Ramanisblog

Tag: sleep

  • Co-Sleeping Children, Parents? Is It Correct?

    There are a quite a number of views on keeping the infants with the parents when the infant is about to sleep or is sleeping.

     

    There is really a new word, which for this,of which I was unaware,(I think for  most of the Asians, especially Indian‘s as well), ‘Co-Sleeping‘.

     

    In our Homes , till about ten years back, we never had separate bed rooms.

     

    That was when our grown up wanted a room .

     

    Till then right from my childhood I never slept alone in our Home , nor any one else in the Family.

     

    This was not peculiar to our Home.

     

    Indians used to sleep that way.

     

    Another interesting fact is that we Indians used to live in Joint Families.

     

    Here Joint Family means Living together with one’s Uncles(paternal, and Cousins under the same roof.

     

    One’s belongings like shirts,Chappals,Shoes were every ones.

     

    People used whatever was available.

     

    Cooking was done in the common kitchen and the Firer in the kitchen never got  doused till about midnight.

     

    None felt the absence of their parents nor did they feel left out or ignored.

     

    Every one’s needs were met.

     

    Those were the times  when emotional cushion was the best.

     

    Some one can be chosen by you to communicate. depending on your need and problems.

     

    Thus an Adolescent can discuss any thing from Drinking to Sex with Uncles and Cousins without  fear or reservations.

     

    Now. as the Tamil Humorist Crazy Moan put it. husband and wife living together is joint family!

     

    Views on the infants sleeping with their parents(parents with Infants) are quite hot on the Internet.

     

    The emotional bonding, the physical proximity,and physical touch between the parents and children up to Ten-years has a lot to do with the security feeling of the children in their adolescent and even in adult stages.

    The reasons quoted about the inconvenience to parents , to me, looks , childish.

     

    If one wants to have a stable adult, more than any thing, physical proximity is important.

     

    Well there are always exceptions, including the pervert parents who abuse the children.

     

    Keep the children away from them.(this has to be done by the others, like parents of the couple).

     

    (There are some Marwari/Gujarati Families who follow the traditional Joint Family System in India).

    cosleeping1.jpg
    Co-Sleeping.

    Story:

    Based on my own experiences, I’ve created a short list of the top threats that older babies and toddlers pose to their parents in a co-sleeping environment. I’m sure there are millions more, so feel free to add your own dangers in the comment section below. Together, we must create awareness!…

    1. The midnight caller. Parents should be warned against bringing any kind of cellular device into bed with them or within a toddler’s reach. Unless, of course, you don’t mind being bludgeoned in the head with your cell phone before dawn.

    2. Eye love you, daddy! So much so, that little Johnny is going to take that cute little finger of his and jab it right through your sleepy eyelid! I would imagine this is why God gave us two.

    3. The toddler chokehold. They may be little, but they are mighty. Be aware of your little one’s sleeping position at all times. One minute they’re lovingly sleeping in the crook of your arm, and the next, they’re lying sideways across your throat cutting off life sustaining oxygen to your brain.

    4. The fish hook. I’m sure that to a toddler, the two black holes in mommy’s nose may seem like a magnificent curiosity, but to a mom, there is nothing curious about being jarred awake by your child trying to dig your brains out through your nostril.

    5. The bitch slap. A more common threat to parents worldwide, this danger is more likely to occur during the morning hours. The bitch slap may be a rude awakening to the parent of an impatiently hungry toddler who wants their damn cheerios right now.

    http://www.blogher.com/dangers-cosleeping-top-10-risks-parents?page=full

     

    • encourages breastfeeding by making nighttime breastfeeding more convenient
    • makes it easier for a nursing mother to get her sleep cycle in sync with her baby’s
    • helps babies fall asleep more easily, especially during their first few months and when they wake up in the middle of the night
    • helps babies get more nighttime sleep (because they awaken more frequently with shorter duration of feeds, which can add up to a greater amount of sleep throughout the night)
    • helps parents who are separated from their babies during the day regain the closeness with their infant that they feel they missed.
    • http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/cosleeping.html

    Psychologist Thomas Ollendick of Virginia Tech University is currently researching whether co-sleeping is associated with lower rates of nighttime fear.

    In the meantime–whether your child sleeps alone or with family members–one thing seems clear. Nighttime fears and separation anxiety should be taken seriously.

