Does the idea of your child sleeping through the night feel like a frustrating daydream? Most parents struggle with bedtime at some point in their kid’s lives. Insomnia is unfortunately common in people of all ages and it effects about 20% (i.e. 1 in 5) of children ages 5 to 12.[i] Up to 50% of kids will experience sleep issues during childhood.[ii] How Much Sleep Do Kids Really Need? Both sleep quality and quantity are important, because this is the primary time when the body rests and restores. According to the National Sleep Foundation within a 24-hour period is infants should sleep 12 to 15 hours, while toddlers need 11 to 14 hours, preschoolers need 10 to 13 hours, school-aged children need 9 to 11 hours, and teenagers should be sleeping at least 8-9 hours every night. The timing of when kids fall asleep can make a big difference in sleep quality. Children from infancy to school-age seem to sleep better when they fall asleep between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. On the other hand, children who go to bed after 9:00 p.m. often take longer to fall asleep, wake more frequently during the night, and end up sleeping less overall.[iii] Negative Health Effects of Not Sleeping Enough An astonishing 70% (i.e. 7 out of 10) of kids are not getting enough sleep at night, which can negatively affect their daytime behavior and school performance.[iv] When kids don’t get enough sleep they don’t necessarily act sleepy the way that adults do. In fact, they often become more hyper and irritable when they’re overtired, which can make it much harder for them to fall asleep and stay asleep. Lack of adequate sleep also increases the risk for obesity and metabolic syndrome, which in turn are risk factors for developing heart disease and Diabetes.[v] Encouraging Healthy Sleep Routines To help your child get a better night’s sleep it’s essential to have a relaxing evening and bedtime routine. Watching television or using computers or tablets before bed can make it much harder to fall asleep easily. This is because the blue light that is emitted by … Continue reading The 5 Best Natural Sleep Remedies for Kids