Introduction
Children’s sleeping habits are really important, and the last thing you want is for your kids to be tired every day. Yet, some children can manage to get by on as little as a few hours of sleep per night, while others need as many as 10 hours. In this blog post, we will explore what the best amount of sleep for kids is. Plus, we’ll give you tips about how and when to go about creating a consistent bedtime routine that can lead to better sleeping habits in your kids.
How many hours is the ”right” amount of sleep for kids?
Is it 3-4 hours a night, or could 1 pm be too late of an hour to let children go to bed? The answer comes down to the age of your child. In general, the younger they are, the more sleep they need. But there are exceptions (for example, teenagers who get little more than 8 hours of sleep at night can still operate safely). We should also mention that how much sleep your children need will change as they grow.
Sleep is essential for our overall well-being. Kids who get enough sleep tend to perform better at school, have fewer behavioural issues, and are less likely to develop obesity or diabetes. On average, children need between 10 and 12 hours of sleep per night. However, this can vary based on age, gender, and activity level.
Sleep cycles What about sleep cycles?
Wouldn’t it be great for parents if their children slept through the night, without waking up? Well, this is where the phrase, ”sleeping like a baby” comes from; after all, babies are hard to wake up to! The thing is that babies have something called ”active sleep.” They move around a lot (which is why most parents find it very difficult to calm them down).
Human adults generally only have active sleep during the first few hours of the night; after that, we go into a lighter stage of ”deep sleep” before getting into REM and then back to light sleep. Children’s sleep cycles in the brain are a bit different. Babies can be restless for about another hour (or up to 2 hours) after they have settled into a deep sleep. The point is that children shouldn’t be left in the very dark period of their sleeping times, but rather try to provide them with enough light to prevent them from waking up throughout the night, or if it happens, give them something to help them drift off again.
Sleep patterns How much time do children spend sleeping?
Generally speaking, youngsters get on average between 14 and 17 hours of sleep every night. That’s from when they first close their eyes until the morning. But, of course, that doesn’t mean that all children are sleep deprived. Some kids have a different schedule from what’s recommended, and some can sleep for 23 or 24 hours as well. The differences between children’s sleeping patterns are the result of their circadian rhythm; it is a stepping stone to getting more deep sleep.
Different stages of light and dark are needed for the body to function correctly. What this means is that in summer kids often sleep a tiny bit later than usual because they need less time to get used to morning lighting. And there’s also a segment of kids who need to sleep later than the norm because they are having more trouble falling asleep.
Anything from hunger, pre-bedtime excitement, or just waking up early in the morning can make all these things happen. But what about that part of children who don’t seem to have any difficulty falling asleep? They could have an alternate sleep plan.
How do schools compensate for children’s trouble in falling asleep?
Private time Kids can be pretty good at making sure that they get enough sleep and are on time for classes. But when it comes to their own needs, they usually don’t make the best choices. In some cases, parents may not even know how much sleep their children need (or how big a difference there is between different days).
The results can be pretty unexpected, both for children and for parents. We saw this on our site as well: some parents started writing in, telling us that their kids are lethargic and sleepy every morning, with no motivation to start the day and that they have trouble understanding what’s going on. Parents are also getting more worried because they don’t know what to do – they aren’t used to dealing with something like this. They think the problem is with their kids’ health, something related to the immune system or some other medical issue that they can’t fix. Clean the sheet and get rid of these stains.
Some tips to help them get more restful nights:
- Make sure their bedroom is dark and quiet. This will help prevent light from waking them up in the middle of the night.
- Create a consistent bedtime routine. This includes reading stories, brushing teeth, having a bath, and going to bed. It also means avoiding screens an hour before bedtime.
- Avoid caffeine after noon and try not to eat too late in the evening.
- If possible, avoid naps during the afternoon.
- Keep the room cool.
- Try using a white noise machine, such as a sound machine, to mask outside noises.
- Consider using a sleep aid like melatonin or valerian root extract to promote deep sleep.
- Have a regular bedtime schedule, including weekends.
- Don’t keep toys or other items in the room with your child.
- Limit screen time right before bedtime.
- Use a sleep monitor to track your child’s sleep patterns.
- Encourage physical exercise throughout the week.
- Talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have regarding your child’s sleeping habits
Conclusion
A child who sleeps for 14 hours straight will feel less tired than a kid who is expected to ”play all day”. And here’s the most important thing to remember: It’s perfectly normal for children to have trouble with falling asleep and staying asleep when they go to bed early.
