A new study suggests that making children perform bedtime routines can help them sleep longer, sounder and better. This is applicable to children ages six and under. Furthermore, the results show that not only that those who do regular routines sleep more quickly, they are less likely to wake up in the middle of the night and they sleep longer for about an average of one hour.
Mail Online reports that the multinational study involved around 10,000 mothers in 14 different countries. They found out that mothers who implemented bedtime routines also reported lesser behavioral problems during the day.
They discovered that less than 50% of their infants and children had a regular bedtime routine every night and those who practiced routines before going to bed experienced better sleep outcomes including earlier bed time, reduced awakening at night and longer sleeping hours, reports Psychcentral.
"Creating a bedtime routine for a child is a simple step that every family can do. It can pay off to not only make bedtime easier, but also that a child is likely to sleep better throughout the entire night," lead author of the study and a professor at Saint Joseph's University and the associate director of the Sleep Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Jodi Mindell told Mail Online.
According to Better Sleep Organization, depending on age, there are different types of duration of sleep needed. For babies, the need approximately 16 hours of sleep while children ages 3 to 12 years old need 10 hours of sleep. For older people, they need an average of 8 hours of sleep and those 65 years old and older need six hours of sleep.
"It's important that parents create a consistent sleep schedule, relaxing bedtime routine, and soothing sleep environment to help their child achieve healthy sleep," said American Academy of Sleep Medicine President Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler.
