1. Complete the sentence: If my child sleeps for fewer than __ hours in a day, his risk of health problems increases.
a) 5 hours
b) 7 hours
c) 10 hours
d) 12 hours
2. Complete the sentence: Sleep problems occur in __ of your little one
a) 5-10%
b) 10-20%
c) 20-30%
d) 30-40%
3. True or false? Having a TV or other electronics in your child’s room can cause him to sleep less.
a) True
b) False
4. Which of the following are possible benefits of your child having a consistent sleep routine?
a) Less crying
b) Fewer sleep problems (day and night)
c) More sleep
d) All of the above
5. True or false? At 8 to 10 months old, breastfed children tend to wake up more frequently at night than formula-fed children.
a) True
b) False
1. d) Sleeping for fewer than 12 hours has been associated with unhealthy growth in young children. This minimum of 12 hours is the total sleep time in 24 hours and can be split between night-time sleep and daytime naps. Your child needs a lot more sleep than you because he’s growing and developing every day. Children with sleeping problems tend to have more issues with behavioural problems and attention disorders.
2. c) Between 20% and 30% of small children have problems sleeping. These can usually be overcome by creating a soothing, regular sleep routine. It’s best to put your child to bed at the same time every night, and to include some soothing methods, such as a warm bath, gentle massage, quiet lullaby, or relaxing book, in his routine.
3. a) True! TV exposure (even if your child’s not really watching) has been shown to have a poor effect on sleep. Even more so when a TV or other screen is in a child’s bedroom. Make bedtimes screen-free times to help you little one sleep for longer.
4. d) All of the above. Recent research has revealed that children whose parents create sleep routines experience fewer sleep problems, both during the day and at night. These children also sleep for longer periods of time and cry less frequently. What’s more, they have fewer visits to a doctor.
5. b) False! Research shows that it doesn’t matter whether a child has formula or breast milk, they will wake about the same number of times each night. However, waking at night does not always mean your little one needs to be fed, and is not influenced by the type of milk they receive during the day.
Count up how many you got right to rate your child-sleep IQ
Impressive knowledge! You know a lot about the importance of sleep for little children. Are you putting the theory into practice and helping your child get enough sleep to develop healthily? Challenge yourself to share these 6 fascinating facts with 6 friends over the next six days. And don’t forget to invite them to take the quiz too!
Not bad, but room for improvement. Make a note of the questions you got wrong then come back in a few days to take the quiz again. Most importantly, check that you’re putting the theory into practice and helping your child get enough sleep to develop healthily.
Oops! Make a note of the questions you got wrong and try taking the quiz again. Think about your child’s bedtime routine, how much sleep he’s getting, and what you can do to help him get enough sleep to develop healthily.
Sources
- https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/children-and-sleep/page/0/1 (Accessed December 21 2017)
- Brown A, Harries V. Infant sleep and night feeding patterns during later infancy: association with breastfeeding frequency, daytime complementary food intake, and infant weight. Breastfeed Med 2015; 10(5):246-52.
- Hirshkowitz M, Whiton K, Albert SM et al. National Sleep Foundation’s sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep Health 2015; 1(1):40-43.
- Mindell JA, Meltzer LJ, Carskadon MA, Chervin RD. Developmental aspects of sleep hygiene: findings from the 2004 National Sleep Foundation Sleep in America Poll. Sleep Med 2009; 10(7):771-9.
- Nevarez MD, Rifas-Shiman SL, Kleinmann KP et al. Associations of early life risk factors with infant sleep duration. Acad Pediatr 2010; 10(3):187-93.
- Thompson DA, Christakis DA. The association between television viewing and irregular sleep schedules among children less than 3 years of age. Pediatrics 2005; 116(4): 851-6.
Last revised: November, 2017
