How much sleep do kids really need?

As the hot summer vacation is nearing the end, schools across Georgia are preparing to open their doors to start another great school year. While parents soon will flock to the stores to buy their children new clothes, backpacks, and school supplies, there is one more pressing matter that’s often overlooked when preparing your child for the start of school…SLEEP!

Beginning today and continuing over the next four weeks, we are launching our weekly “Back to School Sleep Blog” series. This series is intended to get your family’s sleep habits back on track after a busy summer so that your children transition smoothly into their school semester.

The Need for Sleep

To ensure your children get the adequate sleep their bodies need, you must first understand what quantity of sleep is considered healthy. The amount of sleep a child needs per night is dependent on their age.  The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine published consensus recommendations for the amount of sleep needed to promote optimal health in children and adolescents between the ages of 4 months and 18 years:

  • Infants 4 months to 12 months should sleep 12 to 16 hours per 24 hours (including naps)

  • Children 1-2 years of age should sleep 11-14 hours per 24 hours (including naps)

  • Children 3-5 years of age should sleep 10-13 hours per 24 hours (including naps)

  • Children 6-12 years of age should sleep 9-12 hours per 24 hours

  • Teenagers 13-18 years of age should sleep 8-10 hours per 24 hours

 As children mature into their teen years, sleep often becomes less of a priority as busy schedules with school-related activities and friends can get in the way. Sleep is just as vital to a teenager’s health as it is to a younger child’s health, so make sure your teen gets the necessary amount of sleep.

The Side Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Studies have connected several lingering side effects associated with a lack of sleep. Some short-term negative effects of sleep deprivation in children include mood swings, reduced cognitive function, lower test scores, an inability to focus, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Over time, untreated sleep deprivation can become chronic, leading to much more severe problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart issues, or stroke.

How to Determine if Your Child Gets Enough Sleep

An essential part of getting your children’s sleep cycles back on track is determining if they are getting sufficient sleep. Discerning this can be tricky as it requires you to listen to and watch your kid’s tone and behavior actively.

Warning signs of sleep deprivation include having to wake your child three or more times before they get out of bed in the morning, complaints from your child of feeling tired or worn out throughout the day, or even if a child takes frequent naps on their own time.

This week, your challenge is to…

  1. Understand how much sleep a healthy amount is for your child

  2. Determine if your child is getting the adequate sleep they need

These two simple steps will help put your child back on track to sleep better before returning to school this fall!

You don’t have to keep putting up with sleepless nights. At FusionSleep®, we have dedicated our entire medical practice to helping patients as young as two years old get their lives back through healthy sleep. We offer various sleep solutions, in-lab and at-home sleep testing options, and virtual appointments on our established telemedicine platform. Contact us today on our website or by calling 678.990.3962.

 

Lisa Driscoll