Healthy Sleep Habits for Your Kids
Developing Healthy Sleep Habits for Your Kids
As a parent, you must have already come to know how important it is for your child to get enough sleep. Sleep gives your child the benefit of maintaining progressive growth in almost every aspect. There is nothing more demanding than replacing all the energy spent playing outside and attending school activities. Being able to do so does not only make your child more responsive, but it also gives him a boost of positivity in the general outlook of his childhood.
Now, we must understand that sleep varies from one person to another. Children are still developing several physiological aspects in which each stage of development would require different sleeping habits.
It is advised that infants should at least have 12-16 hours of sleep. Toddlers are also recommended to keep an 11- to 14-hour sleep. On the other hand, preschoolers should manage 10 to 13 hours of sleep, whereas grade-schoolers can have 9 to 12 hours of rest. As you can see, the older the child gets, the less sleep he is required. Teens are only advised to get 8-10 hours of sleep; anything more than that may no longer be healthy. Take note that for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, naps are counted as sleeping hours.
Healthy Sleep Habits for Your Kids
It is alarming that nowadays, people are becoming neglectful of this responsibility. Especially if you are a working parent, more often than not, 5 hours of sleep seems about enough. This is dangerous, especially among those whose children are beginning to adapt to the same habit. No matter how hectic your schedule is, strive to let your child follow a regular bedtime routine. This way, he won’t be sleep deprived, therefore, making himself immune from several potential health problems such as headaches, obesity, depression, poor concentration, etc. Children who get enough sleep do better in school and are easier to mold when it comes to behavior.
Developing Healthy Sleep Habit Tips for Your Kids
If you are having difficulties giving your child a proper amount of sleep, here are tips from AAP that might help your kid develop a positive habit that he may carry with him even when he is older.
Be a role model.
The biggest influencer in a child’s habit is non-other than the parent himself. If you like staying up late, there is a big chance your child will do the same. Show them that you care about your health, just like when you teach them how to get the right amount of exercise.
Offer a daily routine.
It is easier for the children to follow his bedtime period when he is given a daily routine. Make sure this includes everything he needs, such as playing with friends, doing his homework, washing their face and brushing his teeth before bedtime, and eating meals at the proper time. This way, his body clock will get accorded just like a schedule that soon would flow smoothly in his system.
Healthy Sleep Habits for Your Kids
Be active.
Make sure your child has physical activities during the day. Even though we have already entered the digital era, spending most of your time on screen is not at all healthy. It may also cause sleep distractions, so lay some ground rules on that matter. Let him enjoy the sun and have something to replenish at nighttime.
Build a sleep-supportive environment.
Have you ever been to a nice hotel and realized how conducive the lighting is for sleeping? Giving your child the same kind of room can help him fall asleep faster. You can install a dimmer switch to change the light intensity of his room. Also, you do not want to fill your child’s bed with distractions. Therefore, remove toys as much as possible; at least one or two is enough.
Do not feed your child just about before sleeping.
If you have a 6-month-old baby or perhaps younger, make sure you provide him while giving the right time to digest all food before going to sleep. Not doing so may cause interrupted sleep and stomachaches.
Do not overschedule.
Tasks begin to seem endless once the child starts schooling. Teach him how to manage his time correctly. Make sure that he is efficient with his work and can finish everything before bedtime.
Be able to recognize sleep problems. It addresses sleep problems first and foremost by acknowledging the problem itself. This includes but is not limited to snoring, sleep apnea, sleep talking, heavy breathing while asleep, and midnight awakenings.
Seek professional advice.
If you have tried all the necessary steps to help your child get the sleep he needs nothing improved yet, it’s time to seek professional advice. You can talk with your pediatrician and see what further steps you and your child can take.
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