Missing naps or going to bed a little late may not seem like a big deal. But it all adds up with consequences that may last a lifetime. How much sleep should your child be getting? Here’s how to tell when it’s time for bed.
More and more research points towards the importance of sleep for children’s health, academic performance, and behaviour. Many of us don’t allow our children to get the critical sleep they need to develop and function properly. It’s certainly not something we do on purpose. But with parents working long hours, packed school schedules, after-school activities, and other lifestyle factors, naps are missed, bedtimes are pushed back, and mornings start earlier. Missing naps or going to bed a little late may not seem like a big deal, but it all adds up, with consequences that may last a lifetime.
“Sleep is the power source that keeps your mind alert and calm. It recharges your brain’s battery, increasing one’s brainpower and attention span. It also allows you to be physically relaxed and mentally alert at the same time. Then, and only then, can you function at your personal best,” states paediatrician Marc Weissbluth. Signs of sleep-related problems may show up in a number of ways with children, including daytime sleepiness, weakened immune systems, inattention, poor concentration, moodiness, behavioural problems, weight gain, irregular social skills and poor academic performance. According to Dr Avi Sadeh, a loss of one hour of sleep is equivalent to the loss of two years of cognitive maturation and development.
Essentials of healthy sleep
Healthy sleep allows for optimal alertness when we are awake. This is the state in which our attention span is at its best and the most learning can occur. You can see this in a child who is calm and attentive, pleasant, wide eyed, absorbing everything, and socially interacts with ease. Altered states of alertness interfere with a child’s learning and behaviour.
Healthy sleep requires:
- Sufficient amounts of sleep to grow, develop, and function optimally. How much is right for your child varies by age.
- Uninterrupted, good quality sleep allows good growth and development of the body’s nervous system.
- The proper number of age-appropriate naps optimizes alertness, learning and development. Naps serve a different purpose to that of night-time sleep, but are as important.
- A sleep schedule that is in sync with the child’s natural biological rhythms (internal clock or circadian rhythm).
- This allows for effective restoration and long-term memory development, but being out of sync can lead to difficulty falling asleep or simply staying awake. Children then become overly tired and stressed. So it’s important your child’s sleep needs are met and that you adjust your schedule to be in sync with theirs.
Read more about bedtime battles and how to teach your child good sleep habits.
Getting the proper amount of sleep
- Limit bedtime activities – a routine of relaxing activities like reading or listening to classical music can help most children sleep better. Remove all electronics to avoid further stimulation.
- Establish a sleep schedule – experts recommend consistent times to go to sleep and wake, ideally not differing much during the week or on weekends.
- Create a conducive environment – children will sleep faster and deeper when the room is dark, quiet and cool.
- Promote regular exercise – a minimum of 60 minutes of daily physical activity for children can have many benefits, including better sleep.
- Limit caffeine – it’s advisable to limit all forms of caffeine, particularly late in the day, including tea, soda and chocolate.
- Avoid late afternoon or early evening naps – later naps can result in later bedtimes and less critical sleep for older children.
How much sleep is enough, find out more here.
As parents, it is our responsibility to create healthy sleep habits. If you work on children’s good sleep habits every day you will likely have a happier, self-assured, less demanding, and more sociable child. And who knows, you might just get some more sleep yourself.
What about sleepovers? Read about the pros and cons and how to prepare your child.