Healthy sleep routines can help your child get the rest they need. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has guidelines for the amount of sleep children should get. The guidelines are updated with the latest available science and are endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The current guidelines are:
- Infants (4 months to 12 months): 12 to 16 hours (including naps)
- Toddlers (1 to 2 years): 11 to 14 hours (including naps)
- Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): 10 to 13 hours (including naps)
- School-Aged (6 to 12 years): 9 to 12 hours
- Teens (13 to 18 years): 8 to 10 hours
Tips for Healthy Sleep Routines
If your child is not getting enough sleep, it can affect their ability to grow and learn. World Sleep Day is coming up on March 19th, so we have put together a list of tips to help you establish healthy sleep routines and increase the amount of sleep your child gets each night.
Keep the Same Routine Every Night
One of the most important healthy sleep habits for kids is to maintain a nightly routine. Set a bedtime using the above sleep guidelines and be firm about it. Their routine should include bathing, brushing teeth, quiet time (that may include a story), and getting into their own bed.
Put Them to Bed While They’re Awake
As part of your child’s nightly sleep routine, he or she should be awake when they get in bed. Letting them fall asleep in front of the TV or in your own bed is a bad habit. Every once in a while might not hurt, but they need to learn to fall asleep in the same place every night and consistency is key.
Create the Right Sleep Environment
Your child’s room should be an environment that encourages sleep. When it’s time for bed, the bedroom should be quiet, at a comfortable temperature (70-75° F), and dark. During the day, your child’s bedroom may be used for play if there aren’t other alternatives.
Even if that is the case, the bed should be off-limits for everything but quiet time and sleep. They need to learn that the bed is a place for rest. Limit toys in bed to a favorite stuffed toy, doll, or another comfort item. Do not put a TV in your child’s bedroom.
Cut off Screen Time
Research has shown that watching screens like TVs, phones, tablets, and computers can disrupt sleep even after they’ve put the device down. Putting a TV in your child’s room is highly discouraged, and you should have a curfew for older kids with their own phones and computers. All screen use should be stopped at least an hour before bedtime.
Schedule Quiet Time Before Bed
Since you’re already turning off devices an hour before bed, you can set aside that time each night for a calm down period. This can create a smooth transition to bedtime. Screens are off-limits, but your child can read or listen to some soft music on a low volume. Those with packed schedules may want to combine quiet time with bath time and other parts of their sleep routines.
No Going to Bed Hungry (Or Too Full)
Being hungry can interfere with sleep, but so can being too full. Offer kids light snacks like cereal or fruit before bed. Avoid heavy meals at least an hour before bedtime. Some children will use hunger or thirst as a stalling tactic to delay bedtime. To avoid this, make it part of the plan to ask your child if he or she is hungry before you start their sleep routine.
Be Mindful About Drinks
Younger kids who are no longer in diapers may need to limit how much they drink starting a couple of hours before bedtime. This will limit nighttime bathroom trips and decrease the chances of bedwetting.
Avoid Caffeine Later in the Day
It’s a good idea to limit caffeine for young children in general, but it is even more important later in the day because it can interrupt the sleep schedule. Watch out for products that contain caffeine after lunchtime.
Make an Appointment
The board-certified pediatricians and staff at Wake Forest Pediatrics are dedicated to providing quality care to patients in Wake Forest and Knightdale.If you have questions about your child’s sleep routines or any other health concerns, call our Wake Forest office at 919-556-4779 or our Knightdale office at 919-266-5059 to make an appointment.
