Why sleep matters by Winifred Makawa, MSN, BSN, RN
We, as adults, sometimes get into the bad habit of consistently not getting
enough sleep and just powering through the grogginess, the disorientation, and
the fatigue all day without thinking anything of it. Now imagine all these feelings
of grogginess, disorientation, and fatigue transpiring in a small child’s still
developing brain. How confusing and maybe frightening that must be.
Not to mention that as adults we have the convenience of not worrying too much
about how sleep impacts our growth, but the effects of sleep directly influences
childrens’ growth and development. A child’s brain continues to physically alter
until about 20 years old, and toddlers are at the peak level for neuronal brain
connection and transformation. All of these actions principally take place during
sleeping hours, thus the lack of sleep for the young child may actually result in an
underdeveloped brain.
Furthermore, research shows that children who get enough sleep have healthier
immune systems, increased focus, and are better able to consistently regulate
their emotions over those who don’t get enough sleep. These findings indicate
that not getting enough sleep sets the child up for increased distractibility,
emotional lability and may even play a role in developing childhood obesity,
adolescent depression, and high blood pressure.
If your child is experiencing daytime sleepiness or behavioral difficulties that you
suspect may be associated with a lack of sleep, please consider a visit to the
pediatrician before giving sleep aid medications, as those may promote
substance dependency.
Why the bedtime routine matters
Bedtime routines set the stage for good sleep hygiene, which ultimately has
positive physical, cognitive, mental, and emotional results. The main positive
physical result of a steady bedtime routine is instilling within the child the
importance of proper hygiene. The positive cognitive result of a solid bedtime
routine is the enhancement of literacy skills. Health research has proven that
frequent communication with infants and toddlers via reading and singing
promotes early language and cognitive development. The positive mental and
emotional aspects of enforcing a nightly bedtime routine are numerous, but they
all stem from establishing a sense of security and safety within a child. This
directly plays into their self esteem and their development towards self-
actualization as they grow up. Fostering the parent-child or caregiver-child bond
during the bedtime routine decreases stress levels and improves mood and
behavior not only for the child but for the adult as well. However, consistency is
key. Doing the same things, in the same order, at the same time is imperative for
giving the child a sense of security and control.
Consistent sleep schedules and bedtime routines will not only equate
to a calmer, better organized and efficient household, but they are
principal factors to enhancing a child's growth and development.
References
Alrousan, G., Hassan, A., Pillai, A., Atrooz, F., Salim, S. Early life sleep
deprivation and brain development: insights from human and animal studies.
Frontiers in Neuroscience (16). May 3, 2022. Web, accessed April 18, 2023,
available https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2022.833786/full
Mindell, J. & Williamson, A. Benefits of a bedtime routine in young children:
Sleep, development, and beyond. Sleep Medicine Reviews. Nov 6, 2017.
Pacheco, Danielle. Bedtime routines for children. Sleep Foundation. Aug 22,
2022. Web, accessed April 18, 2023, available:
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep/bedtime-routine
Why bedtime routines matter. fitSandfordHealth. n.d. Web, accessed April 18,
2023, available: https://fit.sanfordhealth.org/blog/why-bedtime-routines-matter