That's Fit

Kids are starving for sleep

Seventy-six percent of parents say they'd change something about their kids' sleep habits if they could. Makes sense since 69 percent of kids under 10 experience sleep problems a few times per week. And 14 percent of school-age kids wake in the night and need some kind of attention. Parents of such sleep deprived kids are two percent more likely to be sleep deprived themselves. Only 47 percent of school age kids get enough sleep. Clearly, kids are starving for sleep. Just like adults.

What should mom and dad do to help soothe their sleepy ones? Warm milk won't help -- consider it an old wives tale -- and neither will walnuts, turkey, strawberries, or salmon. There's just not enough tryptophan in these foods to cause drowsiness. Try these strategies instead.

• Make sure your kids get 30 to 60 minutes per day of outdoor play.

• Give your little ones a gentle massage before bed.

• Talk to a pediatrician about the nutritional supplement melatonin for short-term use.

What do you do to help your children sleep?

Posted: Apr 24th 2008 8:00AM by Jacki Donaldson