How Much Sleep Does Your Child Need?

How Much Sleep Does Your Child Need?

Is your child getting enough sleep? How can you tell and what can you do about it?

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) released a survey which estimated that one-third of toddlers and preschoolers and nearly one in four school aged children aren't getting enough sleep.

The consequences for lack of sleep are hardly unknown to parents who have themselves been victims of sleepless nights during the early childhood years. But what are the specific problems that affect children who are lacking sleep?

SLEEP AND MEMORY:

In studies with adults it has been shown that a lack of sleep affects attention and arousal. We are all aware of the problems caused by drowsy drivers who have been at the wheel too long and veer off the road or cause deadly accidents.

In a study with children who were restricted in sleep they did not score as well on memory, attention and learning tests the next day.

SLEEP AND BEHAVIOR:

In an article on children and sleeping problems by Today's Parent there was a quote from John Bates, a developmental psychologist. In two studies trying to find a link between sleep deficit and behaviour problems he stated that "it could be that sleep deficit causes the behavior problems or it could be that behaviour problems, and all that goes along with that, could make it harder for children to settle down for sleep, or that some unknown problem is causing both the sleep and behaviour problems."

Whichever is the case he still claims that in some cases they have had success and achieved dramatic behavioral improvements simply by increasing a child's sleep.

Although this should not be considered a solution for serious behavior problems, if your child seems unduly irritable, over-active or cranky you may find putting them to bed an hour earlier will create a drastic improvement.

HOW MUCH SLEEP DO THEY NEED?

Each individual has their own needs, but generally speaking the NSF suggests children three to five should get 11 to 13 hours of sleep (including naps); five to 12 year olds need 10 to 11 hours and teens 13 to 18 should try to get 8.5 to 9.25 hours per night.

If you suspect a problem related to sleep then consider whether you notice if the problem is connected. Is your child more irritable and cranky late in the day? Is she often hard to waken or difficult to get to sleep in the first place? Does she waken frequently during the night?

If you feel the issue is sleep related and putting your child to bed earlier is not working, talk to your doctor about other steps you can take. It is a long term benefit to diagnose sleeping problems early on.

Latest Updates

• Chronic fatigue syndrome linked to childhood trauma (AFP via Yahoo! News)
  Childhood trauma, including sexual abuse, emotional abuse and emotional neglect, was linked to a six-fold risk increase for chronic fatigue syndrome in adults, in a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
  


• Study sheds light on deadly childhood cancer (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
  A gene involved in cell division also helps fuel a deadly childhood cancer called neuroblastoma and could offer a new way to develop drugs to treat the disease, German researchers said on Monday.
  


• Chronic Fatigue, Childhood Abuse Linked in U.S. CDC Study (Bloomberg)
  Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Chronic fatigue syndrome , an ailment of unknown cause, may be tied to childhood abuse, according to psychologists at Emory University in Atlanta.
  


• CFS Linked to Childhood Trauma (WebMD)
  Experiencing serious trauma during childhood may increase a person's risk for developing chronic fatigue syndrome later in life, a new study suggests.
  


• Childhood Trauma Associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Kansas City InfoZine)
  Chicago, IL - infoZine - In addition, neuroendocrine dysfunction—or abnormalities in the interaction between the nervous system and endocrine system—appears to be associated with childhood trauma in those with chronic fatigue syndrome, suggesting a biological pathway by which early experiences influence adult vulnerability to illness, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of ...
  


• Chronic fatigue syndrome linked to childhood trauma (Channel NewsAsia)
  WASHINGTON - Childhood trauma, including sexual abuse, emotional abuse and emotional neglect, was linked to a six-fold risk increase for chronic fatigue syndrome in adults, in a study published Monday in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
  


• Childhood Trauma And Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Risk Biologically Linked (Science Daily)
  Childhood trauma is a potent risk factor for development of chronic fatigue syndrome, according to a new study.
  


• Childhood friends older in dream (The Oklahoman)
  Q: In my dream, I am in a large, white, run-down house. I am with a few of my female friends from grade school, but we are all adults now. A man is trying to destroy the house by either blowing it up or setting it on fire. I end up in the house alone, and I put on my favorite childhood play-dress. It is too small when I remove it from the clothing trunk, but fits perfectly when I put it on. I ...
  


• Childhood trauma may lead to chronic fatigue syndrome in adulthood (New Kerala)
  Washington, Jan 6 : People who undergo trauma during childhood are more likely to develop chronic fatigue syndrome as adults, according to a new study.
  


• Childhood trauma associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (EurekAlert!)
  Individuals who experience trauma during childhood appear more likely to develop chronic fatigue syndrome as adults, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. In addition, neuroendocrine dysfunction -- or abnormalities in the interaction between the nervous system and endocrine system -- appears to be associated with ...
  

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