My preschooler needs 12 hours of sleep per night… or we all pay for it.
That said, it should come as no surprise that her bedtime routine gets underway no later than 6:30 p.m., to ensure that she’s in dreamland by 7:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. if she’s had an afternoon nap). Dinner, bath, brush teeth, pajamas, bed—-the process has been ingrained in her since she was a baby, with one slight deviation. Up until about 18 months ago she was able to choose between watching “goodnight TV” (e.g. part of an animated movie or some kid’s program) and reading two bedtime stories before lights out.
That option was eliminated when I noticed that she fell asleep much faster when I read to her in bed, rather than when she was allowed to watch television. It didn’t matter how mellow the show’s theme or how many minutes she was allowed to watch, she tossed and turned twice as much before drifting off than when she was read to.
Apparently, I’m not the only parent who has experienced this “phenomenon.” A Harvard University psychiatrist who runs the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood recently issued a public plea to PBS Kids Sprout network to get rid of The Good Night Show, which mixes cartoons and skits with a puppet about getting ready for bed. The good doctor claims that the show does more harm than good at bedtime, especially when parents use it as a babysitter while they get after-dinner chores done.
PBS Kids Sprout execs responded to the Ivy League psych by saying, “In the real world families watch TV before bedtime and the network strives to put on programs that help parents.”
We don’t get Noggin, but my brother’s family does and I know for a fact that his 2-year-old son spends the hour leading up to bedtime watching Diego, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and The Wonder Pets. According to my brother, Noggin airs these kids shows until midnight.
Truth be told my daughter and her cousin would probably force themselves to stay awake to watch these shows if given the chance. You can’t depend on kids to let you know when they’re tired. Nor should you leave it up to them to tell you how many hours of sleep they should be getting. Experts use this guide to help parents make sure their children are getting proper rest:
0-1 year: 14-16 hours of sleep
2-4 years: 12-14 hours of sleep
5-9 years: 11-13 hours of sleep
10-14 years: 9-10 hours of sleep
15-18 years: 8-9 hours of sleep
What’s bedtime like in your house?
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Parental No-No: Bedtime TV for Kids
Parents Against Daylight Savings
When Did Your Children Start Taking Showers?