Signs of sleep deprivation in children and teens
When kids skimp on sleep, there’s more at stake than feeling a bit grumpy and drowsy. Learn about the signs of sleep deprivation.
Sleep
How to reset your child’s internal clock for an earlier bedtime: A comprehensive, troubleshooting guide
How can we help kids adapt to an earlier schedule? Morning sunlight, exercise, and other environmental cues can help reset a child’s internal clock. But to make sure kids feel physiologically drowsy at bedtime, we need to use additional strategies. Understanding the big picture: How circadian rhythms, daytime naps, and social factors impact your child’s … Continue reading
How television affects sleep — and what we can do to sleep better
How does television affect sleep? In adults, it can push back bedtimes and disrupt sleep patterns. In young children, even more can go wrong. Here’s what to look out for.
Sleep tips and topics for the science-minded parent
© 2008 – 2018 Gwen Dewar, all rights reserved Looking for evidence-based sleep tips? These articles review the latest relevant research in anthropology, brain science, sleep science, and pediatrics. They include discussions of baby sleep and the best-available evidence regarding child sleep requirements. In addition, there are articles about Children who refuse to go to … Continue reading
Television violence: Do kids like it? Do adults like it?
Studies suggest that both children and adults are happier when they reduce exposure to violent television content. Media creators serve up lots of television violence, and there’s reason for concern. Exposure to media violence may cause sleep problems in young children. It also puts kids at higher risk for developing behavior problems. Defenders argue that … Continue reading
What is SIDS? An overview for the science-minded parent
© 2009 -2014, Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved What is SIDS? Scientists can offer only partial answers. But we know this much: SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, seems to involve a failure to arouse from sleep during a life-threatening event–like a severe episode of sleep apnea or esophageal reflux (Franco et al 2004). … Continue reading
Baby sleep requirements: How much sleep do babies really need?
A critical look at what scientific studies say about baby sleep requirements. How to determine your baby’s personal sleep needs.
Sleep requirements in children: An evidence-based guide
What are your child’s personal sleep requirements? Even the experts don’t know for sure. Sleep has a big impact on our well-being, so it’s understandable that parents want to know if their kids are getting enough. Recent research suggests that something as simple as a well-timed nap makes a difference in how much preschoolers learn … Continue reading
SIDS prevention: Hypotheses about reducing risk
© 2009 – 2013 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Guidelines for “SIDS prevention” are like guidelines about cancer prevention. Researchers don’t claim they know how to prevent SIDS in any given individual. But they’ve identified a number of practices that appear to increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Practices to AVOID include: … Continue reading