Many children in Singapore do not have enough sleep every night. Sleep is an integral component of childhood development. Sleep enables their bodies to repair themselves while learning new skills and creating memories; and provides their brains with an opportunity to produce hormones essential for learning and memory formation.
One study discovered that decreased sleep quality was linked to reduced HRQoL, or health-related quality of life, for healthy children. Researchers measured the relationship between sleep duration and HRQoL in young Swedish children using a parent proxy questionnaire; correlation was weak and inconsistent due to subjective methodology used and only Swedish-speaking parents participating.
Sleep can play an essential role in helping your child be healthy, productive, and fulfilled – helping them build vital skills to navigate both school life and adult life.
Sleep needs will change with age and stage of development; The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends at least 11 hours for children between the ages of 5-14.
There are various factors that could compromise your child’s sleep quality, such as:
Medical conditions (particularly acute illness) can have a dramatic impact on children’s sleep habits. This is especially true for children suffering from asthma, eczema or bronchitis.
Even minor illnesses like ear infections or colds can have a dramatic impact on sleep. Your child may need to adjust their schedule or adapt to new caregivers and environments in order to remain restful during the night.
Sleep issues in children can make falling asleep difficult, so creating a positive routine that includes bedtime stories and soothing music as well as relaxing bathing can be helpful in getting them off to a good sleep. Talking with them about their fears may also provide comforting assurance that eventually, sleep will come.
Screen time before bedtime can have a serious impact on your child’s sleep, so limit their screen time to no more than one hour prior to going to sleep. Also avoid giving them anything that contains caffeine such as sodas or energy drinks which could disrupt their rest.
Establish a regular routine for both naps and bedtimes. Doing this will enable your child to learn to fall asleep on their own and stay asleep, as well as making managing their sleep simpler – helping ensure that both they and you are able to rest during the nighttime hours.
Timing of REM sleep for children is of utmost importance; during REM sleep the brain is most active and learning new information. If your child has difficulty falling or staying asleep during this stage of their sleep cycle, it’s crucial that they speak to the doctor about this matter immediately.
Sleep disorders often coincide with other mental health conditions or problems, including anxiety, depression and mood swings. Many of these disorders can be alleviated with therapeutic sleep. Consult your doctor or The Air Station in Singapore for more information about sleep disorders in children and CPAP therapy, or continuous positive airway pressure therapy, for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment.
