St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-17
Sleep for Children.

is so characteristic of childhood is es
sential To ii full and healthy develop
ment of the system. 1t is not to b,
repressed, but wisely directed. But
1t should never he forgotten that
the vital forces thus consumed are
chiefly renewed during sleep. Some
children wear Il look of exhaustion
every movement indicates languOr
yet they have no perceptible illness.
The cause of this is often want of reg
ular outdoor exercise, or lack of sufli-
cient refreshing sleep.
- Early to bed is the good old max
i'm" ''But what is early p some one
asks. Every mother who Thought
fully considers her child's age, health
and temperament will be likely to
come to il correct decision. But don't
decide on the impulse of the moment.
After the evening meal the older mem
bers of the family usually incline to
quiet occupation or conversation for II
while. The little ones, on the contra
ry, are never so wildly eXuberant and
active. Don't hastily send them to
bed simply to get rid of the noise.
They are like frOlicsome kittens; they
want to frisk about Il little, and then,
like kittens, they will be ready to go
to sleep.
Let the hour of retiring he regular:
not necessarily intieXible, with never
an exception, but there should he gen
eral regularity. 1t is pitiful to see
little children. with excited faces and
wide-open eyes, sitting up long past
proper bedtime and equally sad to
see them striving to keep open their
weary lids, or falling asleep on chairs
and sofas. of course, they "want to
sit up": most children do, unless the
arguments for their going to bed are
pleasant. Then, we think, well trained
children are as ready to take their
sleep as to take their breakfast.
The Sleeping-rOOm should be quiet
one. 1t is unfortunate if it must be oc-
cupled by Others after the children 20
to bed. They will go to sleep, it is
true, amid conversation and noise, but
they will not get the full benefit of rest.
They need quiet during sleep. Gas,
or Il lamp burning in the room. is
likely to iniure the eyes, and also con-
sumes the oxygen of the air But if
any timidity is shOwn-if YOUR little
girl is ''afraid of the dark"-keep Il
light dimly burning until she is asleep:
hnger III the room, or within hearing.
or III some way prevent her suffering
from fear. 1t is useless to reason about
this KIND of fear, cruel to laugh at it.
GOOD health, Judicious information and
gentle training will in time remove it
but 1t is the work of time. Take care
that no terrifying stories are told your
child. Any exciting compensation or
imagination and set her eyes wide
open with indetinable fear Hundreds
of little ones, as well as some of the
older children, suffer distressingly
from this nameless terror of something
i'll the dark. Such should not he forced
to stay alone. Soothe, and change the
current of thought. Courage will grow
with other good traits, if fOStered
Alright.
a well ventilated room brings good
sleep, and Il bright awakening. tOtd
air, however, does not mean fresh air.
\ moderately warm, thoroughly venti-
lated room is safest for children, with
light but sufficient bed clothing. Do
not let them unconsciously acquire
habits of lying i'll unhealthy positions.
The foundation of many contracted
chests and diseased lungs is laid i'll the
nursery. "Henry always curls mp like
Il kitten when he goes to sleep" com
| plains an anxious mother; 81 cannot
make him lie straight" Such Il habit
| is not easily broken, but may he pre-
vented. Was not the original cause
of your child's ''curling up" i'll bed to
obtain warmth ? Try an experiment.
Remove your boys stockings and get
his feet thoroughly warm before he
goes to bed. You will be surprised t"
find how often they are damp and cold
perhaps not painfully cold, not com
fortably warm. Rub them, heat them
at the fire, and have the night-dress
long enough to cover them we'll. lft the
child's feet keep warm, we do not be
lieve he will 'curl mp unless the habit
is very firmly fixed.
Hundreds of unfortunate little habits
are formed in childhood simply 10y
some discomfort, of which, perhaps
the child is scarcely conscious at the
time.
Few things would cOnduce more t.
, the well-being of Il family rs to have
us many small, single beds as there are
children. While two healthy children
of about the same age may safely sleel
together. it is very hazardous for ;
, well child to sleep with one who is sicl
or feeble. Nor should the same bed b,
occupied by two between whom there
! is great difference in age. The youn.
: mother who understands bringing uI
+ her children on hygienic principles de
= nies herself a pleasure and puts he
t babe at an early age in the little crib b.
\ her bedside.
= 1t is a well established fact that chill
T. dren who habitually sleep with adult
- become, as a general thing, seriOusl
). enfeebled. Especially is this so whe
il the older person is in robust healtl
o and the child delicate or when tn
Il adult has some disease-as, for exam
it pie. consumption and the child
IL healthy. 1t is nOI unusual to see chi
+ dren who seem to have every care bC
q slowed on them, and whose natur;
e physical endowments and general sul
IS roundings ought to secure vigOrOI
n health. but they are pale and pun.
% Very likely their lack of vigOr may T,
" suit largely from this unthought-O
k or unregarded evil.
i Bed time is the time for pleasal
4 thoughts. 1t is the mothers time
l. suggest loving thoughts of our heaven
II, Father to the little ones. Give couns
es and help, but except in rare cases Y
b. would choose another opportunity f
it reproof To bring before the mind
IL sensitive child the faults of tO-da
is when he is tired, tends to make hi
II, unhappy and sleepless. Doubtless i
IL feelings are most easily touched at til
evening hour, and in special cases Il
IL effect desired may warrant a trespas
ly ing upon sleep-time. In general, ho'
IL ever, avoid everything which is u
lY comfortable at bed-time. II pOssil