DOHA: A regular bedtime routine for children can help prevent sleep difficulties, ensuring a child gets adequate rest needed for growth and development, says an expert at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
Senior Consultant and Deputy Head of Paediatrics at HMC, Dr Ibrahim Ahmad Al Janahi, (Pictured) has stressed the importance of sleep and says a bedtime routine, for example giving your child a bath each night, signals to the child that it’s time to rest.
“It is preferable to start this routine from the bathroom or the living room and it should end in the bedroom,” he explains.
“A bedtime routine could include washing the child’s face and hands and brushing his or her teeth. Some children also like to say goodnight to their family members or to have their favourite toys or items placed around them each night.
“It is important that children feel good about their bedrooms and space. Parents need to help their children ‘wind down’ before bedtime and a good way to do this is reading a story to them.”
According to Dr Al Janahi, the amount of sleep a child needs varies according to their age and other factors, including their brain development.
“Children’s growth hormones are stimulated when they are asleep, so adequate rest is vital for their development,” Dr Al Janahi said.
Babies from one to two months typically need to sleep for 14 to 18 hours a day, children between one and two years need 12 hours, those between eight and 12 years require at least eight hours and teenagers need around 10 hours due to physical changes they experience, he said. The Peninsula
