3 Simple Ways To Ensure Your Child Gets More Sleep

Date January 11, 2018 17:04

A lack of quality sleep leads to major physical, emotional and mental repercussions in children. Kids need their sleep and as parents, we have to ensure that they get it.

You want your child to be happy, vibrant, healthy and smart. To achieve this, you have to put routines and actions in place that make it possible for them to get their required amount of sleep.

Alysa Dobson, a Certified Child Sleep Consultant shared a couple of things all parents should keep in mind when it comes to their child's sleeping habits.

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1. How much sleep is needed

Children need more sleep than adults, younger kids even more so. To prevent your kids from being overtired, you should have an idea how much sleep is beneficial to them. Keep in mind that every child is different but the guidelines below should give you a general idea.

  • 2 to 12 months: 14-15 hours of sleep daily.
  • 12 months to preschool age: 12 to 14 hours of sleep daily.
  • 4 to 9 years - 10 - 11.5 hours of sleep daily.

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2. An early bedtime

You should aim for getting your children to bed as early as possible every night. If your kids are school-aged, this may not always be possible, but putting them down on time a few nights a week can be very helpful. Dobson explained that the secretion of the human growth hormone is at its peak in the hours before midnight so children will benefit more at this time.

3. Quality matters as much as quantity

Yes, the number of hours your children sleep is vital but so is the quality of sleep. So, if your child goes to bed early and she's up three times a night, she's not getting the benefits she needs.

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Make sure you create a soothing sleep environment. Make the room as dark as possible, power down electronics and keep noise to a minimum. Also, keep in mind that kids who suffer from nightmares and night terrors are more likely to be overtired, so be sure to encourage an early bedtime for them.

Source: Superhealthykids