We all know how important a good night’s sleep is, and this is especially important for children during their development stages. There is a growing body of research suggesting that sleep issues can be impacting on many areas of our children’s health and development, including academic performance and growth.

Sleep researcher and psychologist Dr Sarah Blunden, from the Centre for Sleep Research at the University of South Australia, told a recent psychology conference in Melbourne that sleep problems, which can be medical or behavioural, can affect many areas of a child's memory, attention, thinking ability and behaviour.

One area of helping your child get a good night’s sleep, is selecting the right mattress. Bedshed care about your children and have developed a range that is specifically designed for growing kids.

Dreamsense Kidz mattresses have been designed with the wellbeing and comfort of active kids in mind. Providing a healthy, supportive, sleep environment for a growing mind and body, these children's and teen mattresses come with a range of options that also make the incredibly practical.

The Dreamsense Kidz mattress range has some great features and benefits:

• Healthguard Treatment

For a healthy sleep environment, it protects against mould, bacteria and dust-mites, reducing major causes of allergies and asthma.

• Sensitive Choice Foam

Quality comfort layers for firm support and comfort – sensitive beds for sensitive heads.

• Superlastic Pro Support System

Provides excellent postural support for growing bodies. It’s durability response is engineered to increase the life and performance of the mattress.

• AdvancEdge Support

Edge to edge support, limits the 'roll-out' feeling and creates a firming seating edge.

The mattresses come in a boy’s option, Noah, or a girl’s option, Ruby, which are both available in either Single or King Single sizes. To help your child find the most comfortable mattress, they can choose from firm and plush feels. A Bedshed expert can help you at a store in selecting the best feel for your child. The Dreamsense Kidz range also has practical features, including:

Trundles – great for when your child has sleepovers.

Built-in drawers – practical storage for your child.

Double Bed Frame – A frame that can be added beside the bed to make it a double bed size.

With so many practical options the mattress is not only developed to give them the best night’s sleep, but can grow with them and their needs in a practical and functional way.

Check out some other hints and tips for getting a good night sleep at:

• How to keep your kids in bed all night!
• Creating a Peaceful Environment in Your Child's Bedroom
• Having trouble sleeping? Tips for getting to sleep! 

Remember your room as a child? It was a place to escape from the world. A place to dream and let your imagination run wild. A child’s bedroom is never simple just a place to sleep, it is a place where dreams and adventures are made.

At Bedshed, we wanted to create kid’s bedroom furniture that they would love and enjoy and we are proud to launch Colombini Kite.

Colombini Kite is inspiring Italian-designed furniture that has captured children’s dreams and imaginations around the globe for over 45 years. And now Bedshed are proud to bring Colombini Kite exclusively to you and your family.

Established in 1965, Colombini Kite are now one of Italy’s largest furniture groups, with 50 designers alone working to keep Colombini Kite at the forefront of innovative and inspiring children’s bedroom furniture. Capturing and nurturing these precious dreams and adventures is Colombini Kite who draw on inspiration from the unique hopes and ambitions that every child holds. We know you want the best for your child, so start your child’s imagination and begin an adventure today.

Take a look at this great range with three new products:

	Happy Hearts With its heart shaped handles and pastel colours this delightful Italian-designed bedroom suite will steal your little girl’s heart.
	Land Ahoy With its funky colours and denim button handles the Land Ahoy is fun and affordable.
	Cubbyhouse Add a splash of colour and fun to your child’s bedroom. This space saving multibunk includes a pull-out desk, removable ladder and heaps of storage for your growing child.

Head into your local Bedshed store to check out the inspiring new Colombini Kite range.

How many times have you put your kids to sleep only to find them up a few hours later? And don’t we just love the excuses! Mum I need a drink, I’m hungry, I’m scared, I’m sick, I need you! We have all heard the excuses! You can get a good night’s sleep when your children sleep through the night, so here are some tips to help keep your child in bed all night!

Consistency and routine are the key. If you maintain this consistency and rules, you will be on your way to a better night’s sleep!

