Dr. Tammy Lyles-Arnold Urges Parents to Create Nighttime Routine
ROME, Ga., Aug. 2, 2024 – Getting enough sleep is important when it comes to children's physical, mental and emotional well-being. Atrium Health Floyd Pediatrician Tammy Lyles-Arnold shares how sleep affects health and how to help your child get a better night's rest.
“It's not just a matter of them feeling tired if they don't enough sleep. Lack of sleep can impact a child's growth as well as their ability to fight off an illness," said Lyles-Arnold.
A lack of sleep in children has also been shown to cause behavior, attention and emotional health problems, including depression, anxiety and ADHD.
Sleep, Brain Development and School Performance
Studies have also found that sleep deprivation can have a long-term effect on brain structure and development.
“There is little doubt that chronic fatigue can affect a child's ability to learning, pay attention, make decisions and remember," she says.
There is also evidence connecting lack of sleep with obesity in children.
How Much Sleep Do Kids Need?
The amount of sleep your child needs each day depends on their age. Here's a quick reference guide:
- Newborns and infants: 12 to 17 hours
- 1 to 2 years: 11 to 14 hours
- 3 to 5 years: 10 to 13 hours
- 6 to 13 years: 9 to 11 hours
- 14 to 17 years: 8 to 10 hours
- 17 and older: 7 to 9 hours
Help Your Child Establish Good Sleep Habits
Good sleep habits include:
- A consistent, early bedtime.
- Avoiding screens (tablets, televisions, computers and smartphones) at least one hour before bed.
- Practicing calming activities during that time period, such as bathing, brushing teeth or reading.
“Parents need to talk to their kids about sleep and why good routines are so important," Lyles-Arnold said. “If they can get on a schedule, it makes it easier for their them to wind down at bedtime."
Signs Of Not Getting Enough Sleep
Look for these symptoms of possible sleep deprivation:
- Excessive fatigue
- Difficulty waking in the morning
- Behavior changes
- Difficulty with mood regulation
- Increased negative emotions
- Inability to focus
- Decreased school performance
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
Lyles-Arnold recommends scheduling an appointment with a pediatrician if your child:
- Has difficulty establishing a good bedtime routine.
- Has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
- Has changes to their behavior or emotions.
- Has new physical symptoms.
“We need to keep in mind there is not a cookie cutter approach that works for everyone," Lyles-Arnold said. “A child in different stages of development might require more sleep than expected, and not all kids are the same."
Dr. Lyles-Arnold sees patients at Atrium Health Floyd Primary Care Family Medicine & Pediatrics Polk, 2370 Rockmart Hwy., Cedartown. Call 770-748-7818 to make an appointment.
About Atrium Health Floyd
The Atrium Health Floyd family of health care services is a leading medical provider and economic force in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Atrium Health Floyd is part of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Floyd employs more than 3,500 teammates who provide care in over 40 medical specialties at three hospitals: Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center – a 304-bed full-service, acute care hospital and regional referral center in Rome, Georgia; Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center in Cedartown, Georgia; and Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center in Centre, Alabama; as well as Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Behavioral Health – a freestanding 53-bed behavioral health facility in Rome – and also primary care and urgent care network locations throughout northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Atrium Health Floyd also operates a stand-alone emergency department in Chattooga County, the first such facility to be built from the ground-up in Georgia.
About Atrium Health
Atrium Health is a nationally recognized leader in shaping health outcomes through innovative research, education and compassionate patient care. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Atrium Health is part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, which was created from the combination with Advocate Aurora Health. A recognized leader in experiential medical education and groundbreaking research, Wake Forest University School of Medicine is its academic core. Atrium Health is renowned for its top-ranked pediatric, cancer and heart care, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Atrium Health is also a leading-edge innovator in virtual care and mobile medicine, providing care close to home and in the home. Ranked nationally among U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals in eight pediatric specialties and for rehabilitation, Atrium Health has also received the American Hospital Association's Quest for Quality Prize and its 2021 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award, as well as the 2020 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Health Equity Award for its efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in care. With a commitment to every community it serves, Atrium Health seeks to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – for all, providing $2.8 billion last year in free and uncompensated care and other community benefits.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation's largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides nearly $6 billion in annual community benefits.