The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-04-23
QUIET REsTFuL SLEEP

Careful scientific observation Of the
sleep pattern Of children has shown
that the normal child changes posi-
ton many times in q night. Graphic
records of 1854 hours Of sleep made
by DR.. Chenille Giddings Of Atlanta
gave as the longest period any per-
son slept without any body movement
one hour and forty-seven minutes.
An ingenious machine was used for
recording movements. At the end Of
the nights observation the active
minutes (every minute in which there
has been any body movement record
ed are counted up and the total
number Of active minutes constitute
the sleep pattern. The children were
from 8 to IA years Of age.
The most active boy showed an
average of ITO active minutes IN q
night of nine hours sleep. The quiet
est sleeper had an average OF only So
active minutes nightly.
Girls proved sounder sleepers than
boys: they not only get to sleep more
quickly but sleep more quietly all
night.
After getting a few nights records
the sleep pattern OF the individual
may be accurately rated. A child
who is a ''quiet sleeper" remains a
quiet sleeper" and one who is q
restless sleeper" will remain restless
from month to month and year to
year.
DR.. Giddings made some interesting
tests Of popular aids to sleep. In q
series Of normal sleepers he gave 6
ounces moderate glassfuD Of cold
water to the child on retiring: the
child went to bed at $50 and lights
were put out. This was repeated five
nights. Then warm water was given
in the same way for five nights.
Neither appeared to have any influ-
ence on the child's sleep.
A similar experiment was done with
s ounces OF warm milk. This seemed
to produce quiet sleep.
A beverage containing q small
amount Of caffeine apparently had no
disturbing effect on the sleep OF nor
NAL children.
This last observation prompts me
to acknowledge that my former teach
ing about cocoa may be wrong. Cocoa
doesn't contain caffeine but does con-
tain drug with similar effects, name,
theobromine-which Is q stimulant to
the kidneys mainly, but also to the
heart and the brain or spinal cord.
Caffeine Tin coffee and certain pop
ular fountain beverageS is q slim
ulant mainly to the brain and spinal
cord, secondarily to the heart and
perhaps least to the kidneys. OF the
three domestic beverages. coffee, tea
(theine In ten has effects virtually
the same, tho milder, as those Of caf-
feine) and cocoa or chocolate, the last
Is least Objectionable, I believe, for
children under 16 years Of age. II the
cocoa or chocolate beverage contains
plenty Of milk Or cream. 50 that the
drink Is practically milk or cream
favored with cocoa Or chocolate, there
l. little objection to It for any one.
However, II the child likes milk It Is
much better for digestion and health
without any flavoring or sweetening
added.
A fun meal, even Of plain, whole
some, easily digested food, taken ct or
near bedtime, resulted Ia marked
restlessness which continued Ill night
Ia many instances.
Baths. warm or cold, on retiring,
apparently had no effect on the sleep
Of normal children.
4 child sleeps more quietly In q
cool room than In . warm one, o. In
cold weather than In hot.
All Of these observations, I think.
apply to adults who fuss about their
sleep.