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How much sleep did your child get last night? According to experts, two to five-year-olds need an average of 12 hours, yet the majority of children don't enjoy this amount. A recent survey of over 500 parents by bed makers, Silentnight, found that most children have missed out on over 4,500 hours of their recommended sleep quota by the time they reach their seventh birthdays.
It's easy to see why children are sleeping less: more kids than ever have a TV and video/DVD player plus computer in their bedrooms. Great to keep them entertained and give their parents much-needed time and space, but being over-stimulated means they feel sleepy much later than usual.
Understandably, too, children of working parents are often put to bed later than those whose parents see more of them during the day.
The problem is that the knock-on effect of late nights and early mornings is thought to interfere with neurological development, and some experts have even linked a deficit of sleep with behavioural disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
More rest, less work and play
The ideal situation, according to Professor Jim Horne of the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, is that the bedroom is a haven for sleep and not an entertainment centre: 'Bedrooms are changing from places of rest and tranquillity to places where there are lots of things to keep a child awake,' he says, concluding: 'I would not allow a child to have a television or computer in their bedroom - or at least place firm limits on their use.'
Just as babies enjoy a bedtime routine, and come to recognise the cues that bedtime is near, so toddlers and older children can benefit, too. A period of quiet, winding-down time before bed is a good idea, followed by a routine which stays the same (as far as possible) each night.
Psychologist Dr Dorothy Einon is a fan of this idea: 'The importance of establishing a relaxing bedtime routine cannot be overestimated. Quiet time should be built in before bedtime. The room should be dark and tranquil, at a good temperature, and the bed should be comfortable.'
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