Related:

• Bedshed Kids Bedroom Furniture & Mattresses
• How much sleep do we need? (by age)
• Creating a Peaceful Environment in Your Child's Bedroom

Your child’s bedroom should be their sanctuary. Like adults, children have a lot to deal with many in their busy day, so it’s important their bedroom is a safe haven to study, play, and fall asleep in.

Here are some tips on how to enhance your children’s bedroom environment and establish a good bedtime and sleep routine.

• Choose a relaxing colour and avoid using too many colours in the one room. Use various hues and shades of the same colour if possible for feature work.
• Lighting should be reminiscent of daylight during the day and soft and gentle in the evening.
• Let your child's bedroom reflect his or her interests and personality. Put some of their own artwork on the walls and any trophies or awards on a special shelf. Just be careful that bedroom decorations don’t become overstimulating.
• Organise children’s toys efficiently. This will help reduce clutter and disorder.
• Allow room around your child’s bed so they do not feel boxed in.
• Use minimal auditory stimulation in your child’s bedroom. Use “white noise” for soothing a child and blocking out household sounds. A fan or fish tank are good options.
• Allow a child to sleep with a night-light on. Night-lights help remind children they are in a safe bedroom. Choose a dim nightlight, with just enough light to let off a glow to see around. Too much light at night can interfere with sleep patterns.
• Create a bedtime routine that is calm and peaceful and allow plenty of time to work through this routine. For example, bath, pyjamas, teeth, story, hug etc. If a child is overstimulated before bed, they may not be prepared for sleep.
• Encourage your child to play in their bedroom during the day on their own, with friends and with you. If children are unfamiliar with their bedroom and only go in the room to sleep, they will not feel comfortable or safe at night.
• Reward good sleep. Make a "sleeping chart" to reinforce positive bedtime behaviour.
• Allow natural light and air into your child’s bedroom. Good air circulation improves the air quality and atmosphere of a room.
• When you purchase new bedroom furniture, make sure it meets today’s safety standards.
• Ensure toddler beds are equipped with bed rails.
• Position beds away from windows, heating vents, radiators, lamps, curtains or window-blind cords.
• Make sure your child is sleeping on a mattress suitable for their body.
• Buy bed linen that your child likes – they will be more inclined to want to go to bed!
• Children’s bed linen should be machine washable, soft and made from natural fibres. Pillow protectors protect kids from dust mites and other allergens. A quality stain-resistant mattress protector will not only protect against accidents, but many are hypoallergenic.

Related:

• Bedshed Kids Bedroom Furniture & Mattresses
• How much sleep do we need? (by age)

A child who sleeps soundly, and wakes up happy, is a parent's dream come true.

According to Bedshed National Merchandise Manager, Les Sevel, selecting an appropriate mattress for children is very important and a matter parents need to take seriously.

"Children spend many hours sleeping and they are growing as they sleep, therefore it is important that they have an ideal sleep surface to support them," he said.

"Some parents think that because children are small and light, a cheap or hand-me-down mattress will do. However, to prevent long term back issues it is important that children are well supported when sleeping."

Mr Sevel recommends a continuous coil support system mattress for children, such as the Sleepmaker's Siimply Siingles, which has gentle, medium and firm support options.

Whilst support while sleeping is important, keeping up with the latest trends in bedding furniture is also a task which Bedshed makes easy for parents.

Bedshed stocks a large range of traditional and contemporary bedroom furniture for kids, in a range of colours and featuring clever storage solutions.

"Children‟s bedrooms are also a fashion statement and parents regularly update the furniture to „grow‟ with the child," Mr Sevel said.

"We have a range of fantastic accessories for dressing up kid‟s bedrooms, including tables & stools, funky hat racks, bright netted canopies, fantastic kids‟ bed linen and study desk options."

Related:

• Bedshed Kids Bedroom Furniture & Mattresses
• How much sleep do we need? (by age)
• Creating a Peaceful Environment in Your Child's Bedroom