New Guidelines Advise Plenty Of Sleep For Children
BOSTON (CBS) -- Between school and extracurricular activities many parents struggle with making sure their kids are getting enough rest. As Dr. Mallika Marshall reports, the American Academy of Pediatrics is endorsing a new set of sleep suggestions to make sure children stay healthy.
At the Winget house keeping up with 8 year old Grady and 5 year old Ginger is nearly a full time job.
"It's challenging to get them in bed by 8:30 and then school starts at 8," says their mom, Brande Winget. "So we struggle with it at times."
Experts say getting enough sleep is critical for kids, not just for their physical health but also to help with their behavior and learning. That's why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is now supporting new sleep guidelines.
"Sleep can lead to hypertension, which is high blood pressure," explains Dr. Corinn Cross, Spokesperson for the AAP. "We know it can lead to obesity. In teens it can lead to depression and adults as well."
The new recommendations say:
- Infants from 4 to 12 months should get 12 to 16 hours of sleep
- Children 1 to 2 years old should get 11 to 14 hours
- Kids 3 to 5 should get 10 to 13 hours
- 6 to 12 year olds should sleep 9 to 12 hours a night
- Teenagers should get from 8 to 10 hours of sleep
Dr. Cross says many children are too over-scheduled to get enough rest.
"Sometimes you do have to think about what is it my child really enjoys doing," says Dr. Cross. "Those are going to be our priorities and maybe we don't need to do every sport."
The AAP also says parents should establish a routine to make sure kids get to bed on time.
"I just want happy, healthy rested children," says Brande. "It makes parenting a little easier."
Turning off TVs and computers 30 minutes before bedtime is a good place to start. If you think your child is sleeping too little or too much, talk to your pediatrician about a possible sleep disorder.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
