Sleeplessness, Sleep Disorder
Sleep Problems in Children and Teens
Young children need 10 to 11 hours of sleep, experts say, and teens need between 8 and 10 (adults, by contrast, need 7 to 8). Sleep difficulties in children often occur when consistent bedtimes are not strictly enforced. Comorbid mental health conditions like ADHD , depression, or anxiety can also contribute to childhood sleep problems.
Teenagers , in general, are a particularly sleep-deprived group: Experts estimate that only 15 percent of U.S. teenagers are getting the recommended amount of sleep. While teens are naturally inclined to stay up late and sleep in, academic demands and busy schedules can make late starts impossible; as a result, allowing teens to stay up too late can result in overtiredness and poorer functioning. Some evidence suggests that teens who stay up past midnight are more likely to develop depression than their early-to-bed counterparts. To counter this growing problem, some states, districts, and individual schools are shifting school start-times to later in the day so that teens can get more rest.
Insomnia tends to be rarer in children than in adults, and is more common in older children than younger children. Evidence suggests that as many as 10 percent of teenagers (ages 10-19) struggle with chronic insomnia. Children with ADHD display a higher prevalence of insomnia; as many as 75 percent are thought to have difficulties with sleep.
Parents can help by establishing—and enforcing—set times for going to sleep and waking up. Also essential is a consistent bedtime routine that helps the child wind down each evening; this can include a warm bath, reading together, or other soothing activities. Parents should also ensure children get enough exercise—a critical component of healthy sleep.
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