Children and Sleep Loss By W.P. Allen Allen At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Children who are newborn sleep an average of 15 to 16 1/2 hours per day and by the age of six months usually average around 14 to 15 hours per day. At the age of two years old, the average sleep time is 12 1/2 to 13 1/2 hours (which includes an approximate 2 hours of nap time and 11 hours sleeping at night). By the age of six years old, most children will no longer take naps and the sleep time is reduced to around 11 to 12 hours. Sleep time for the average 10 year old is approximately 10 hours. Children from the ages of 14 to 18 and 19 average around 7 to 8 1/2 hours per day. The amount the child sleeps will considerably very from day to day. But just as it is for adults, the number of hours a child sleeps weekly or monthly will average a very consistent amount.

The above average cited above is, however, just as meaningless for an individual child as they are for an individual adult. For example, one child who is several years younger than another child may sleep 1 to 2 hours less than their older sibling did throughout their childhood. Some parents may be concerned that the child who slept less than may be having some problem that cause sleep loss. More than likely they were sleeping the amount of time that they needed to sleep.

So if you have a child that does not fit within the average sleep time that is mentioned above, there's no need to worry, as long as the child can function well and does not seem to fall asleep during the activities of the day. If your child needs stimulation most of the time and then you find them falling asleep while watching television or doing something else that is a quiet pastime, there is a probability that your child is not getting enough sleep.

So what can you do to make sure that your children get the sleep that they should be getting. There are few things that you can control that can greatly affect how your child sleeps. The first is your child's diet. A child's diet, because of the rapidity to which your child is growing, is extremely important. If the child is eating too much sugar or processed foods that it can greatly affect not only ther sleep but also their ability to comprehend and function normally during day to day activities. So if your child is eating lots of sugar based foodstuffs such as serial or snacks and they're not getting sleep or ther acting sluggish then you want to regulate what their eating. Try more vegetables, lean meats, fish, and grains and less foods that have little to zero nutritional value.

Also try not to have a television and the child's room. A lot of us grew up with televisions in our room and it seems like a normal thing to do as it seems to calms the child (or seemingly calms the child) before bedtime. The researchers have found that it can actually disturb sleep and they recommend the televisions not be included in the child's bedroom.

Also make sure that your child is getting regular exercise. It is very important for their health that they get supply and be active. Children who sit around a lot and are active in play video games or other non active activities often sleep less and have trouble with daily activities. So make sure you take time out of your day and see that your child gets plenty of exercise.

So if you're worried about your children when it comes to their sleep just remember that if they seem to be fine during the day then there probably receiving the sleep they need. If they don't then look at their habits and make any needed changes. If there still not receiving sleeping need then consult the opinion of a doctor.

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