THE WAKEFUL CHILD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19999, 15 July 1920, Page 9

THE WAKEFUL CHILD.

” Dogs your little boy sleep well?” asked a. harassed mother of a friend. 1 “ Oh, yes,” was the reply; “we have ; never had any trouble at night with • him since he was horn.” ‘•How lucky!” sighed the first speak- • er. “ Gerald so seldom has an unbroken night. I don’t believe I have had a. perfect night’s sleep for nearly three years.” I wondered after hearing this conyeri sation if tho speaker bad probed into . her problem A FEW POSSIBLE REASONSJt is natural for a child to sleep all night from the time his nightly “ feeds ” arc dropped. If he is wakeful there is probably a verv good reason. Perhaps his bed is not quite comfortable. A nick or a lump in the bedclothes will make a groat deal ol dif fereuce to so tender a small body. Is bis cot large enough? Is he warm enough, or is ho too warm? A little girl I knew had many wakeful nights until it was noticed that she had learnt to turn quickly in her sleep, and, as she had grown very much, and I still slept in a basket-cradle on a stand, her weight and. movements made - the cradle creak. The noise seemed to rouse her continually, but as soon as she was a put into a largo wooden cot she re*J sumed her former habit of sleeping the - whole night through. ■ As to warmth, little children nersnire j very easily, and a. glance at the forehead or neck will tell if it has tho shiny look of overheat. Bv a touch on the hands one can ascertain if tho child is nut warm enough, or if these have been uncovered tho mother should slip her hand between the bedclothes close to j the. body, and she will be able to tell if t it is at a comfortable temperature. CAUSES TO CUKE. ! j There are many other reasons why a j child doer, not sleep.- There is tho quesI tion of the specific food given at the i last meal and its quantity; there may a | bvs local pain, such as irritation ot tho ► skin or teeth, indigestion or cramp. Some children cannot hear excitement ' just before retiring, and in many cases they are over-tired. After taking all these possible causes into consideration, if the child is still' wakeful, then it is best to consult a doctor. If mothers would make up their minds that when a child cries there is 'a. reason for the cry, many small troubles would be overcome at an cavlv date in the little one’s histor- and much > wear and t&ir of nerves and temper $ reived.—(Rv Elizabeth. Shipman in the "«T % Mail ”)