Enforcing Bedtimes Improves Health

As a strong believer in bedtime routines and sticking to a set time, I was thrilled to see this article - so I had to share....

I realize not every night can fall to plan, and working full-time has definitely challenged my previously stern routine. After reading this though, I'm going to make an effort to return to my previous strictness. Especially in regards to the waking more frequently... It makes me question that by getting to sleep later (i.e. not his usual 7 PM) he's not sleeping as restfully, and therefore more prone to being easily disturb....

Definitely something to ponder...

snip:
Setting bedtimes can improve sleep quality and quantity for infants and toddlers, according to a growing body of research. Not getting enough sleep affects children's behavior, memory, attention, and emotional well-being, experts said.

snip:
In that study, 405 mothers and their infants or toddlers under the age of 3 were randomly assigned to a bedtime routine or instructed to follow their usual habits. The mothers recorded daily sleep diaries and filled out questionnaires every week. The researchers found that moods improved after using the bedtime routine.

Parents mean well, but some mistakenly believe that keeping their babies up late will help them sleep, said Mindell, an associate director of the Sleep Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

"They think that if they keep them up late, they'll conk out, that they'll be exhausted and they'll sleep better," she said. "And it backfires. We know that overtired babies take longer to fall asleep and they wake more frequently at night."


How much sleep do you need?
Newborns
• Birth - 2 months old need 10.5 - 18 hours
Infants
•3 - 11 months old need 9 - 12 hours (and additional naps)
Toddlers/Children
• 1 - 3 years old need 12 - 14 hours
• 3 - 5 years old need 11 - 13 hours
• 5 - 12 years old need 10 - 11 hours
Adolescents need at least 8.5 - 9.25 hours
Adults typically need 7 - 9 hours

Source: National Sleep Foundation
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/09/14/bedtime.children/index.html