Study Confirms Making Children Go To Bed Early Is Good For A Mom’s Mental Health

8Why children have a better quality of sleep when they sleep earlier

According to the National Sleep Foundation website of the US, it is essential to sleep earlier for improved sleep. It all boils down to your biological clock which is influenced by natural forces both internally and externally. As it gets darker, your body undergoes triggers that respond likewise by producing the sleep hormone melatonin telling the body its time to sleep. As daylight comes, melatonin reduces heralding the body to be alert and awake.

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9Sleeping late disrupts healthy patterns of sleep

Within this response to darkness and daylight is included the cycles of sleep that include five stages of sleep among which deep and restful sleep is most important. Given a healthy timing of sleep, deep sleep will obviously occur during the night when it’s dark. So reflect on the fact that a child sleeping late will obviously be experiencing deep sleep later at night just when it starts to get daylight when the body conditions itself to awake.

That is when the body’s natural sleep patterns are disrupted resulting in a poor quality of sleep. This results in poor focus, lethargy, lack of concentration and irritability. It is dangerous for the immune system too. Below is the chart from the National Sleep Foundation which shows how much sleep children should get every night.

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10How blue light affects children’s sleep

According to the sleep foundation, you need to reduce screen time and the time when kids spend on their electronic devices, the reason being that the blue light emitted from these devices can reduce and even delay melatonin production resetting and disrupting the body clock concerning sleep. Find out more about the blue light here.

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11Impose a digital curfew

Thus a digital curfew is recommended at least two hours before bedtime. Discipline and a fixed bedtime routine is essential for an improved quality of life. A regular routine followed at home can improve your child’s cognitive function setting him up for success in life in terms’ of both career and physical and mental health. Keep their rooms dark and no caffeine should be given to kids before bedtime. As it has now been vindicated, children sleeping early benefits mom in a big way and this, if followed, will benefit all.

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