Time to Catch Some Z's
By Ashley Stewart-Carnett
Sleep plays a huge part in the development of babies, adolescents and teens. Missing 30 – 60 minutes of sleep could impact how the child feels the next day or two. Parents know that sleep is important, but how much sleep should children be getting? I’m going to break down how much sleep children should be getting based on age, side effects of not enough sleep, and some great bed time routines.
How much sleep should my child be getting per night?
As a parent, you have probably asked a physician this question or done some research. Below, we break down the recommended amount of sleep babies, adolescents and teens should get per night.
Toddlers:
11-14 hours over a 24-hour period
Preschoolers:
10-13 hours per night
School-Age Kids/Preteens:
9-12 hours per night
Teenagers:
8-10 hours per night
What are the side effects of not getting enough sleep?
Kids can experience different side effects if they aren’t getting the proper amount of sleep. We can see a cranky side of our child, or maybe some issues at school. Sleep is part of good hygiene, and if we don’t keep up with our good hygiene, we can get sick. Lack of sleep can also affect our learning, memory and reaction times.
What are some effective bedtime routines to get my child(ren) to sleep?
If you have ever seen the show Supernanny, you might have seen how crazy bedtime can be, but then Jo Frost steps in to make bedtime routines quick and painless. Kids love routines even if they act like they don’t. Parents should pick a time and stick to it every night. 30 minutes prior to bedtime, kids need to wind down by turning off the TV, putting away phones and the iPad. After you fully say goodnight, make sure to not go back in the room. Kids may not fall asleep right away, as you leave the room, turn on a noise maker or some soothing music.
Sleep is needed for kids to be at the top of their game. We want our kids to feel good, have energy and succeed in school. The proper amount of sleep is very important for our kids. This week set up a bedtime routine that allows your child the full amount of sleep they need. The positive changes you will see in your kid will be awesome!
Source List:
https://www.choc.org/health-topics/kids-sleep/
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/excessive-sleepiness/support/how-much-sleep-do-babies-and-kids-need
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/sleep.html?WT.ac=ctg#catsleep