Sleep

 

Sleep is an essential part of your growing child's health. The amount of sleep needed changes as the child grows older. Newborns sleep approximately 16 to 17 hours a day, while preschoolers need only about 12 hours a day.

Normal sleep has two parts: rapid eye movement (REM) and nonrapid eye movement (NREM). REM is an active form of sleep that is not as deep as NREM sleep. Dreams often happen during REM sleep. NREM sleep is a deep sleep. There are less body movements during this phase and the child breathes at a more regular rate.

Sleep disturbances or problems are very common during infancy and childhood, including having trouble getting your child to bed, nightmares, and night terrors. Listed in the directory below you will find additional information regarding sleep habits and your child, for which we have provided a brief overview.

Latest Kids' Health News
Parents cut kids' calories when menus are labeled

January 24, 2010 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - When restaurant menus list calories, parents will limit how much fast food their kids eat, a new report suggests.

One-fifth of US teens have unhealthy cholesterol

January 21, 2010 — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One in five American teens has unhealthy cholesterol levels, a major risk factor for heart disease in adults, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.

Flu vaccine additive boosts wide protection

January 20, 2010 — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A vaccine additive made by Novartis and used in its European influenza shots can boost the body's immune response to a wide range of viruses, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday.

Select news items provided by Reuters Health