Good Bedtime Rules Help Your Children Get The Sleep They Need

Getting adequate rest is essential, particularly for young children whose growing bodies need sleep to properly function.

New research published in the journal Sleep Health shows that children living in households with good rules and regular sleep-wake routines are more likely to have better age-appropriate sleep.

For the study, researchers evaluated U.S. households with children between the ages of 6 to 17 years old through Internal-based reviews. A total of 1,103 parents or guardians of an average age of 42 completed surveys and 54 percent were female.

"We were interested in parental perception of the importance of sleep duration and sleep quality, habits, and routines of the families and children, and obstacles preventing adequate sleep," said lead study author Orfeu Buxton, now an associate professor or biobehavioral health at Penn State, in a news release.

Researchers noted that while the majority of parents endorsed the importance of sleep, close to 90 percent of children did not sleep the full amount of time that's recommended for their age group.

When children do not get enough sleep, it can impair learning and school performance or even take a physical toll on the body. Furthermore, evidence indicates that lack of sleep may be related to high-risk behaviors including substance abuse, suicidal behaviors and unsafe driving.

Researchers speculate that poor sleep may be caused by a number of issues, including overuse of technology in the bedroom, overly busy daily schedules that interfere with rest and recreational activities that may result in noise disruptions from people nearby. 

It's important to make sure that your child is getting enough sleep. If he or she is having trouble, talk with your doctor about the appropriate family dynamic involving a suitable bedtime. 

"Good quality and sufficient sleep are vital for children," Buxton concluded. "Just like a healthy diet and exercise, sleep is critical for children to stay healthy, grow, learn, do well in school, and function at their best."

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