​How Do You Know If Your Child Is Getting Enough Sleep?

For the most part, it is easy to tell whether your child is tired because children tend to get cranky or giggly when they are sleepy. However, how do you really know if your child is getting enough sleep?

Crankiness and Fussiness

You will usually be able to tell in the way your child is acting. In younger children, especially babies, the main signs are their crankiness, fussiness, or even giddiness. They act out more, and you will find it harder to calm them down. This can last for hours in a day, and is known as overtiredness in babies.

In older children, moodiness is a sign that your child needs more sleep. This will continue for long periods of the day, and your child will often feel happier and more like him/herself after a sleep (even a nap).

Lack of Attention Span

Another common sign, especially in elementary school children, is the lack of attention span. Your child may have no interest in doing anything and find it difficult to concentrate on a simple task. Even eating their meals will be difficult, as their brain hasn't rested enough to fully function.

Some children will decide to lie down during the day. They may even just seemingly crash on the floor or couch as soon as they get in the house after school. You may also get reports of lack of concentration or hyper-activeness in school. Another sign is that they're struggling with their school work because they can't concentrate while there or while doing homework.

Needing to Be Constantly Woken Up

A child who doesn't get enough sleep will find it harder to wake up on a morning. You will likely find that you have to keep going into the bedroom to remind your child that it is time to get up. This can be frustrating for both of you.

In some cases, children will outwardly tell you that they are tired. When they need to get to school there may be little that you can do, so you need to change the routine to help them sleep earlier to get more sleep on a night.

Is your child getting enough sleep? A child between the ages of one and five years should get between 11 and 14 hours sleep. A school-aged child needs around 10 hours of sleep. Look out for the signs above to see if your child is struggling.