Sleep troubles

Parents frequently request information about what to do if their child has trouble sleeping. And it's not just the parents of infant children who are having trouble!

A recent study showed that only 20 percent of teens get the recommended nine hours of sleep each night. Much of the difficulty comes from hormonal changes. These changes lead teens to be better night owls than early birds.

Unfortunately, our school systems often have early start times that require high school and middle school students to wake up earlier. Here are some suggestions to help teens improve their sleep:

1. Establish a bedtime and wake-up time. Keep this fairly consistent throughout the week.
2. Remove TVs and computers from bedrooms. Turn off electronics at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
3. Set limits for when your teen can make or receive phone calls and text messages.
4. Limit caffeine, especially after lunch.
5. Make sleep a priority in your family. Be sure to set a good example yourself.