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Have you ever wondered if your child is sleeping at the “right time” every night?
Well, the answer could be hearty “yes!” or a strong “heck nah!”, depending on where you live in the world. According to studies of children’s bedtimes, there is an over 2.5-hour difference between the sleeping times of children across nations – with New Zealanders tucking their little ones into bed before 7.30pm and Hong Kong children sleeping after 10.15pm. In case you’re wondering, Singapore parents tends to put our kids to bed just after 9.30pm.
And it’s not just bedtimes that are drastically different around the world – so too are parents’ and children’s other bedtime practices.
Bedtime routines
In the United States, much like Singapore, parents get children ready for bed by singing lullabies to infants and reading toddlers their favourite bedtime stories. Meanwhile, in the Philippines and Indonesia, prayers are a regular part of bedtime routines for many families.
Sleeping together vs bedtime independence
In modern societies like Singapore, the US and parts of Europe, babies and toddlers often sleep in their own beds – even if their cots may be in the same room as their parents.
This sleeping arrangement is attributed to the advice of paediatricians, who often advise parents against sleeping with children – instead, recommending that little ones sleep in padded cribs, reducing the likelihood of falls or being accidentally suffocated by a sleeping parent. In less developed nations – and especially in Asia – it’s more common to see parents and children sleeping together, as such co-sleeping arrangements are more widespread.
There are always exceptions to the rule, of course. For example, the Dutch believe that having children sleep by themselves develops good sleeping habits. Meanwhile, Japanese and Korean parents prefer to accompany their babies until they drift off to sleep.
Hours of sleep
We’ve already discussed how bedtimes vary across the globe, but what about the number of hours of sleep that children get? This can vary a good amount too!
In Australia, kids get around 9.5 hours of sleep every night. Over in Korea, children sleep an average of 7.8 hours a day, as school take precedence overja sleep – a stark contrast from Russian kids, who are in bed by 10pm and reach school at 8am the next morning. You may be surprised to know that Egyptian children average 6 hours of sleep each night – although this starts to make sense, when you realise that long afternoon naps are a part of the country’s culture.
And speaking of contrasts, think about this. Children from poorer families in Nepal often wake up around 4am to help their families with work before they go to school, while over in France, kids are often allowed to stay awake for as long as their parents!
Floors, cots and beds
Depending on where you are in the world, your child could be sleeping on a totally different surface. While children in most first-world countries tend to sleep in cots and beds, kids in rural communities tend to sleep on mattress or mats – most commonly placed on the floor. But don’t worry, they’re not sleeping alone, as the family usually sleeps together on the same bedroom or living room floor.
What do we recommend your kids (and you) sleep on for a good night’s rest, every night? While your infants will find their cots cosy, children who are already sleeping on their own beds will definitely benefit from a quality latex mattress – like the ones in our children’s collection.
Sofzsleep latex mattresses are non-toxic and allergen-free, durable and provide excellent support – yet are incredibly plush and comfortable. This means more restful nights for your child, and more energy to take on school and other activities the next day!
Browse Sofzsleep’s mattress and mattress accessories product collections online today:
Do feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like to visit our showrooms.
