Lack of Sleep Linked to Injuries

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

14 Jul 2008 12:33 PM

Is your baby, toddler or preschooler always falling down, bumping in to things and getting hurt there you may think it is just normal kids behavior or perhaps an awkward clumsiness that he may someday outgrow. But the truth is that your little one might just be sleep deprived.

A recent study that was published in Public Health Nursing this past March suggests that poor sleep is a risk factor for injuries among babies and children from the age of 18 months to four years old. In other words, if your child doesn't get enough sleep, he may just be more accident prone.

Babies, toddlers and preschoolers, depending on their age, should get anywhere from 17 to 11 hours of sleep daily. This number includes naps.

How can you tell if your child is not getting enough sleep? Well, there are the usual signs of being cranky, rubbing eyes, looking glazed and crying herself to sleep. But, believe it or not, children who are acting overly energetic may also be sleep deprived. There is something in the brain that will switch on when a baby is overtired, making it even more difficult for him to get to sleep.

I noticed this recently with my own toddler. One day last week he kept stumbling. He scraped his elbow, stubbed his toe and fell down two other times in one day. I thought this might have been due to him outgrowing his shoes. But on closer inspection, the shoes fit fine. He had however had shorter naps that week, due to his older brother's sports camp and science in the summer programs.

What do you think? Have you noticed a connection between the amount of sleep your baby gets and the number of injuries she has? Every year, there are children who receive injuries requiring medical attention, about 20-25 percent of all children. Perhaps more sleep could reduce that number.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. Starting June 1st, don't miss her articles in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

Related Articles:

Black Infant Mortality Gap

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger