Help your child or teen get a better night’s sleep with Dr. David Yip and the adolescent medicine team at Angel Pediatrics in Anthem, AZ.
Guide to Improving Children’s and Teens’ Sleep
When you’re young, it feels like you can go for days without sleep – as long as you have something interesting to do. The problem is that not getting enough sleep can affect many things in children and teens, including their safety, memory, attention, mood, critical thinking, creativity, general health, and much more. In this guide, Dr. Yip and the team at Angel Pediatrics – your adolescent medicine provider in Anthem, AZ – share how much sleep children and teens need and tips for improving it.
How Much Sleep Is Enough?
According to the Sleep Foundation, children ages six to 12 need between nine and 12 hours of sleep each night. Teenagers 13 to 18 years old need between eight and 10 hours of sleep each night.
Unfortunately, studies show that they rarely – if ever – reach this amount. Constantly lacking enough sleep can lead to sleep deprivation, which leads to many negative side effects.
Sometimes, the fluctuation in hormones leads to getting tired later and results in teens getting too little sleep. Sleep disorders can also play a role. However, the most common factors include the following:
- Watching TV or using devices too close to bedtime
- School starting early in the mornings, even though teens naturally wake up later
- Over-booked schedules, including homework, after-school activities, part-time jobs, and social events
- Bedrooms not conducive to restful sleep
What Can I Do to Help Them Get More Sleep?
There are several things you can do to help your children and teens get more sleep. Below are just a few.
- Take a look at their schedules: No child or teen should sacrifice health and wellbeing over sports and other activities. Discuss where you can make some cuts.
- Set a routine together: Help them manage their time wisely by setting a daily and weekly routine. Set limits on everything, from device usage to how much time they spend on homework. Also, help build a habit of preparing clothes and school items the night before. This can let them sleep in a little longer.
- Eat nutritiously: Over-processed foods can impact how well they sleep. Set meal times and eat healthily together.
- Set up a comfortable bedroom: Keep work out of the room, and be sure the temperature and the bed are comfortable.
Learn more about helping your children get more sleep with the help of adolescent medicine with Dr. Yip at Angel Pediatrics in Anthem, AZ. Call (623) 551-0442 to schedule an appointment today.