The benefits of sleep for children and the number of ideal hours by age


Posted by Fatima Khalil

Wednesday, 08 February 2023 04:00 PM

multiply Benefits of sleeping for childrenfrom their physical health to their psychological health, so a healthy sleep routine is crucial to the health of the child, and sleep is one of the basic building blocks that contribute greatly to the health and development of the child. In this report, we learn about the benefits of sleep for children, according to the website “HealthAccording to research, children who get enough sleep have an improvement in their attention span, learning, memory, and motor skills development, which leads to an overall improvement in their mental and physical health.

Not getting enough sleep leads to complications such as high blood pressure, obesity, and even depression in some cases. Therefore, proper sleep has a positive effect on the overall health of the child.

Learn about the benefits of sleeping for children

1. Sleep leads to growth due to the secretion of growth hormones

2. Sleep helps the heart and protects children from damage to blood vessels. Lack of sleep may lead to over-excitability of the brain that can lead to higher levels of diabetes, obesity and heart disease due to the circulation of stress hormones in the arterial wall in adulthood.

3. Lack of sleep may also lead to obesity

4. Sleep destroys and also kills germs When someone sleeps, a protein called cytokines is produced. The primary function of this protein is to fight off disease, infection, and stress. Lack of sleep results in less cytokine production.

5. Sleep also increases a child’s attention span which leads to a significant increase in learning.

Lack of sleep may affect the growth and development of the child, causing hindrance in his performance and daily activities. Children who suffer from a lack of sleep may have chances of developing ADHD, a chronic condition that leads to lack of attention and impulsive behavior, or sudden infant death syndrome.

What is the recommended amount of sleep for children?

Infants under 1 year: 12-16 hours

Children 1-2 years old: 11-14 hours

Children 3-5 years old: 10-13 hours

Children 6-12 years old: 9-12 hours

Teens 13-18 years old: 8-10 hours

How do we ensure a proper sleep for children?

Establishing a consistent bedtime routine for children is very important and should be consistent every night. This can be done by ensuring a specific bedtime that must be practiced meticulously without any excuses.

* Dim the lights and set a specific temperature.

* Stop using electronics / screens at least an hour before bed

* Limit caffeine intake

* Give them a warm bath

Do a quiet family activity like reading bedtime stories or singing a lullaby

If your child has daytime sleepiness or behavioral difficulties at school that you think may be related to a lack of sleep, you should see your pediatrician for advice.






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