Is your child getting enough sleep?

OVER half of primary school aged children go to bed later than 9pm, according to a survey into the UK’s bedtime habits.

According to parents surveyed by online retailer Furniture Choice, 1 in 7 (14%) children aged six to ten regularly go to bed later than 11pm and 1 in 12 (8%) are allowed to pick their own bedtime.

At the other end of the spectrum, a quarter of children in the same age range go to bed before 8pm.

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So, what is the right bedtime? The NHS recommends that primary school aged children should get at least 10 hours of sleep each night, but how does this work in practice?

Some parents across the country face a daily battle to get their children into bed. This could be due to the rise in technology, as almost 29% of primary school children watch TV or play computer games when they go to bed. 1 in 10 parents also allow their child to get into their bed if they wake up in the night.

Lisa Artis of The Sleep Council comments: “Children don’t always understand the importance of sleep so it is up to parents to teach them good sleep habits, such as going to bed early, sleeping in their own bed and removing the use of gadgets before bedtime.

“It is particularly important for parents to know how much sleep their child should get and enforce an appropriate bedtime routine, including sufficient wind-down time.”

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A quarter of parents with children under the age of 10 believe they are more lenient with their children’s bedtime than their own parents were and 1 in 10 parents surveyed stated their bedtime is dependent on their child’s. Nearly half of parents (44%) are not getting to sleep themselves until past 11pm.

Chris Yates, Bed Expert at Furniture Choice, said: “Bedtime habits can be a contentious topic for parents but it is important for all members of the family to get a good night’s sleep.

“Getting a full night’s sleep is a fundamental part of a child’s development, as well as helping them to concentrate and feel stimulated during their school day.

“We want to make sure families can get as much advice as possible to help get their children into a routine that works for them and hope our guide can provide some extra help.”

The full guide can be found here

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