Less Sleep = Impaired Developmen​t

Waking up to our Children’s Unhealthy Sleep Deficit

The amount of sleep that our children have been getting is become a cause for concern. According to 2007 survey given to 997 Malaysian parents with children aged 0-3 years old, the average amount of sleep that their kids got at night was just 9 hours, which is much lower than the recommended value. 44% of respondents also mentioned that their child was suffering from sleeping problems. A 2011 report also says that 14.5% of children in Hospital Kuala Terengganu snore, which could be signs of sleep-disordered breathing. With the clear correlation of sleep disorders to a stunted developmental growth, in terms of learning and attention span, there is a call for us to wake up and turn our children’s sleep health around.

 

Less Sleep = Impaired Development

Contrary to adults, children who are sleep deprived actually tend to become more hyperactive, which has a tendency to make them more irritable and inattentive. Sleep deprivation with kids also affects overall attention and limits their ability to learn and concentrate. Kids become are at risk of falling sick which leads to extended absences in school. Other negative correlations include weight gain, physical inactivity and reduced cognitive functioning. The good news, however, is that sleep problems for kids are easily treatable through good bedtime habits.

 

Putting in the hours

The amount of sleep needed actually depends on the age of the child. Below is a breakdown per age segment as well as some sleeping tips:

The schedule for newborns is often irregular, so don’t stress if that is the case with your little one! Sometimes sleep can last for a few minutes and other times for several hours. It is advised that you place your newborn on the bed as soon as sleepiness is seeming to set in, as it teaches him to get himself to sleep. You can also condition your little one to stay up more during the day by exposing him to light and noise, and by playing with him during the day. At night, just make sure that things are quieter, darker and less active. Remember, it is never too early to start reading nightly bed time stories!

 

3-11 Months = 14-15 hours per day

Infants will typically be sleeping 9-12 hours at night with 30-120 minute daytime naps about 1-4 times/day. As mentioned, putting your child to bed when he seems sleepy but not yet asleep encourages him to be “self-soothers,” enabling your infant to fall asleep independently and go back to sleep on his own when he wakes at night. At this stage, you should start establishing bedtime schedules. A bath before bed is often a good routine to help establish that it is “bed time”.

 

1-3 Years = 12-14 hours

Toddlers will need almost the same amount of sleep at night as infants do but naps are will start to reduce to once a day, lasting for 1-3 hours. At this stage, don’t be surprised if you encounter some sleep difficulties such as resistance to go to bed, night fears, and nightmares. The recommendation is to stick to the schedules and routines you’ve established them, Although it is easier said than done, be sure to communicate and enforce these routines! Establishing security objects such as blankets or stuff toys will help alleviate any night-related fears. Of course, bed time stories are a perfect way to end a crazy day and will be for years to come!

 

3-5 Years = 11-13 hours

The hours of sleep here usually all happen at night, as naps are typically phased out by now. At this age, your preschooler’s developing imaginations may cause more night-related fears and nightmares which can be solved by making soothing and consistent bedtime routines.

 

5-12 Years = 10-11 hours

Believe it or not, sleep disorders can be very common in this stage. In addition to the usual sleep barriers associated with anxiety and nightmares, research shows that kids at this age often start to over engage with media such as TV, Internet and video games as well as consume caffeinated products. The best way to deal with this is to limit these things in the evening and to continue encouraging a regular sleeping routine. Even kids at this age love a nice read-aloud with mom and dad before bed time! Get lost in a good chapter book together!