Is Your Child Sleeping Enough?
Bedtime can be a battle, no doubt! But growing bodies need enough sleep! It’s not a subject to yawn at. While different ages have different sleep requirements, one thing remains the same: Many kids aren’t getting enough!
In 2019, a study showed how only half of children in the United States got the required hours of sleep each day. For the tweens and teens, it’s even less.
Proper sleep plays a huge role in keeping your child healthy. Not enough shut eye can lead to a weak immune system, depression, obesity, and poor school performance. Getting enough sleep also plays a critical role for your child’s developing physical and mental wellbeing.
So how much does your child need?
Babies need the most sleep, typically 12-17 hours a day. Toddlers can get by with less, but still need around 11-14 hours a day. Children who are school aged need 9-12 hours of sleep each night. Tweens and teens ought to get 8 to 10 hours, however, around two thirds of this age group get less than that on school nights.
This important tool for your child’s health is needed, but what’s the best way to ensure a good night’s rest?
Quality sleep tips
While it would be great if your child fell asleep as soon as they hit the pillow, that might not happen. Here are a few suggestions to help them fall asleep faster.
Avoid screen time before bedtime. Blue light emitted by phones, tablets, and computers can make it more difficult to fall asleep, as well as get your child hyped up and mentally stimulated. If there is too much noise, the room is too bright, too warm or too cold, that can also make it difficult to sleep.
Try to keep your bedtime routine consistent. Going to bed each night at the same time helps build a habit which will help your child fall asleep faster and get the rest they need. Avoid caffeine in foods and drinks before bedtime because this can also make it difficult to get to sleep.
Grownups should also demonstrate and practice good sleep habits to set an example for their children.
If noise outside or in disturbs your child, consider running a fan or a white noise machine. Most importantly, don’t worry if your child does have a few of these bad sleep habits! Starting tonight, with these simple steps, and a little consistency, your child will start getting the rest that their growing bodies need.
