We have already talked several times about how important sleep routines are in children, and how parents can help them by favoring their rest. And is that the theme of dreams is one of the aspects that concerns us most.
A study carried out by a university in Finland has shown that nature plays a very important role in providing a proper rest for our children, and that outdoor naps, so common when we go for a walk with our baby, they have multiple benefits for your health.
Longer and deeper naps when done outdoors
The researcher at the University of Oulu in Filandia, Marjo Tourula, published a report on children's sleep after studying the routines of Finnish babies and their sleep schedules, both when they sleep inside the house and when they do it outside.
In Finland, as in other Nordic countries, it is a common practice to leave babies sleeping in their strollers parked on the sidewalks while their family buys or does some management.
The Nordic parents say that when their children sleep on the street they get sick less than when they do it indoors, and it seems that this practice, which attracts our attention, really has multiple benefits for babies.
Apart from this data, Tourula's findings suggest that outdoor naps are so well received by babies because They are not directed by their parents. That is, they do not decide when and how their child should sleep but it is the baby himself who does it.
Tourula observed that when mothers go to the park and let their baby doze in the stroller while they work by their side, the children rest more deeply and for longer that when they sleep inside the house; specifically up to 90 more minutes.
However, in a country like Finland where winter temperatures are well below zero degrees, we may be doubly surprised by this type of study and practice, even though researchers urge to continue maintaining this custom even on the coldest days, as long as the baby is properly warm.
Benefits after waking up
But the benefits of sleeping outdoors not only extend to the field of health because, according to Tourula studies, the fact that babies take longer naps while being outside them It helps in its development and brings benefits in the medium term.
According to the mothers surveyed for this study, it has been observed that babies who sleep outdoors eat better, have better mood and learn faster. And although it is not exclusively sleeping, it has been seen that children who spend more time abroad (playing, playing sports, walking ...) have greater ability to concentrate than those inside houses.
But in addition to all this, Tourula has observed a collateral benefit that affects the parentss and it is the fact that their children's longer naps and how they positively affect their character, allows parents to relax, clear and have more time for themselves.
"The outdoor nap of children is a desirable custom when promoting the welfare of the family, although the needs of the child and their safety should always come first" - specifies Tourula in his study.
Well, we will have to take an example from Finland and enjoy a good rest in the middle of nature!
Via Fatherly
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