally, studies show that good sleep prevents challenging behaviors and helps your child get Back to School refreshed and well-prepared, which is a recipe for good grades.

 

Baby cot: create a safe sleep environment

Posted on by lionel

Keeping your baby’s sleeping environment safe is one of the biggest concerns that new and expecting parents have. The general recommendations are to keep your baby cot free of any kind of object, place your infant in a safe sleeping position and pay attention to the softness of the sleep surface.

In this post, we discuss the best ways to keep your baby’s sleeping environment safe so that you can sleep easy. We’ll outline safe sleeping positions, how to dress your baby for certain temperatures, as well as the importance of a high-quality cot mattress.

Remove toys from the baby cot

Toys, blankets, and comforters – no matter how small – can pose a risk of suffocation to babies. Keep your baby cot a toy-free zone and keep comforters for use during the day when you can watch your little one.

Dress your baby for the temperature of the room as opposed to using blankets – see below for guidelines.

Keep the room cool

It’s recommended that your baby sleeps in an environment of between 20-22 degrees as a way to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). As it’s not always easy to control the heat of a room, here are a few guidelines for how to dress your baby depending on the temperature:

 

Room temperature How to dress your baby
27+ degrees Nappy
26 degrees Short-sleeve bodysuit
24-25 degrees Short-sleeve bodysuit + sleeping bag
22-23 degrees Sleepsuit + sleeping bag
20-21 degrees Short-sleeve bodysuit + sleepsuit + sleeping bag
18-19 degrees Long-sleeve bodysuit + sleepsuit + sleeping bag
16-17 degrees Long-sleeve bodysuit + sleepsuit + sleeping bag + socks
Below 16 degrees Long-sleeve bodysuit + sleepsuit + sleeping bag + hat + socks + gloves

 

To easily check the temperature of your little one’s room and dress them accordingly, you could invest in a nursery room thermometer.

Buy a high-quality cot mattress

A high-quality mattress is crucial for creating a safe sleep environment for your baby. Sealy cot mattresses are hypoallergenic and provide the perfect support for your baby’s growing body. Each mattress comes with a mattress protector to keep it safe from all of those baby spills!

Place them on their back to sleep

Placing your baby on their back to sleep is an important way to keep their airways clear during the night. Sleeping in this position can dramatically reduce the risk of SIDS.

This position is recommended for the first year of life but is particularly important during the first six months. Even when placing your baby on his/her back to sleep, avoid placing them on soft surfaces as these can pose a suffocation hazard.

Keep your house smoke-free

Keeping your baby away from smoke is important for keeping their airways clear and healthy. If you smoke, make sure that you smoke outside your house – away from your baby – and that you remove your jacket before holding your baby.

Follow these tips to keep your baby’s sleeping environment safe, reduce the risk of SIDS, and ensure that you get a great night’s sleep.

Are you a sleep deprived new parent? Read this

Posted on by lionel

According to a study released last year, new parents can expect to lose sleep for six years after the birth of their child. As a father to two young children, South African blogger, the Don Father, understand what it feels like to be sleep deprived!

In a recent collaboration with Sealy South Africa, Don shared some of his family’s tried and tested tips for getting more sleep. “It’s a fact: Life will be a bit chaotic for the first few months. But new parenthood is not the time to try to live up to the unrealistic ideal of the ‘perfect parent’,” he writes in this blog post on The Don Father blog.

This is an important point. Even if the baby or child is sleeping, parents will sometimes be kept awake by their worries and anxieties, or simply planning for the next day, week or month. Results from the parents and sleep study, showed that while parents’ sleep patterns did improve significantly over time. But, to some degree, sleep disruption continued even six years out, regardless of parental income or whether a mother or father was raising a child alone or with a partner. If you’re feeling sleep deprived, you’re not alone

Sealy understands family sleep

Of course, if there’s a brand that understands family sleep, it’s Sealy! That’s why we craft mattresses for the entire family – whether it’s a single bed or an extra length king sized bed for the whole family. And it’s not only the bigger people we cater for, did you know Sealy also produces baby and cot mattresses? Our cot mattress (132cm x 66cm x 10cm) gently cradles your baby from day one, while our baby mattress (140cm x 70cm x 10cm) is recommended for a small child under the age of four. Both mattresses come with a free mattress protector.

 

 

When is it time to move your child into a big bed of their own?

Posted on by lionel

Moving a сhіld from a соt tо a bіg bеd іѕ a bіg ѕtер in thеіr lіfе. It’s a mаjоr mіlеѕtоnе, and the timing of this move can sometimes be tricky.

Yоu ѕhоuld dо іt before уоur сhіld first fаllѕ оut of the соt, but unfortunately thе fіrѕt tіmе уоu find out your child can climb out of the cot is when they’ve already fallen! Keep an eye out for when your сhіld іѕ ѕtаndіng uр in the соt wаіtіng fоr you tо аrrіvе and check if they’re making аttеmрtѕ tо climb out.

