It isn’t always obvious if your kids aren’t getting enough sleep at night. While it’s good to check in on them by asking how they slept, you can’t always rely on kids to be very forthcoming about it. Many kids, especially younger kids, may not have a good grasp on whether or not they are actually sleeping well at night.
Another reason that it can be hard to determine if your kids are getting enough sleep is the fact that parents are often sleep-deprived themselves. It can be easy to write off some signs of sleep deprivation in your kids as normal because of your own sleeping habits. This is just one more reason it’s important to prioritize self-care as a parent. Here are some important signs of child sleep deprivation you should keep an eye out for.
Sleeping In
If your kids seem to have no problem getting up when their alarm goes off, or better yet, if they get up before their alarm, it’s likely that they are sleeping well. On the other hand, if it takes you multiple tries to get them out of bed, you should look into how well they are sleeping.
Irritability
Crankiness is a classic symptom of poor sleep, but it can be easy to mistake this for bad behavior when it comes to your kids. Some tantrums or aggressive behavior can beexplained by increased anxiety from poor sleep.
Poor Concentration
Pay attention to what your kids’ teachers are saying about them in class. If you get reports that they are falling asleep in class, seem disinterested, or have trouble paying attention, it could be related to poor sleeping habits.
Hyperactivity
This one may seem counterintuitive, but it’s a sign of energy instability. A thorough night of restful sleep results in lasting, steady energy throughout the day. Conversely, poor sleep can lead to fluctuating energy levels in your kids during the day. Additionally, if your kids are hyperactive close to bedtime, then they are likely to struggle to fall asleep soon enough.
If you notice a combination of these signs, try integrating new strategies to help your kids sleep at night, including relaxing activities, betterbedtime snacks, and mindfulness techniques. It’s also hard to overstate the importance of magnesium for sleep and anxiety, so look for ways to integrate more magnesium in your kids’ diet, in addition to finding otherways to deal with anxiety naturally.
You may need to consult with your child’s pediatrician if they still struggle with sleep, but these strategies should show some noticeable improvements in your kids’ energy and mood.