Does Your Child Get Enough Sleep?

posted 4/19/21 -- Does your child get enough sleep? To answer this question, it is best to go to the experts. Below is a chart by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) that shows how much is needed at different stages of your child’s life. Remember, these totals include naps.

After consulting the chart, you may realize that your child is not getting the recommended hours of sleep. Here are some tips provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to help you increase those sleep hours:

Be a Role Model. Set a good example by making sleep a priority for yourself. Talk about how much better you feel when you have enough sleep.

Keep to a regular daily routine. Not only do routines help your child feel safe and comfortable, but they also make for a smooth bedtime. Staying with the same routine, such as brush, book, bed can make bedtime easier wherever you are.

Be active during the day. Physical activity and fresh air during the day make for better sleep at night.

Monitor screen time. The AAP recommends keeping all screens—TVs, computers, laptops, tablets, and phones -- out of children’s bedrooms, especially at night. To prevent sleep disruption, turn off all screens at least an hour before bedtime.

Make bed a place to sleep. Don’t fill up your child’s bed with toys. One or two things—a favorite doll or bear, a security blanket—are okay and can help ease separation anxiety.

Following these tips and the recommended sleep guidelines will have your child waking up well-rested and ready to take on the day!