ASK THE EXPERTS
Glennon Kid Kevin gains the sleep necessary to fuel his growth and development
Ask the Experts:
Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
A
re your kids getting enough sleep? Chances are they’re not. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that 6 out of 10 middle schoolers and 7 out of 10 high schoolers don’t get enough sleep. Younger children are also not getting the recommended amount of good quality sleep.
Sleep is necessary to rest minds and fuel growth and development. Newborns and infants need at least 12 to 17 hours of sleep within 24 hours, including daytime naps. Elementary school children should sleep for 9 to 12 hours, and teens should get between 8 and 10 hours of sleep each night. We asked SLUCare pulmonologist and board-certified sleep medicine specialist Brent Haberman, MD, how to help children get a good night’s sleep. What are some clues that my child isn’t getting enough sleep?
Brent Haberman, MD, SLUCare pulmonologist and boardcertified sleep medicine specialist
Being drowsy or cranky in the morning, having difficulty waking up or falling asleep when not stimulated are signals that your child may be sleep-deprived. Even hyperactivity can be a sign. Young children who are sleep deprived can sometimes run around a room and
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parents don’t realize their child is simply trying to stay awake. How can I encourage good sleep habits? Establishing a bedtime routine that calms children down and allows them to soothe themselves to sleep is the key to a good night’s sleep. The routine can include a warm bath, reading a book or playing a quiet game. Shut off anything with a lighted screen — phone, computer, tablet, television — at least one hour before bedtime and discourage any fast-paced activity before bed. I recommend several books: •H ealthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth, MD •S olve Your Child’s Sleep Problems by Richard Ferber, MD •O n Becoming Babywise by Robert Bucknam.