    Although the kids in the Australian study were selected from the general population (as opposed to a psychiatric practice or sleep clinic), researchers discovered that about 10% of children complaining of nighttime fears fit the criteria for an anxiety disorder.

    Other research suggests strong links between anxiety and bad dreams.

    A recent study of toddlers and preschoolers reports that 17-month old kids who were rated by their mothers as anxious, difficult, or emotionally disturbed were more likely than other children to have bad dreams at 29 months (Simard et al 2008).

    http://www.parentingscience.com/nighttime-fears.html

     

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  • Get Better Sleep.

    I read n interesting article on 7 ways to get better sleep’

    I am reproducing this .

    Enjoy.

    Remember to follow what your body says as well.

    1. Don’t eat right before bedtime:If you’re having trouble falling or staying asleep, take stock of the foods you eat each day. Alcohol, sugar, and foods with refined carbohydrates can prevent your body from relaxing at night. Spicy foods will also interfere with your sleep routine. And unless the sensation and sound of your stomach churning relaxes you, don’t eat anything else two hours before you want to go to sleep. You want to give your body time to digest your food while you’re awake.
    2. Reading:The trick here is to try and read an hour or so before you want to fall asleep, ideally in a room other than your bedroom. You want to condition your body to recognize the bedroom as the place for sleep, not for staying up late reading the latest Stephen King novel. Some advice says your bedtime reading should be “boring,” but its more helpful if you are engaged with what you’re reading, just not to the point where you find you can’t put the book down when it’s time to crash. Keep the room you read in dimly lit, giving yourself enough light on the page with either a little book light or small nearby lamp.
    3. Buy a new pillow:Your bed’s mattress should be replaced every five to seven years. Your pillow may need to be replaced more often, even once a month, depending on how you are feeling when you wake up in the morning. Most people hang on to their bedroom pillow until it’s flat as a pancake, stained several shades of yellow, and most likely filled with dust mites. Treat yourself to a new pillow, you can get one for as little as $12 to $15, and see if your shoulders, neck, and back are the better for it.
    4. Herbal remedies:Herbal tea brands, including Yogi Tea and Traditional Medicinals, offer calming teas that combine natural herbs, including valerian root, chamomile, and passionflower, into special brews that can help you fall asleep. But be aware that some herbs should not be taken in combination with certain medications. If you are taking a prescribed medication, check with your doctor to see what herbal supplements are safe for you to take. Some herbal teas might not agree with your stomach, especially if you drink them night after night, so enjoy your favorite herbal tea in moderation.
    5. Music:There’s a whole genre of music out there that is composed and produced as an aid for relaxation and sleep. Some practitioners back up the effectiveness of their music with lots of medical and scientific data. Others are more intuitive and just have a gift for creating sounds and textures that are really, really chill. Among its many benefits, music — be it classical, ambient, or black metal — provides a timeline for your body to follow, which can help ease you from wakefulness, toward a more relaxed state, and finally, sleep. Just remember that music one person may find relaxing may drive another person up the wal

       

  • Americans Need Six Hours of Sleep at Work.

    Need Sleep at Work.
    Sleep at Work

    What do they do at Home?

    Work?

    Earning money is fine.At what cost?

    “PHILADELPHIA—A study published Monday in the Annals Of Internal Medicine concludes that the average American needs at least six full hours of uninterrupted sleep at work in order to leave the office feeling refreshed and alert. “Millions of people are staying up way too late at work,” said endocrinologist Hannah Presnall, adding that in order for the body to function properly, workers should arrive at their job, check and send e-mails for two to three hours, and be asleep by 11:30 a.m. at the latest. “More and more people are pulling all-dayers and drinking coffee just to keep themselves awake for meetings and conference calls. But when compared with their better-rested coworkers, these individuals are far more likely to suffer from fatigue and decreased cognitive performance at home.” The study recommends that adults who continually find themselves awake at work take Ambien first thing in the morning so they can fall asleep as soon as they arrive at the office.

    http://www.theonion.com/articles/new-study-finds-americans-need-6-hours-of-sleep-at,28799/?utm_source=07-18-12&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=daily_dispatch

    So how can remain “aware” of course, here are 12 ways to overcome the natural drowsiness suaramedia.com City?:

    1. Awakening of the chair and walk one minute

    In a study of the popular Robert Thayer, Ph.D., a professor at California State University, Long Beach, to study whether people are more willing to eat candy or fast walking for 10 minutes.

