Learn why it’s crucial for children to get enough sleep at night.
Getting enough sleep is important for people of all ages, but it’s especially crucial for children. Learn about the recommended hours of sleep your child should be getting based on their age, and why sleep is so vital for their health.
How Many Hours Of Sleep Do Kids Need?
Children need less sleep as they grow older, but as young toddlers, they should be sleeping for a significant portion of the 24-hour day. Toddlers ages one to two should get 11-14 hours, while two hours more or less may be appropriate. Three to five-year-olds should get 10 to 13 hours, and kids age six to 13 should get about 9 to 11 hours a night. Teens 14-years-old and older should get 8-10 hours, as should most adults.
Promotes Growth
One of the most important reasons that children should get enough sleep is because sleep promotes growth. The growth hormone is mainly secreted during a deep sleep, which is why infants and toddlers spend about half of the day asleep. Research has been found to suggest that children with deficient levels of the growth hormone sleep less deeply than the recommended number of hours.
Heart Health
In addition to growth, sleeping also protects kids from vascular damage, which relates to the vessels of the body, especially the arteries and veins. Children with sleep disorders who don’t get enough quality sleep may wake up multiple times a night, and their blood glucose and cortisol can remain elevated at night. These are both linked to increased chances of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
Fight Illness
Sleep is also crucial for fighting off germs and illnesses. During sleep, we produce proteins (cytokines) that our body relies on to fight infection, and not getting enough sleep reduces the number of cytokines. This is true for adults as well, as research found that adults who sleep less than seven hours a night are more likely to develop a cold.
Sleep Better With A New Mattress From All American Mattress!
At All American Mattress, we have the expertise and great prices to help you choose the perfect pillows and foam mattress for your bedroom. We have mattresses and bed frames available made from a variety of materials to suit your needs, whatever they are. Stop by our showroom in Crofton, MD, visit us online, or give us a call at (410) 451-9006 to see how we can get your toddler sleeping through the night. We offer brand names at affordable prices, and we will always work hard to keep your whole family comfortable. For more mattress shopping tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+.