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Kids, Sleep and Summertime

School is out, and the temptation is there to give in to your children’s demands to stay up “just a little later.” (And later…and later…and later.)

 

After all, they don’t need to be sharp the next day, even if the plan is to get up at a reasonable hour to attend a fun summertime activity. Who really needs sleep in the summer?

 

Kids do, experts are saying. At least nine hours of it, in fact.  Maintaining a regular sleep schedule is important as interrupted or unusual sleep can wreak havoc on a child’s growing body and could contribute to a lack of mental acuity during wakeful hours.

 

Your child isn’t in school, but he needs to be careful and reactive when walking or biking to the local swimming pool or to a friend’s house. So make sure he’s rested, sharp and ready for his day…whether it’s a challenging one or not. A bonus: your child will find the transition into the regular school year easier in the fall if he’s been on a regular sleep schedule.

 

Check out our great value range of Relaxan single mattresses which are very supportive and ensure your growing child gets a good night’s rest.

A Cosy Rest on the Road: Sleep and Travel

Ouch! Air or road travel can be a real pain in the neck, particularly if it’s a long trip and will involve a nap. Let’s face it: we weren’t meant to fall asleep in a semi-crabbed, upright position. It’s unnatural. And painful.

For frequent travelers, the effects can be cumulative, with cricks, muscle spasms and the possibility of upper spine misalignment over time. Headaches are another frequent side effect of unsupported sleep during travel.

The next time you’re hitting the road (or the air), take along a supportive travel pillow. Choose a pillow that’s small enough that it fits comfortably beneath your neck. The pillow should conform to your spine without allowing you to sink right down into it. The idea is support with a little flexibility.

We love Tempur pillows for travel. The material springs back (without the use of actual springs, hooray) once you’re up and awake, yet conforms to your body’s needs when you’re sacked out. Next time you’re on the road, save your neck: bring along a great travel pillow.

Rest Assured: More Than a Century, and Counting

We’re all for innovation. On the other hand, a product line that stands the test of time is worth its weight in gold. In today’s blog we’re proud to highlight Rest Assured, which combines both these philosophies.

Rest Assured has been creating beds and mattresses since 1898 and in that century-and-a-decade plus, has never slowed down in its quest for absolutely awesome beds and “the perfect night’s sleep,” according to company executives. We tend to agree; the quality of this company’s products is impeccable.

Rest Assured’s innovative wrapped-coil spring technology means coils can move independently and thus create the perfect, most supportive cushion for your back, hips, neck and shoulders. Customers can choose from a variety of support levels to find the ideal comfort level.

Check out reviews here to see what other customers are saying about Rest Assured products. Also of value is the bed buying guide, which helps you choose a bed made just for you.

Follow this link to see our range of Rest Assured mattresses.

What a Cool Idea

Insomnia sufferers, take heed (or head): a novel new “brain-cooling” device that fits over the scalp may help you get a bigger and better chunk of those 40 winks.

A special cooling cap filled with cool water-transmitting tubes was shown to help lessen insomnia in test subjects, this article states. U.S. researchers are presenting their findings in a June 2011 meeting in Minneapolis, MN, U.S. in hopes of increasing understanding of insomnia and of the product said to help combat it.

Cooler temperatures slow the metabolism, researchers say, which may help the brain to relax more easily into sleep.

Right, you know we’re going to say it. If you’re suffering from insomnia (defined by experts as one month or more of interrupted or inadequate sleep), see your doctor.

Also make positive changes to up your chances of a good night’s rest: make your bed cozy and comfortable, make sure you’re sleeping on a firm, supportive mattress such as the Ortho mattress range from Rest Assured, and take all electronics (yes, including the Smartphone) out of the bedroom  to produce a more relaxing atmosphere.

Better Sleep, Better Grades for Your Child

If you’ve long suspected that poor sleep is impacting your child’s grades, pat yourself on the back: your mum’s instinct was right again. Yes, poor sleep can lead to a lackluster performance in school, while conversely good sleep habits can lift grades, this study says.

 

I know, I know: so what do you do about it? Children, particularly teens, are notoriously bad sleepers. Throw electronics into the mix (the phone, the computer, the Wii or Xbox) and you’ve got a child who, as my mother used to say, “has his watch on backward” (wants to be up all night, then sleep in).

 

It isn’t always easy to get a school-age child to settle down, so try these tips to start moving toward better sleep:

 

l  Establish a regular bedtime for your child. You’d be surprised, but many families don’t have an official bedtime and let kids drop when they’re tired. Others buckle under the plea for “just five more minutes.” Make bedtime firm – no excuses or begging.

l  Don’t make your child’s bedroom too exciting. For younger children, put something interesting but soothing on the walls or ceilings, such as glow-in-the-dark stars. For older kids, take the desktop computer and video games out of the bedroom and establish a different area of the home as the “game room,” or if you’re tight on space, simply designate an area of the living room for this purpose.

l  Make sure your child is comfortable at night. Keep the temperature slightly lower rather than higher; studies show a too-warm environment can interfere with sleep. The bed’s mattress and the pillows should be firm and supportive, non-lumpy, and should slightly conform to the body without sagging.

Snoring Issues: Check Your Pillow

Nearly three quarters of Britons snore, according to studies. And though snoring is often the butt of jokes, the effects can be anything but funny.

 

For example, more couples than ever before are sleeping separately as snoring disturbs the other partner too much for him or her to sleep. And the snorer him (or her-)self may experience periods of ceased breathing, known as sleep apnea, during a snoring episode. This can lead to decreased clarity of thinking and tiredness during the day.

 

We always recommend that you see a doctor for any physical issue (particularly for this one – sleep apnea can, for some sufferers, be dangerous). But in the meantime, have you checked your pillow? An unsupported sleep position can, and does, worsen snoring symptoms, especially if it’s the neck that’s misaligned. A bent, too low or too high neck position during sleep “folds” the airway, constricting it.

 

The newest generation of Tempur pillows can go a long way toward a better night’s sleep. The Tempur material supports the neck, keeping it aligned and stable throughout the night. Personally, we love the Tempur Universal Pillow. Check it out and here’s to a good night’s rest.

Spotlight On: Original Bedstead Frames

We’ve received so many positive comments from buyers, we wanted to share a little background on the company that’s the talk among the industry and its consumers alike: The Original Bedstead Company.

 

The company that’s now known worldwide started 20 years ago as a UK-based industry dedicated to creating the most beautiful, classic and best-cost bed frames. The company’s attention to detail (including every part of the frame making process) soon earned it such demand that it began distributing throughout Europe and extended to the U.S., Russia, Australia and New Zealand.

 

OBC loves the traditional, but their processes are innovative: this company produces absolutely gorgeous iron, brass and wooden pieces to fit any mattress frame size and is always on the search for new, better ways to bring beautiful bed frames to discriminating customers.

 

If you have something nice to say about your OBC frame, let us know! We always enjoy hearing from our clients and our blog readership. In the meantime, check out the full Original Bedstead Company Bedframe range in sizes ranging from Small Single to Super King. Enjoy!