How to Beat the Summertime Sleep Deprivation in Children
School is out, and summer is here! For many people, summer comes with longer days, hotter weather, and fewer structured routines. With the changing and shifting of schedules, your child might be struggling to fall asleep at night.
Summer sleep disturbance is a common occurrence in most children. However, being prepared can help you fight off the harmful effects that come with lack of sleep. With all of the fun times and memory-making that comes with summer, healthy sleep is a necessity. Here are a few sleep tips that will protect your children and yourself from summertime sleep loss:
1. Cultivate Healthy Daytime Habits
Take full advantage of the sunny weather and the long summer evenings for outdoor play and adventure. Physical activity children obtain during the day, burning off energy, will ultimately allow them to fall asleep faster at night. If your child is playing outside during the afternoon, be sure to apply sunscreen and ensure they are drinking enough water to beat the heat. Nothing is worse than trying to fall asleep at night thirsty or with a painful sunburn.
2. Keep Consistency
With all of the travel and fun that comes with summer, consistency might be hard to maintain. Since school is not in session, kids have the opportunity to sleep longer in the mornings and stay up later in the evenings. You might want to adjust your child's bedtime schedule to allow for later nights and mornings. Make sure the schedule you create stays consistent, so your child can adapt to the new routine.
3. Keep the Sleep Environment Dark and Cool
Summer comes with longer and brighter days. You might want to invest in black-out curtains to keep your child's room dark through the evening and early morning hours. The temperature of the bedroom can also affect how well your child sleeps at night. With the temperatures increasing during the summer months, you might want to add an extra fan or turn on the air conditioner to maintain a comfortable temperature in your child's bedroom.
4. Gradually Prepare for Back to School
Unfortunately, summer does not last forever. Eventually, you will have to change your family's routine again and prepare for going back to school. Give your child some time to adjust back to the early morning school routine by shifting their bedtime and morning schedule by 15-30 minutes 2-3 weeks before school begins again.
If your child is struggling to sleep amidst the changes that come with summer, FusionSleep® is here to help! FusionSleep® is the only freestanding sleep clinic in the area seeing patients as young as 2 years old. We have dedicated our entire medical practice to helping patients to get their lives back through healthy sleep. We offer various sleep solutions, including 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.