Did you know?

Sleep patterns in children carry over into adulthood


In newborns, sleep is the primary activity of the child’s brain and directly impacts mental and physical development. Sleep-wake cycles take time to develop, which is why newborns often have irregular schedules. By age two, most children will have spent more time asleep than awake. As children grow, they will spend approximately 40 percent of their childhood asleep.

When children do not get the sleep they need, they are at risk for health, performance and safety problems. In addition, sleep deprivation often results in difficulties at school. Perhaps even more disturbing is that sleep patterns often carry over into adulthood.

In his book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, Marc Weissbluth, MD, defines sleep as "the power source that keeps your mind alert and calm. Every night and at every nap, sleep recharges the brain's battery…Sleeping well increases your attention span and allows you to be physically relaxed and mentally alert at the same time. Then you are at your personal best."

Healthy sleep allows us to function optimally when we are awake, to have what is called optimal alertness. In an optimally alert state, we are most receptive to our environment, have the greatest attention span and learn the most. The well-rested child is calm and attentive, absorbing everything and socially interactive, whereas less ideal states of alertness interfere with learning and behavior.

What Parents Can Do

As parents, it is primarily our responsibility to be sensitive to our children's developmental needs and ensure they have healthy sleep patterns. It is much easier to instill good habits than correct bad ones, so starting children on a stable routine as early as possible is best. Infants who are not given the opportunity to learn how to put themselves to sleep are more apt to grow into adults who have irregular sleep patterns.

The National Sleep Foundation offers the following tips to helping children get a good night’s sleep:

  • Establish a regular bedtime and wake up time. Parents and children should plan a daily schedule that includes the basic daily sleep requirements for particular age groups. This schedule should be maintained on the weekends, though students can be permitted to sleep in one or two hours on weekend mornings if necessary.
  • Create a bedtime routine, regardless of a child's age. It should include at least 15-30 minutes of calm, soothing activities. Discourage television, exercise, computer and telephone use, and avoid caffeine (found in beverages, chocolate and other products).
  • Achieve a balanced schedule. Identify and prioritize activities that allow for downtime and sufficient sleep time. Help students avoid an overloaded schedule that can lead to stress and difficulty coping, which contribute to poor health and sleep problems.
  • Make bedtime a positive and relaxing experience without TV or videos. According to one recent study, TV viewing prior to bed can lead to difficulty falling and staying asleep. Save your child’s favorite relaxing, non-stimulating activities until last and have them occur in the child’s bedroom.
  • Keep the bedtime environment comfortable. Limit exposure to light and keep bedroom temperatures constant.

When to be Concerned

As parents, we tend to focus more on food and safety in the lives of our children and may forget about the importance of sleep. In reality, sleep is one of the most basic requirements of good health. The lack of it, whether in children or adults, can cause unwanted disorders.

Children do not outgrow sleep problems, so issues must be solved. Small but constant deficits in sleep may have long-term effects on brain function. A visit to the doctor is recommended if a child displays any of the following symptoms:

  • A newborn or infant is extremely and consistently fussy.
  • A child is having problems breathing.
  • A child snores, especially if snoring is loud.
  • A child has unusual nighttime awakenings. (Night terrors are most common in children aged 4 to 8.)
  • A child has difficulty falling and remaining asleep, resulting in daytime sleepiness and/or behavioral problems.