Help your child avoid the risks of teen sleep deprivation
Most people aren’t surprised to learn that 80% or more of teenagers don’t get enough sleep. Teens should be getting about eight to 10 hours each night, but few kids do. Feeling tired is one thing, but teen sleep deprivation is a bigger problem. It can cause physical and mental health issues that hurt your child. Our Plano pediatricians have some advice about improving your child’s sleep habits and overcoming their sleep challenges.
What are the risks for your teen if they get too little sleep?
If your child isn’t sleeping enough, you may notice that they have trouble waking up, staying awake or focusing. There are several other, more serious, effects of teen sleep deprivation.
- Poor academic performance or falling grades
- Problems with their emotional health, such as irritability or mood swings
- Depression, anxiety or other mental health issues
- Poor decision-making that leads to impulsive behavior or more risk-taking
- A weakened immune system, making a teen more susceptible to colds, respiratory issues or stomach problems
- Driving while drowsy, which can cause car accidents
How to help your child overcome sleep challenges
Our Plano pediatricians know that you can’t monitor every nighttime hour of your teen’s life, but we do have some tips that can help your child avoid teen sleep deprivation.
- Talk to your teen about their bedtime routine. Help them develop a consistent bedtime and time to get up each morning.
- Try to reduce chaos in the home in the evening, and aim for a calm environment.
- Ask them to limit the use of electronic devices before bedtime.
- Help them evaluate their activity level and decide if they need to give up something in order to get more rest.
- Limit caffeine later in the afternoon.
- Talk to them about their mental health. Find out if they have issues that are causing insomnia. If they are having problems, talk to our pediatricians about next steps.
- Encourage them to get regular exercise and eat a healthy balanced diet.
- Work with your community to change school start times to later hours.
Teenagers do have sleep challenges, but you can help them overcome them.
Talk to our Plano pediatricians if you are concerned about teen sleep deprivation
Teen sleep problems affect your child’s physical and mental health. It’s vital for parents to take an active interest in their teen’s sleep patterns. Our pediatricians can help you talk to your teen and overcome the issues teen sleep deprivation causes. Contact us for an appointment.
