How to Deal with Summertime Sleep Deprivation

The school year is over, and summer has arrived! Summer brings longer days, hotter weather, and fewer organized routines for many people. Your youngster may be having trouble falling asleep at night due to the change and shifting of routines.

In most children, summer sleep disruption is a frequent occurrence. Being prepared, on the other hand, can help you avoid the negative consequences of a lack of sleep. With all of the excitement and memories that summer brings, getting enough sleep is essential. Here are a few sleep recommendations besides visiting a sleep clinic to keep your kids and yourself from losing sleep during the summer:

1. Develop Healthy Daytime Routines

Take advantage of the warm weather and long summer evenings to engage in some outdoor fun and adventure. Physical activity allows youngsters to burn off energy during the day, allowing them to fall asleep faster at night. If your child is playing outside in the afternoon, make sure they are wearing sunscreen and drinking enough of water to stay cool. Nothing is more difficult than trying to fall asleep in the middle of the night while thirsty or with a severe sunburn.

2. Maintain Consistency

With all of the traveling and enjoyment that summer brings, consistency may be difficult to maintain. Because school isn't in session, children can sleep in later in the mornings and remain up later in the nights. You may need to change your child's sleep routine to accommodate longer nights and mornings. Make sure your timetable is constant so that your youngster can adjust to the new routine.

3. Maintain a dark and cool sleeping environment

Longer and brighter days characterize summer. To keep your child's room dark throughout the evening and early morning hours, you might wish to invest in black-out drapes. The temperature of your child's bedroom can also have an impact on how well he or she sleeps at night. As the temperature rises in the summer, you may want to add an extra fan or turn on the air conditioner to keep your child's bedroom at a pleasant temperature.

4. Make Gradual Back-to-School Preparations

Summer, unfortunately, does not last indefinitely. You'll have to re-establish your family's routine and prepare for the return to school at some point. Allow your youngster to acclimate to the early morning school routine by moving their bedtime and morning schedule by 15-30 minutes 2-3 weeks before school resumes.

OKOA is available to help if your child is having trouble sleeping due to the changes that come with summer. OKOA is the area's first sleep clinic accepting children as young as two years old. We have devoted our whole medical practice to assisting people in regaining control of their life through restful sleep. On our established telemedicine platform, we provide a variety of sleep treatments, including in-lab and at-home sleep tests, as well as virtual appointments. Call or visit our website to get in touch with us right away.

**Disclaimer: The information on this page is not intended to be a doctor's advice, nor does it create any form of patient-doctor relationship.