    Although chewing gum increased energy, an hour later, the body re-tired. When you run 10 minutes to increase the power of up to two hours. This is due to walking, oxygen is pumped through the blood vessels in the brain and muscles.

    If you work in an office, often walking for a while. Anyone outside of the building during lunch breaks or in the building where you work, you will feel more alert and refreshed.

    2. Rest your eyes to avoid fatigue

    Suspension in the front of the computer for long hours can cause eyestrain. The eyes of the computer screen for a few minutes to make the eyes more relaxed.

    3. Choose healthy snacks

    Healthy snacks to boost energy for longer, such as:

    * Peanut butter on wheat crackers or celery
    * Yogurt and a handful of nuts or fresh fruit
    * Carrot-fat cream cheese.

    4. Chat with colleagues
    If you do not concentrate ngobrolah for your mind relax for a moment. “Talk to your colleagues about business, politics or religion.’s Going to be a powerful stimulus mostly about politics,” said Krakow, medical director of Arts and Sciences Maimonides Sleep, Ltd., in Albuquerque .

    5. Create workspace lighter
    Environment, with the appearance of sun light illumination fatigue, studies show can reduce sleepiness and increased alertness.

    6. Inhale

    Find breathing can increase oxygen levels in the blood in the body. This slows the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and improve circulation, which contributes to mental and energy performance.

    The idea of breathing exercises is to breathe air into the stomach, not your chest. You can do it on your desktop. Sit up straight, try this exercise 10 times:

    * With one hand on the abdomen, just below the ribs and the other in the chest, breathe through your nose and let your belly push your hand. Your chest should not move.
    * Inhale through your mouth as if to whistle. You can use one hand on your belly to help push the air.

    Another technique is to stimulate breathing, is used in yoga to boost energy and increase alertness. How to: Shoot and exhale through the nose quickly. Keep your mouth closed but relaxed. To this end, a breathing technique with a bit of time, three times per cycle in a second. Then after, normal breathing. You can make up to 15 seconds for the first time and then add five seconds each time to do so until a minute.

    7. Menepilah driving while drowsy

    “Driving in danger even drowsy driving under the influence of alcohol,” said Siebern. The trick, you can open the windows and put on some loud music. “Changing the position to walk with someone drowsiness and sleep of others or until the parties menepilah said Siebern.

    If you’re on a long trip, replace the driver’s position as often as possible. Stop at least every two hours to walk and fresh air.

    8. sharing of tasks for the mind stimulated

    In 2004, Finnish researchers studied people who work at night (12). They found that monotonous work is also dangerous because it reduces the amount of sleep and reduced alertness. Try different tasks at home or at work while you sleep. Or switch to another task that is more interesting when you feel sleepy.

    9. Drinking water

    Dehydration can cause fatigue. Be sure to drink plenty of water and eating foods that contain high water content like fruits and vegetables.

    10. Time to nap

    According to Barry Krakow, MD, author of his dream, his spirit: The seven keys to sleeping through the night, there are two things to remember about naps: Do not nap more than once, or close to bed time . “Go to bed between 5 and 25 minutes,” said Barry.

    nap time should be six or seven hours before they usually go to sleep. If you want to break almost every hour of sleep, rest shorter.

    If you need to take a nap at work, better not sleep on the table. Some companies offer employees the room. Or you can train during the holidays with an alarm clock to make sure you have time.

    “If you can not sleep, rest your eyes closed for 10 minutes or more,” said Allison T. Siebern, PhD, Stanford University Sleep Medicine Center in Redwood City, California.

    http://www.xerosite.net/tips-on-getting-rid-of-natural-sleep-at-work.html

  • Want to be Scared Of Sleep? Read This

    Sleep is a natural healer next only to Time..

    If people start worrying about this, then what?

    leave Sleep to its own way and Sleep Well.

    “The July/August issue of Scientific American Mind made its debut online late last week. Here I divulge some of the more surprising and useful lessons from its pages.

