Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep? Are You? Some New Recommendations
DENVER (CBS4) - Lack of sleep can mean more than a cranky kid.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has released new guidelines based on research showing children and adolescents are just not getting enough shut-eye. And that loss of sleep can lead to a laundry list of health issues, including behavioral problems, poor attention span, learning issues, problems with concentration, and simply, problems with overall health.
Now I know it's probably easy to blame stinky child behavior on "a kid just being a kid," but you really need to take a look at how too little sleep affects a youngster at home, as well as school. Is your child just giving you a hard time, or does he or she really need a little more snoozing?
Well, the sleep folks came up with some hard numbers on how you may want to set the clock on bedtime, and the American Academy of Pediatrics agrees.
Here what you may want to shoot for:
Ages 4-12 months: 12-16 hours (all of the figures include naps)
Ages 1-2 years: 11-14 hours
Ages 3-5 years: 10-13 hours
Ages 6-12 years: 9-12 hours
Ages 13-18 years: 8-10 hours
There are no set rules from birth through 3 months since infants tend to be all over the board (but then again, you won't be taking games away from them to get them to sleep).
Which does bring us to the point of how do you get your kid to get some quality sack time? Sure, there is going to be some give and take, as well as some negotiating. But remember, you are the parent.
The experts recommend no screen time for 30 minutes before a set bedtime.
No televisions, smartphones, laptops, gaming devices or other electronics in the bedroom (and if you give in on this one, make sure there are some strict, well-defined rules.)
I wish you luck -- with four kids, I know it's not easy to coax a young one into a set sleep schedule.
On the other hand, don't forget to set the example. The sleep academy also noted that one in three of us grownups are sleep deprived because of poor habits. And a loss of sleep as a grownup can translate into more obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression ... and just lousy days at work and play.
By the way, the recommended amount for 18-65 years of age is 7-9 hours per night.
Good luck!
For more information on sleep and children: sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/children-and-sleep
Dr. Dave Hnida is CBS4's Medical Editor. He blogs about the latest studies and trends in the health world. Read his latest blog entries, check out his bio or follow him on Twitter @drdavehnida
