HOUSTON – (Aug. 9, 2010) – Time changes and schedule changes
can make it harder for children to sleep well and can affect their performance at
school. Because it is difficult for children to quickly switch from the later sleep
schedule of summer to an earlier wake up time for school, sleep specialists at Texas
Children's Hospital are recommending parents start early and take the next few weeks
before school starts to begin transitioning their child to an earlier sleep schedule.
"It is so important to help your child get the sleep they need so they can
be awake and alert in the classroom," said
Dr. Daniel Glaze, medical director of
Texas Children's sleep laboratory and professor of pediatrics at Baylor
College of Medicine. "Sleep-deficient children have a much harder time at school
because their lack of proper sleep can lead to poor school performance, attention
problems, mood changes or changes in their behavior."
To help transition from summer and settle into a new schedule, try these tips:
- Begin encouraging an earlier sleep schedule two weeks
before school to help the child acclimate
- Maintain child's bedtime and wake-up time similar to that
during the school year
- Give child a warm bath one to two hours before bedtime
to promote sleep.
- Calm child with a quiet activity before bedtime, such
as reading a story.
- Refrain from serving chocolate, tea or sodas containing
caffeine past the afternoon.
- If your child snores, contact a pediatrician or family
physician, since this may be a sign of sleep apnea. For more information about your
child's sleep schedule or sleeping patterns, see the
Texas Children's Sleep Center.
Parents also can prepare for a healthy school year by ensuring
their child has healthy sleeping habits, eats a nutritious breakfast and lunch,
and has a backpack that, when filled, weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of the
child's body weight.
Get more back to school tips.
About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy children by providing
the finest pediatric patient care, education and research. Renowned worldwide for
its expertise and breakthrough developments in clinical care and research, Texas
Children's is ranked in the top 10 best children's hospitals by U.S. News and World
Report. Texas Children's also operates the nation's largest primary pediatric
care network, with over 40 offices throughout the greater Houston community. Texas
Children's has embarked on a $1.5 billion expansion, Vision 2010, which includes
a neurological research institute, a comprehensive obstetrics facility focusing
on high risk births, and a community hospital in suburban West Houston. Get the
latest Texas Children's news on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/texaschildrens.
