A study has found that about four out of ten primary school Singaporean children aged six to nine are not getting enough sleep.
From birth to adolescence, children are heavy sleepers. But how do you know if their vital needs are met? What if their nights are problematic? Mamahood goes back on these troubles that often cause difficulties of attention and fatigue to the child…and to his parents!
How much sleep does my child need?
Newborns (0 to 3 months) require 14 to 17 hours/night.
For infants (4 to 11 months) between 12 and 15 hours are enough.
Toddlers (1 to 2 years old) should rest between 11 and 14 hours per night, divided into 10 or 12 hours a night and a 2-hour nap. The nap of the afternoon must be maintained most often and as long as possible.
For preschoolers (3-5 years), doctors recommend between 10 and 13 hours/night. The child enters kindergarten, so it is essential to go to bed little earlier in the evening, around 7 or 8 p.m. He should sleep about twelve hours a day, with a nap of at least an hour.
Little by little, the need for a nap will disappear and must be gone around 6 years old (otherwise, it means that your child needs more time in bed at night).
School-aged children (ages 6-13) need 9 to 11 hours / night.
Around the age of 6, bedtime should be shorter around 10 hours per night. This reduction is almost entirely related to the disappearance of naps. During the night, nocturnal terrors or sleepwalking can occur, frequently between 6 and 10 years old. Moreover, it is important to be careful about sleeping routine; Indeed, waking up your child during deep sleep phases will result in your kid being exhausted.
Lastly, teenagers (14-17 years), ideal recovery time is between 8 and 10 hours.
Sleep benefits:
Sufficient rest, in hours and quality, helps the child’s development and learning:
- Strengthen his knowledge’s and to learn information and strategies to solve a problem;
- Use better his logical reasoning;
- Manage better his feelings;
- Remain alert during the day;
- Concentrate more and longer;
- Develop well on the physical plan;
- Strengthen his immune system.
Sleep tight darling
“Mom, just a little more, please!” Children can sometimes be reluctant to go to bed. However, to ensure him enough sleep, put your child to bed early and at a fixed time every day. Besides, for a child to sleep well, keep a certain calm in the house: avoid making noise, lower the television’s volume.
The room should not be overheated or too bright. However, a night-light intended to reassure him will not be a problem for his sleep. Finally, especially for little kids, having a ritual before sleep can be helpful. For instance: putting pyjamas, brushing his teeth, getting tucked, lullaby…
Do your children sleep well? Is it difficult to make them go to bed? Do you meet all their needs? Share your stories with us!
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