    Dozing Dangerously

    Sleepwalking is one of the strangest phenomena I have ever witnessed. Despite its name, it doesn’t resemble any other kind of sleep I’ve seen. To me, it appears as if an odd imposter has temporarily inhabited the body of someone I know. The person’s eyes are open. He or she gets up, strolls or scampers around, and can hug me or grab a drinking glass. He may even talk to me. The slumbering human really seems awake—until it dawns on me that his behavior is distinctly erratic. The person may respond to me—say, take a drink when I give him a glass of juice—but in an odd manner, say, gulping the liquid as if in a huge hurry. His eyes might open wide as if he’s panic-stricken, but the cause of the panic is nowhere to be seen. And he may do nonsensical things such as pouring liquid from a cup into the trashcan.

    In 1846, Albert Tirrell was acquitted of the murder of Maria Bickford because he was sleepwalking. By National Police Gazette via Wikimedia Commons.

    When a person is sleepwalking, as we report in the current issue of the magazine, the brain is kind of half awake. Some parts, those involved in talking and walking, are operational. But other parts, those involved in reasoning and self-control, are pretty much in lala land, explaining why the person’s actions make no sense. Sleepwalking is apparently common (and usually benign) in children. But in some adults it turns violent (see “Are Sleepwalking Killers Conscious?” by Francesca Siclari, Guilio Tononi and Claudio Bassetti). In rare cases, sleepwalkers have committed murder, and at least half of those with sleep disorders exhibit less serious forms of unintentional violence. In some instances, the murderous sleeper has been acquitted (see illustration). But questions of culpability remain. Was it a strange imposter’s fault? Probably, but the loss of control is frightening for all concerned.

    On the plus side, researchers are uncovering the biological roots of such odd actions in hopes of developing treatments. In the process, they are also gleaning clues to the origins of consciousness.

    Microbial Madness

    Speaking of brains subverted by demons, consider the influence of gut microbes. One parasite co-opts the intentions of mice such that they are drawn to cats, which, of course, then consume the brainwashed rodents (see “Microbes Manipulate Your Mind,” by Moheb Costandi). In humans, gut microbes can subtly change our moods and emotional states. The “brains” in our guts—a combination of 500 microorganisms that seems to vary from one person to the next—may even explain differences between people in personality as well as disparities between us in symptoms of psychiatric illnesses.

    Notably, our bodies’ microbial inhabitants might make us more or less able to withstand stress. Colicky babies, we report, seem to have a less diverse array of germs in their gut, and seem to be predisposed to stress later on. But as adults, we might also be able to deliberately colonize ourselves for better mental health. Early data suggest that probiotics might be able to quell anxiety. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I am going to make a point of indulging in live-culture yogurt, and not just for the calcium. Taking stress down a notch, after all, can improve productivity.

    http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/streams-of-consciousness/2012/06/11/when-sleeping-turns-deadly-and-other-strange-tales-from-scientific-american-mind/?WT_mc_id=SA_DD_20120611

  • Sleep and Sleeping Styles.

    Sleep is Nature’s gift.

    It allows the system including the brain to relax and helps to recharge.

    The sleeping requirement if individuals vary.

    There is no standard .

    Some could do with 10 hours, some with 8 hours and yet some with 5 hours.

    The time spent on Sleep changes with age.

    While infants sleep anywhere between 10- 15 hours,an adolescent 8-9 hours, between 20 3-50 ,7-8,40-50 6-7 hours and after 60 around 5 hours or less is the pattern.

    Duration of Sleep is also determined by  the food you eat.

    Spicy,pungent, either too hot or too cold will disturb normal sleep while food that consists of less spice,bland and less acidic shall help a good sleep.

    Taking a glass of warm milk before retiring to bed is of great use.

    Happy thoughts, listening to good music,spending time with children will ensure quality sleep.

    No thoughts about morrow is suggested.

    Better take food by not later than one hour  after sunset.

    Be in the bed  one hour after the food and avoid being awake after 11 pm .

    Waking up before sun rise is ideal.

    At least wake up by not later than one hour after sunrise.

    People use different postures while asleep.

    Story:

     

    Some of them are:

    “Your preferred p.m. pose could be giving you back and neck pain, tummy troubles, even premature wrinkles. Discover the best positions for your body—plus the one you may want to avoid.

    http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20479110_1,00.html

    However your body knows the best position.Depend on it.