Getting children to rest easier
"How much a sleep a child needs depends on the child and the quality of sleep he is getting," says
Mark Pearlman, MD, Virtua/duPont pediatric sleep specialist. "Some children need 12 to 14 hours of rest each night, others only six to eight. Every child is different."
But many issues can interfere with a child getting the right amount of quality rest. These include physiological problems such as snoring caused by obstructive sleep apnea. Or, psychological issues can arise if bedtime becomes a battleground between the child and parents.
If a child is not getting the necessary rest, a trip to the pediatrician or family physician may be in order. The doctor may recommend a sleep evaluation, which may include a sleep study at Virtua's
SleepCare Centers in Mt. Holly, or its newly opened one in Marlton where special pediatric studies are done. So everyone in the family can start to rest a little easier.