Don't Let your Children's Pajamas Steal Their Sleep (and Yours)
Your children will need
pajamas for night time use. Pajamas can affect your child's sleep and yours. Soon after the
birth of your first child or when your child first joins your
family, nights
will never be the same. You don't want pajamas to make bedtime
more complicated. Even if your child is a wonderful sleeper
you will probably be sleeping less as you wake to feed or to simply
check on them. In
Sleep -Bedtime Routine we talk
about things you can do to help ease the bedtime routine and have a
better night's sleep. Sleep problems in children are one of the
biggest cause of a parents lack of sleep. Here we will discuss the pajama angle;
choosing pajamas and how children's pajamas affect their sleep.
For Children Pajamas are About Style and Comfort
Perhaps one of the
most important aspects of pajamas is comfort. One of our staff
members remembers the trouble she had in finding pajamas for her
youngest son. As an infant his night clothes had to be just perfect.
Not only in terms of materials but patterns and colors too. Plus, he
would not sleep if he had on footed pajamas or a footed blanket
sleeper but instead needed to wear socks with his footless pajamas
and footless sleepers. Five years later he is still particular about
his night clothes and he still wears socks to bed. Some children will be very particular from an
early age so take note as to your child's sleep patterns and the
clothing worn at night. If your young child is having trouble
sleeping and you've eliminated other causes try changing style and
or fabric of pajamas and even the color of the pajamas. It just might help.
There is a huge selection of
pajamas available, from 2 piece sets to just bottoms or tops to mix and match.
For your infants and very young child experiment to find what is best for them.
Let your older child select their own sleepwear. As long as they are warm
enough, comfortable and safe you'll all sleep better.
Cotton Pajamas or Cotton Poly Blends
For many children,
pajamas that are 100% cotton will be the most comfortable though some
children will prefer polyester-cotton blends. The more important
feature is the fit and style of the pajama. Older children will be
able to tell you what they like from fabric to style to design and
characters. Usually a minimum of 3 sets per season will allow them
to have at least one change in their drawers at all times. An infant
or older baby might need more pajamas or sleepers, 5-6 sets because of diaper
leakage or spitting up at night. Infants, older babies and toddlers
may also need blanket sleepers because a blanket or quilt use might
not be safe or practical. Some toddlers move around at night and it
can be very difficult to keep a blanket on.
Be careful to inspect the pajamas
to make sure there is not a safety concern, no loose appliqués or iron-ons. Make
sure pajamas are comfortable and fit correctly. Some pajamas are
designed to be worn tight, others are to be worn loose depending if the material is
flame retardant, check the label to be sure. It is also very important that your
child is comfortable. Some children find buttons annoying, others dislike
zippers on blanket sleepers. When using zippered blanket sleepers be sure to
tuck the zipper tag in so it does not jab into your baby's neck. Make sure
elastic around ankles and wrists is not too binding and constrictive. It is much
easier with older children because they can tell you what they like or dislike
but with infants and toddlers you might have to experiment. Some girls may like
to sleep in a night gown or sleep shirt others may find the twisting of clothing
at night annoying.
Robes and Slippers Too
It is always a good idea to have
a robe and pair of slippers for toddlers and older children. Perfect for after bath during reading
time and also for when they are not feeling well and are laying on couch. Robes
can be bought in a bigger size and used for a couple of years. Just be sure the
robe is not so big they will trip when walking.
Is Your Child Having Trouble
Sleeping
If your child is having trouble sleeping what is next? We suggest that
you read our section on
Sleep Problems and the Bedtime
Routine. Evaluate your child's bedtime routine and try choosing different
pajamas.