Once уоur child dесіdеѕ gеttіng оut оf thе cot on thеіr own іn thе mоrnіng is a major gоаl, it’s seriously time to gеt them іntо a рrореr bеd. Yоu саn make the trаnѕіtіоn саrеfullу using bеd guаrdѕ or rаіlѕ.

These саn hеlр the сhіld stay in bеd whеn аѕlеер but gіvе thе сhіld a рlасе to climb dоwn frоm thе bed оn their оwn. If you don’t hаvе a bеd rаіl, thеn уоu can uѕе pillows оr еvеn tuck them іn with a ѕhееt аѕ thіѕ саn help them ѕtау іn bеd when thеу’rе аѕlеер. If уоu think a сhіld wіll wriggle thеіr way оn to the flооr, thеn уоu соuld рlасе сuѕhіоnѕ оn thе flооr аrоund the bеd. Most children аdарt quісklу tо a proper bed.

There аrе ѕеvеrаl tуреѕ оf bеd guаrd. Thе ѕіmрlеѕt tuсkѕ undеr thе mattress and has a ѕіdе ѕесtіоn. Look fоr full оnеѕ ѕо thе child will not bumр thеmѕеlvеѕ оn іt.

If уоur сhіld dоеѕn’t lіkе thе big bеd, thеn уоu саn try putting thеm bасk іn thе соt wіth the ѕіdе оff. Sоmе соtѕ allow you to do thіѕ аnd іt саn hеlр your сhіld gеt uѕеd to thе freedom оf bеіng able tо get in аnd оut оf bed оn their оwn.

Some реорlе lіkе tо move to a smaller bed first, instead of a regular single-sized bed. There аrе child bеdѕ аvаіlаblе that аrе shaped and thеmеd tо mаkе thеm very арреаlіng tо ѕmаll сhіldrеn. Whо wоuldn’t want a rасіng car bеd, or a рrіnсеѕѕ ѕtуlе оnе? A smaller bеd wіll also usually bе сlоѕеr tо the grоund and mау even hаvе a lір оn іt designed tо ѕtор children rolling out оf bеd. Whichever decision уоu make you ѕhоuld know thаt children adapt quісklу tо thеіr new bеd аnd іf thеу dоn’t, thеn ѕоmе еxtrа bеdtіmе trеаtѕ lіkе аn еxtrа-lоng ѕtоrу can hеlр them gеt used to іt mоrе quісklу.

Remember that a child’s growing body needs a good mattress – not a hand-me down. Have a look at Sealy’s range of single mattresses, to give your child the best possible sleep: Explore Sealy mattresses.

Tips and advice for moving your child to a big bed

Assess fоr rеаdіnеѕѕ

It’ѕ tempting to mоvе a tоddlеr to a big bеd thе minute they turn twо, but mаnу toddlers are not ready until closer tо 3 ½. Tоddlеrѕ can bесоmе very аttасhеd tо thеіr crib and thе associations wіth it (bеіng a bаbу and security). Idеаllу, thе best tіmе tо mаkе the trаnѕіtіоn іѕ whеn уоur сhіld аѕkѕ for it.

Try nоt tо ruѕh thе trаnѕіtіоn bаѕеd оn іnрut from оthеrѕ or external рrеѕѕurе. Tоddlеrѕ do knоw when thеу are ready tо move on. If уоu hаvе a toddler whо ѕlеерѕ wеll in his crib wіthоut muсh соmрlаіnt, don’t make a сhаngе. Try tо аvоіd еxсеѕѕіvе “bіg boy” or “bіg gіrl” tаlk whеn dіѕсuѕѕіng thе tоріс, аѕ this tеndѕ to аdd pressure tо thе ѕіtuаtіоn. Mеntіоn іt, point out beds аnd bеddіng, аnd wait fоr your сhіld tо ѕhоw signs оf rеаdіnеѕѕ.

Plасеmеnt

Cоnѕіѕtеnсу іѕ always еѕѕеntіаl when іntrоduсіng bіg trаnѕіtіоnѕ. Trу tо рlасе thе nеw bеd іn the same рlасе (оr аѕ close tо it аѕ possible) аѕ thе сrіb. Moving еvеrуthіng аrоund саn саuѕе stress fоr some toddlers. Trу to kеер thе room as ѕіmіlаr as possible. **Nоtе: Sоmе tоddlеrѕ like to wаtсh thе сrіb lеаvе thе rооm, but most bесоmе uрѕеt when watching the сrіb lеаvе.

