Sleep Patterns In Children

We all need at least eight hours of sleep each day for our health and sanity. There are just so many things we do in the day that our body gets tired and need to rest and recuperate at night to be ready for what lies ahead the next day. We adults often sacrifice a little sleep to get all things done but kids shouldn’t miss out on sleep or risk impeding their normal growth and development. Newborns need the most sleep as lots of things happen to their bodies over a short span of time but toddlers and younger children need just as much asleep to help them grown bright and strong. This is also partly because they haven’t set a regular sleep-wake cycle yet unlike adults.

Kids often skip napping as they grow older because they have more activities during the day. Skipping naps can actually help them stick to a regular bedtime schedule once night falls because they often feel exhausted when they get home. Getting enough sleep each night is like a vaccine to help them fend off illnesses and stay healthy more often than not.

Goodnight, sleep tight – we spend a third of our lives in bed, not because we’re lazy but because it’s what the brain needs.

For children, sleep is even more important, with the NHS recommending 11 hours for a five-year-old and nine hours for a 16-year-old.

Healthwise, in the young, a shortage of sleep has been linked to a greater risk of obesity and lower immunity, as well as a lack of emotional control, poor school performance and mental health issues.

A joint report this week by the health and education select committees, Children and Young People’s Mental Health – The Role of Education, draws attention to links between excessive social media use, sleep deprivation and depression in children and young people 

(Via: https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-views/children-whom-a-good-nights-sleep-a-dream)

It’s nice to look at sleeping children, right? They look adorable and you forget how impossible they are to deal with when they’re wide awake. Unfortunately, most parents get more exhausted now trying to put their children to sleep and it’s causing them to lose sleep in the process. Children’s preoccupation to tech gadgets and too much sweets in their diet are the likely culprits for their endless energy throughout the day and night.

Limit your child’s screen time

Yes, the device keeping your child entertained while you're sneaking to the bathroom is actually costing you precious sleep. Experts recently discovered that children sleep about 16 minutes less for each hour of screen time.

How does screen time affect bedtime?

Experts determined three reasons why electronics throw off your child’s sleep schedule:

The device distracts your child, leading to a later bedtime and a shorter night’s sleep.

The content in video games or movies makes winding down difficult.

The blue-light screen emissions make it harder for your child to fall asleep. The light from the screen tricks the brain into thinking it’s daytime, making their body feel more alert.

(Via: http://www.wral.com/the-easy-way-to-get-your-toddler-to-sleep-more-according-to-science/16682370/)

Unlike adults, sleep plays a more crucial role to a child's developing mind and body. The confusing part about determining whether your child really is deprived of sleep because they don’t feel sluggish like most adults do but get more wind up, which is the exact opposite. While cutting back on sweets and reducing TV time and access to gadgets can help a lot to switching your child’s sleeping pattern to a normal one, others can be due to a sleeping disorder like sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is actually more common in adults but a handful of kids can also be affected. The tonsils and adenoids of a child may be a bit bigger than normal if they suffer from sleep apnea along with other traits like cleft palate and a receding chin. Kids diagnosed with Down syndrome are likewise twice at higher risk of having sleep apnea than normal ones. http://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/good-morning-snore-solution and another equally helpful sleep apnea solution like http://snoringmouthpiecereview.org/snorerx can help young kids address the breathing pauses during sleep and reduce their snoring. Your doctor can help you choose the best form of treatment for your kid since more conventional solutions like CPAP aren’t a convenient option for them.

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