Children require different amounts of sleep during different phases of their development. Your infant often spends most of his/her non-feeding hours asleep. Generally, pre-schoolers and school-age children need 10 to 12 hours of sleep per day. Children under 3 typically require a nap during the day as part of their total hours of sleep. As children grow, their sleep requirements decrease. By the time your child is a teen, sleep requirements are only slightly more than those of an adult, requiring about 8-9 hours a day.
If your child is not getting adequate sleep, you may notice symptoms such as:
· Short attention spans
· Unusually low energy levels
· Being overly sensitive or emotional (tearful, touchy, defensive, or impatient).
If your child’s behavior indicates that he or she is not getting enough sleep, try moving bedtime to an earlier time until you find what works best for your child.
Bedtime Routine
Creating a bedtime routine is essential to avoiding bedtime battles and helping your child fall asleep easily. Rather than waiting until he or she is completely exhausted, establish a set time and stick to it. Often, it’s helpful to begin the bedtime routine with a “winding-down” activity such as a warm bath or story time. This allows your child to slow down both physically and mentally. TV and video games can stimulate a child, so it’s best to avoid these activities right before bed.
If your child is not getting adequate sleep, you may notice symptoms such as:
· Short attention spans
· Unusually low energy levels
· Being overly sensitive or emotional (tearful, touchy, defensive, or impatient).
If your child’s behavior indicates that he or she is not getting enough sleep, try moving bedtime to an earlier time until you find what works best for your child.
Bedtime Routine
Creating a bedtime routine is essential to avoiding bedtime battles and helping your child fall asleep easily. Rather than waiting until he or she is completely exhausted, establish a set time and stick to it. Often, it’s helpful to begin the bedtime routine with a “winding-down” activity such as a warm bath or story time. This allows your child to slow down both physically and mentally. TV and video games can stimulate a child, so it’s best to avoid these activities right before bed.