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MILWAUKEE (3/6/2008) - the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sleep loss and sleep disorders are chronic conditions for an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans.
Sleep is especially important for children. Lack of sleep has been linked to serious health issues and poor school performance in children and adolescents and irritability and overall fussiness in infants and toddlers. According to the National Sleep Foundation, two-thirds of American children age 10 and younger have sleep problems.
"Sleep is the primary brain activity for infants," said Lynn D'Andrea, MD, medical director of Pulmonary Services at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. "Chronic lack of sleep can affect a young child's development."
"School-age children who do not get enough sleep may see their grades drop," D'Andrea said. "A child who is not getting enough sleep may have a shorter attention span, difficulty learning and an inability to concentrate. He or she also may miss more school because of illness." In addition, research has linked lack of sleep to physical inactivity, weight gain and other risky behaviors such as use of alcohol and tobacco.
For teens, drowsiness can be deadly when they get behind the wheel of a car. Studies have shown that drowsy driving is as dangerous as drinking and driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy driving causes at least 100,000 police-reported crashes and kills more than 1,550 Americans each year.
Most sleep problems are treatable. For many children, adopting good bedtime habits is all that is needed. Following are tips to help your child sleep:
Infants (newborn to 18 months)
Sleep needed: 10 to 18 hours of sleep a day (including naps).
-Develop daytime nap and bedtime schedules and stick to them.
-Create an enjoyable bedtime routine that you do every night with your child.
-Establish a safe sleep environment. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants be placed on their backs in a crib without soft objects and bedding such as pillows, quilts and stuffed animals.
-Put infants to bed drowsy but not yet asleep, to encourage them to fall asleep on their own.
Toddlers and preschoolers (19 months to 4 years)
Sleep needed: 11 to 14 hours a day (including naps).
-Develop a bedtime routine such as having a snack or reading a story. Make sure the routine ends with your child in his or her own bed.
-Create a bedroom environment that is the same every night – cool, dark, quiet and comfortable.
-If your child is afraid, suggest a blanket or stuffed animal for company.
-If your child wakes in the middle of the night, try to redirect him or her back to bed with minimal interactions.
School-aged children (5 to 12 years)
Sleep needed: nine to 11 hours a night.
-Talk to your school-aged child about healthy sleep habits and why they are important.
-Enforce consistent sleep schedules and bedtime routines, even on weekends.
-Make your child's bedroom the best environment for sleep – dark, cool and quiet.
-Avoid having a TV or computer in your child's bedroom.
-Balance your child's schedule. Never let activities take the place of sleep.
-Teach your child to eat healthy and exercise regularly. Overweight children are at risk for sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder.
Teens (13 to 18 years)
Sleep needed: nine hours a night.
-Help your teen plan a schedule that includes the necessary sleep time and stick to it, even on the weekends.
-Encourage your teen to develop a bedtime routine that involves quiet activities like reading or listening to soft music.
-Create a good sleep environment – cool, dark and comfortable.
-Limit caffeine, especially after lunchtime.
-Teach your child to eat healthy and exercise regularly. Both will help him or her maintain a healthy weight. Overweight children are at risk for sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder.
Children's Hospital has the only pediatric Sleep Clinic in the state that is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Children with sleep disorders are evaluated in the Sleep Clinic. A pediatric sleep laboratory is available for children who need additional testing. If your child has a sleep problem, talk to his or her doctor or call (414) 266-2790.Americans are sleep deprived. According to a recent study sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sleep loss and sleep disorders are chronic conditions for an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans.
Sleep is especially important for children. Lack of sleep has been linked to serious health issues and poor school performance in children and adolescents and irritability and overall fussiness in infants and toddlers. According to the National Sleep Foundation, two-thirds of American children age 10 and younger have sleep problems.
"Sleep is the primary brain activity for infants," said Lynn D'Andrea, MD, medical director of Pulmonary Services at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. "Chronic lack of sleep can affect a young child's development."
"School-age children who do not get enough sleep may see their grades drop," D'Andrea said. "A child who is not getting enough sleep may have a shorter attention span, difficulty learning and an inability to concentrate. He or she also may miss more school because of illness." In addition, research has linked lack of sleep to physical inactivity, weight gain and other risky behaviors such as use of alcohol and tobacco.
For teens, drowsiness can be deadly when they get behind the wheel of a car. Studies have shown that drowsy driving is as dangerous as drinking and driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy driving causes at least 100,000 police-reported crashes and kills more than 1,550 Americans each year.
Most sleep problems are treatable. For many children, adopting good bedtime habits is all that is needed. Following are tips to help your child sleep:
Infants (newborn to 18 months)
Sleep needed: 10 to 18 hours of sleep a day (including naps).
-Develop daytime nap and bedtime schedules and stick to them.
-Create an enjoyable bedtime routine that you do every night with your child.
-Establish a safe sleep environment. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants be placed on their backs in a crib without soft objects and bedding such as pillows, quilts and stuffed animals.
-Put infants to bed drowsy but not yet asleep, to encourage them to fall asleep on their own.
Toddlers and preschoolers (19 months to 4 years)
Sleep needed: 11 to 14 hours a day (including naps).
-Develop a bedtime routine such as having a snack or reading a story. Make sure the routine ends with your child in his or her own bed.
-Create a bedroom environment that is the same every night – cool, dark, quiet and comfortable.
-If your child is afraid, suggest a blanket or stuffed animal for company.
-If your child wakes in the middle of the night, try to redirect him or her back to bed with minimal interactions.
School-aged children (5 to 12 years)
Sleep needed: nine to 11 hours a night.
-Talk to your school-aged child about healthy sleep habits and why they are important.]
-Enforce consistent sleep schedules and bedtime routines, even on weekends.
-Make your child's bedroom the best environment for sleep – dark, cool and quiet.
-Avoid having a TV or computer in your child's bedroom.
-Balance your child's schedule. Never let activities take the place of sleep.
-Teach your child to eat healthy and exercise regularly. Overweight children are at risk for sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder.
Teens (13 to 18 years)
Sleep needed: nine hours a night.
-Help your teen plan a schedule that includes the necessary sleep time and stick to it, even on the weekends.
-Encourage your teen to develop a bedtime routine that involves quiet activities like reading or listening to soft music.
-Create a good sleep environment – cool, dark and comfortable.
-Limit caffeine, especially after lunchtime.
-Teach your child to eat healthy and exercise regularly. Both will help him or her maintain a healthy weight. Overweight children are at risk for sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder.
Children's Hospital has the only pediatric Sleep Clinic in the state that is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Children with sleep disorders are evaluated in the Sleep Clinic. A pediatric sleep laboratory is available for children who need additional testing. If your child has a sleep problem, talk to his or her doctor or call (414) 266-2790.
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