Sleeping Soundly & Growing Together: Family-Sized Beds Nurture Connections

For most families, bedtime means retreating to the separate corners of the house and finding comfort and entertainment in technology.

Unfortunately, our kids are constantly distracted by phones, tablets, and other screens, which makes it harder for them to be fully present in the moment. And parents everywhere are scratching their heads trying to figure out how to get their kids away from the temptations of technology and build genuine connections.

One possible solution is getting a family-size bed where the whole family can sleep together. This can establish a nurturing environment for reconnecting and creating intimate memories with your loved ones.

So, let’s see how getting an oversize bed can help your family sleep better and grow together:

Family-Size Beds and the Power of Connection

Busy schedules, work demands, and the ever-present temptation of screens and gadgets make it harder to find time to bond as a family. Yet, the benefits of strong family connections cannot be overstated.

Research consistently shows that children who feel connected to their families experience improved emotional well-being, higher self-esteem, and enhanced social skills. That’s why strengthening family bonds is crucial for healthy development and future relationships.

When we prioritize building strong family bonds, we create a nurturing environment where children feel safe, supported, and loved. They learn the values of trust, empathy, and effective communication, which are essential for personal growth.

Strong family connections also contribute to emotional resilience, helping children navigate challenges more easily. In addition, shared experiences and memories create a sense of belonging and provide a lifelong source of comfort and support.

So, how do you manage to build a stronger bond with your children? Well, experts suggest to:

• Be available when your kids need you
• Say “I love you” often
• Set boundaries, rules, and consequences for breaking them
• Eat meals together
• Play often
• Listen and empathize with their needs
• Create parent-child rituals

One of the best rituals in early childhood can be sleeping on a giant mattress together. This can provide a safe and nurturing environment for kids to grow into well-adjusted and happy adults.

Let’s see why.

Benefits of Sleeping Together as a Family

Humans have long been sleeping together for warmth, comfort, and a sense of belonging. It’s embedded in our DNA, which is why we believe that embracing co-sleeping can have a tremendous impact on the well-being of your family.

Here are some of the benefits you can expect from co-sleeping on a family-size bed:

1. Stronger Emotional Connections

Co-sleeping on a family-sized bed nurtures a sense of security and emotional intimacy. Physical closeness promotes trust, strengthens the parent-child bond, and cultivates a deep connection.

2. Better Communication

Gathering on a shared bed encourages open communication and bonding time. Bedtime routines become opportunities for meaningful conversations, storytelling, and laughter, allowing parents and children to connect on a deeper level.

3. Enhanced Sleep Quality

Co-sleeping on a family-sized bed can lead to better sleep for both parents and children. The presence of loved ones nearby creates a soothing environment, promoting relaxation and a sense of peace. Your kids will feel more secure, and you can calm them if they have a nightmare or get upset during the night. As a result, their sleeping patterns will improve, and they’ll get all the sleep they need for proper growth and development.

4. Lower Stress Levels

You know how you instantly feel relaxed and calm when you lie down next to somebody you love? That’s because sleeping with your loved ones stimulates the production of oxytocin and other feel-good chemicals that combat stress and anxiety. Co-sleeping on an Alaskan King bed can promote a sense of calmness for both children and parents, leading to better emotional well-being and reduced stress.

5. More Family Activities

An oversize mattress is a perfect space for spending quality family time away from distractions and screens. It’s where you can have tickle fights, play games, or cuddle up on lazy Sunday mornings. So, it’s not just about sleeping together. It’s about creating cherished family moments that will last a lifetime.

Creating a Cozy and Inviting Bedroom Environment

Here are a few tips on how you can create a welcoming bedroom environment for your family and embrace the full power of co-sleeping:

1. Invest in the Right Family-Size Bed

Choosing the right family-size bed is vital to ensure your whole family can get comfortable without feeling cramped. That’s why you need to select the right model based on your bedroom size, sleeping arrangements, preferences, and other factors.

The most common family sizes include Alaskan King, Vermont King, and Alberta King beds. At Alaskan King Bed Company, we also offer six different Alaskan King sizes.

Read more about oversize mattresses and how to select the right one.

2. Remove Distractions

You should make your bedroom a tech-free zone to remove distractions that disrupt your kids’ sleep. Keep electronic devices out of reach or establish a designated area for charging outside the bedroom.

3. Prioritize Comfort for Everyone

Co-sleeping is all about comfort. Everyone should have enough space to get into a favorite position and sleep without distracting loved ones.

To ensure that each family member has enough room and comfort, provide soft pillows, cozy comforters, and top-quality sheets. Always have several bedding materials available for different preferences and seasons.

4. Create a Relaxing Sleeping Atmosphere

Your bedroom should promote optimal sleep conditions. Light, noise, and temperature are three factors you should optimize for the best possible sleep.

First, you want your bedroom to be dark, so use blackout curtains to block street lights. Next, you want it to be quiet, so remove all the distractions and use a fan or white noise machine to block outside noises. Lastly, keep your bedroom temperature in mid-60 degrees, as research suggests that colder temperature is better for a good night’s sleep.

5. Personalize the Space

Adding personal touches to the bedroom creates a sense of warmth and belonging, which is vital for a good night’s sleep. You can incorporate soft lighting, family photos, comforting scents, and other items to make your bedroom more inviting. The most important thing is to ensure your kids feel safe and comfortable.

6. Establish Healthy Bedtime Rituals

Your bedtime rituals contribute to the quality of your rest. Even more importantly, installing healthy bedtime rituals in your children could help them achieve a lifetime of quality sleep. So, what should your evening look like?

Well, you should establish rituals that create a sense of predictability and relaxation, preparing everyone for a peaceful sleep. That includes reading bedtime stories, engaging in gentle activities like stretching or yoga, sharing highlights of the day, or cuddling.

The goal is to find something relaxing that works for the whole family and be consistent. That way, transitioning from wakefulness to sleep will be a breeze.

The Alaskan King: A Perfect Giant Bed for Family Co-Sleeping

Now that you know how a family-size bed can help your family grow stronger emotional connections, improve communication, boost sleep quality, and lower stress, it’s time to talk about the perfect family king bed – the Alaskan King.

A standard Alaskan King mattress is 108” long and 108” wide, which makes it big enough to accommodate the whole family (including pets)! We also offer five additional sizes that can fit different needs and requirements.

So, if you want to try co-sleeping and build genuine, strong connections with your kids, getting an Alaskan King bed could be the perfect solution.

Check out the selection of our sturdy bed frames and Alaskan King mattresses to begin your journey to better sleep.