When Do Children Go to Bed? Experts Explain How Much Sleep They Need, It All Depends on Age
New research has found that going to bed early in preschool age reduces the risk of obesity in adolescence, and that the quality and quantity of sleep have lasting consequences on many aspects of children's behavior.
TL;DR
- Early bedtimes in preschool are linked to a reduced risk of obesity in adolescence.
- The quality and quantity of sleep have lasting effects on children's behavior, cognitive development, concentration, emotional regulation, mental health, hormones, and metabolism.
- The American Academy of Sleep Medicine provides age-specific sleep duration guidelines for children and teenagers.
- Parents should focus on ensuring their child gets sufficient sleep duration rather than adhering to a specific 'normal' bedtime.
- Sleep is as vital to human life as food and air, with humans spending nearly a third of their lives sleeping.