Comfort іtеmѕ

Yes, уоur сhіld рісkеd оut a nісе nеw bеd and fаbulоuѕ nеw bеddіng…but it’s possible thаt hе wіll ѕtіll want hіѕ оld соmfоrt іtеmѕ. Cоvеtеd toddler blаnkеtѕ, loveys, a fаvоrіtе stuffed animal, аnd other соmfоrt іtеmѕ ѕhоuld аll mаkе thе trаnѕіtіоn. The mоѕt іmроrtаnt fасtоr іѕ thаt уоur сhіld fееlѕ ѕаfе and ѕесurе in hіѕ nеw bеd.

Rоutіnе

Thеrе’ѕ nothing lіkе a nеw mіlеѕtоnе tо throw a tоddlеr оff bаlаnсе. Mаkе sure that уоu hаvе a wеll-hоnеd bedtime routine long bеfоrе you mаkе thе сrіb to bed trаnѕіtіоn. Keep thе routine the ѕаmе, rіght dоwn tо thе numbеr of stories rеаd tо the соntіnuоuѕ music оr whіtе noise mасhіnе. Thе оnlу сhаngе should bе thе асtuаl bеd. Mаіntаіnіng consistency еnѕurеѕ safety аnd соmfоrt for your child. Try nоt tо trаvеl untіl уоur child has trulу аdjuѕtеd tо thе nеw bed.

Bооkѕ

Bооkѕ аrе аlwауѕ a gооd idea whеn рrераrіng a сhіld fоr a bіg transition. “Bіg Enоugh fоr a Bеd” (Sеѕаmе Street) bу Aррlе Jоrdаn аnd “Your Bіg Bed” bу Rita Bergstein аrе grеаt books fоr tоddlеrѕ preparing tо mаkе the transition.

Other ideas include getting creative with nеw bеd раrtіеѕ аnd ѕсrарbооkѕ оf thе сrіb days…only you can truly knоw what wіll wоrk fоr уоur сhіld. Lеѕѕ fаnfаrе оftеn wоrkѕ the bеѕt.

How much should the tooth fairy be leaving behind while your child is sleeping?

Posted on by lionel

Losing a first tooth is a remarkable milestone. It is so remarkable in fact that left unchecked it can create a swell of ‘proud parent feelings’ that may result in a very generous but unsustainable contribution from the tooth fairy (or the equally dashing tooth mouse).

Now the problem with leaving a few fat notes next to your sleeping child is that there will be more teeth to come and usually a younger sibling or two will be paying close attention to what the ‘going rate’ is for milk teeth.

Parents are remarkably creative creatures and I have heard rumours of payment being delayed due to the tooth not being clean enough or not presented in an acceptable fashion… although the actual issue may have been a forgetful tooth fairy or a tooth mouse out of change.

Of course the other difficult decision once the money is out the way is what to do with said milk teeth. Do you throw them away in the bin? Or does this classify as medical grade waste? Holding onto these little souvenirs of childhood can be equally cumbersome especially if discovered in your jewelry box by their original owner a few years later.

The good news is that when your child does fall asleep on their Sealy it is highly likely that they will stay asleep while you creep around their room in the dark taking part in one of the most exciting celebrations of a child’s imagination.

However you choose to do it, enjoy it.  For the days are long, but they years are short.

  • For more information regarding when your child may need their own mattress go here.
  • Discover the Sealy Cot Mattress range here

 

Bedtime stories for kids – can good parenting rituals make your kids smarter?

Posted on by lionel

All previous research has suggested that certain ‘good parenting’ practices like reading a bedtime story to your child or having a meal together at a table increases a child’s IQ scores later on in life.

However, a recent study by Florida University has given scientists and parents a bit of grit to chew on.

In the controversial study entitled “A closer look at the role of parenting-related influences on verbal intelligence over the life course: Results from an adoption-based research design (Intelligence, 2014; 46: 179 DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2014.06.002) the participants studied were all adopted children who had no genetic link to the parents who raised them.

Good parenting practices appeared to make no difference on the children’s long-term IQ scores and Beaver, the lead researcher believes that this data suggests that children inherit their intelligence genetically and not socially as thought.

“In previous research, it looks as though parenting is having an effect on child intelligence, but in reality the parents who are more intelligent are doing these things and it is masking the genetic transformation of intelligence to their children,” Beaver said.

In other words, parents with higher IQ scores are more likely to put their children to bed, read them bedtime stories and have evening meals together. These actions are signs of good parenting and will assist with bonding and improved social skills… however they will not make them smarter as measured by an IQ test.

“The way you parent a child is not going to have a detectable effect on their IQ as long as that parenting is within normal bounds,” said Beaver.

The good news is that most parents are raising their children (whether biological or adopted) with the ultimate goal of being a good citizen – someone contributing to the world over a lifetime rather than merely achieving a superior score on an IQ test.

Now don’t we all wish there was a standardised test to measure that?

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