The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1902-03-15
The Sleep of Children.

~ JFFlCIENTLY long and .undistrib-
uteu steep is just as Important a
FACTOR for the favorable deyelop-
ment Of child as proper and suffi-
clent nourlshment, sunlight fresh air.
cleanliness and exercise. We know that
sep - mercy phenomenon caused by
fatigue and indicates that the orea nism
needs rest for recuperating its snent
energy.@ Inc fatigue may be Of the mus
cles or of the nerve center. and it's
{ branches. Fatigue of the muscles does
not necessarily require sleep for . rem
say: IN most cases mere physical rest is
suii1clent 70 cure muscular fatigue, while
latlsue oI the sensorium or brain center
E can beNrelieved only by sleep. 80
Healthy infants sleep great deal d,r-
ing the first Year of their life Tne In
fant's functions are almost purely Vege-
tatiye and confined to alimentation and
digestion. What, the baby needs is, ample
food at proper intervals and all the sleep
it wants between. meals. One would sup
pose that Infants, having prac tically no
MAR and. { bra IN. work to IS perform.
would not require much sleep. That is a
great mistake, however The muscles en-
ployed in sucking and swallowing, in the
movements of the digestive and respira-
tory organs and the heart are at work
nearly all the time and produce a state
Of muscular fatigue. The nerves of the
senscry organs are constantly irritated
by continuously changing impressions of
light, sound, touch, smell and taste and
although the impressions transmitted to
the brain do not produce there conscious
impressions. they are sufficient to produce
fatigue of the sensorium and a demand
for sleep. 3 &ar r :
AS rule the causes disturbing the
sleep OF infants are of more or less
harmless nature. Usually there is some
slight trouble with the : digestion-co
stlpatlon,4 Hatulency, collie or diarrhoea
ana last, but not least mere hunger or
thlrst-that causes the disturbance Other
causes are flies, feas, bedbugs and other
insects, slight irritattons of the skin, pain
caused by local pressure, too strong light
and noises of all kinds. Even the dim
hight of night lamp may disturb the
sleep of a particularly nervous and i'm
questionable child.
Parents should make every effort to de-
termine what disturbs the sleep of their
child and remove that disturbing cause.
IN no case should they resort to rocking
or similar methods of inducing sleep. The
room in which the infant sleeps, as well
as the bed or crib, should be scrupulous-
ly clean, the air should be cool and pure.
strong light and all Irritating noises
should be avoided, the covers should not
be heavy enough to produce perspiration,
Q, ~ siAC Sliilu SlOuluk UOL De hungry when
It is put to sleep. Parents should also
avoid anything that would be liable to
excite the child Immediately before it is
put to bed. A quieting lullaby, sung with
low voice and in monotonous manner,
is one Of the best means for producing a
quiet slu,nber.
The tender and impressionable brain Of
children should not be overtaxed by over
Whelming it with impressions of the
senses and by any attempt to cram it
j full Of positive information or exciting
fiction. Many bright children are thus
oyerexcited# by their thoughtless parents.
and the consequence is that the little
ones do not sleep well Frequently such
children have frightening dreams, which
cause them to cry out in their sleep and
TO throw themselves around in restless
manner. Between the second and the
sixth year of their life, at the age of
playfulness, great care should be taken
not to subject the children to excessive
emotions. Psychological excitements. TO
which belong those produced by many
blood and thunder fairy stories, are ex-
ceediEgly harmful during that PERIOD
I DR.. L.. Furest Of Berlin.