If your child isn’t getting enough sleep, you may notice changes in your child’s behavior. As a parent, it’s important for you to notice these changes and monitor how much sleep your child is getting each night. Dr. Errol Keith Douglas at Gold Pediatrics in Rockville, MD, provides a full range of medical services for children, including sleep evaluation.

How Adequate Sleep Helps Your Child

Your child is growing and developing. Your child’s brain is growing and developing, too. Sleep provides the opportunity for your child’s body to recharge and renew. When your child has enough good quality sleep, it will help to:

• Improve your child’s brain function and ability to pay attention
• Maintain your child’s mental health to help avoid depression and anxiety
• Improve mood to allow your child to better manage emotions
• Decrease the potential for hyperactivity and impulsive behavior
• Help your child interact with other children in a positive way

Remember that adequate sleep begins with setting regular sleep and wake-up times and adhering to them. Practice a ritual before bed, like reading to your child or having your child take a warm bath. This helps signal that it’s time for sleep. You should also create a restful atmosphere in your child’s bedroom. Ensure your child’s bedroom is quiet, without a television, computer, phone, or other type of screen.

If your child has consistent difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep, your pediatrician can help. A complete physical examination, including laboratory testing and a sleep study, may be recommended to help identify an underlying medical condition causing sleeping issues.

Counseling may also be advised to determine if your child has anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns that may affect sleep. Nutritional counseling and exercise may also be recommended to improve overall health.

Want To Know More About the Importance of Sleep for Children?

Talk with an expert to learn more about how sleep affects child behavior. Call Dr. Errol Keith Douglas at Gold Pediatrics in Rockville, MD. You can reach him in the office by calling (301) 517-9710, so call today.