Start the new year with good sleep hygiene, writes Dr. Valerie Crabtree
Dr. Valerie Crabtree
| Along with nutrition and exercise, sleep is the third pillar of health that keeps us healthy and balanced.
“Yet, as a society, we really undervalue the role of sleep in keeping us healthy,” says Dr. Valerie Crabtree. In children – indeed, in people of all ages – insufficient sleep is related to poorer organization, poorer memory, and academic difficulties. In addition, chronic sleepiness is correlated to higher rates of depression and increased rates of automobile accidents in adults,” says Crabtree, who is chief of psychosocial services at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Here Crabtree’s 10 tips to fostering good sleep hygiene in children and teens:
Keep a consistent sleep schedule. Make sure you wake your kids up and have them go to bed at about the same time on weeknights and weekend nights. Bedtime and wake time should not differ from day to day by more than an hour.
Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine. Make the 30 minutes before bed wind-down time. Do not let children watch TV, use electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.) or exercise during this time. Instead, have them do something relaxing, such as playing with quiet toys, reading a book or listening to soothing music.
Create an environment in your kid’s room that is only for sleeping. This means kids’ bedrooms should be comfortable, quiet and dark. Make sure the bedroom is not too warm (keep it 74 degrees or lower), as warm temperatures interfere with sleep. It is also very important to get all technology, including TVs, cell phones, computers, tablets, etc., out of the bedroom.
Make sure your family is eating regular meals throughout the day and having a light snack before bed. Do not feed kids large amounts of sugar or chocolate just before bedtime.
Children should exercise regularly, but not too close to bedtime. The best time for kids to exercise is first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon. If possible, they should avoid strenuous physical exertion right before bedtime.
Let kids enjoy the sunshine in the morning. Make sure your kids have the opportunity to spend time outside every day, especially in the morning, as exposure to sunlight or bright light helps keep the body’s internal clock on track.
Limit your children’s light exposure in the evening, especially after dinner. Dim overhead lights and reduce the brightness of screens.
Avoid putting kids down for naps if they are having trouble falling asleep at bedtime. Naps are developmentally appropriate in young children, and some adolescents benefit from a short afternoon nap (30 to 45 minutes right after school).
Do not allow teenagers to consume caffeine after 4 p.m. or within six hours of bedtime. Caffeine has a half-life of four to six hours, which means it should still be helping you stay awake four to six hours after you take it. Consuming caffeine too close to bedtime makes it hard to fall asleep.
Be mindful of teenager’s unique sleep clock. Keep in mind that most teens’ biology will not allow them to fall asleep any earlier than 10:30 or 11 p.m. Teens need eight to 10 hours of sleep per night.
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