With two-thirds of respondents reporting that their children are getting 10 or more hours of sleep each night, it seems our mums are generally not encountering the same problems as our neighbours.
What became apparent in the comments section, however, was that some guidance is needed on the basics of getting your children to bed at a reasonable hour, for the required amount of time.
Striking the balance
Sleep expert Lucy Wolfe, of Sleep Matters - Help Your Child Sleep, says that the first step in tackling the issue is to get the balance of sleep right. She advises to always start the day by 7:30am latest, regardless of night-time sleep disturbance, as extending sleep in this way can make it more difficult to establish bedtime routines.
"Often bedtime resistance is exacerbated by an irregular morning wake time and naps that happen either too early or too late in the day. Depending on the age of your child, most young children will need to be in bed asleep within two-and-a-half to four or five hours of their last nap," says Lucy.
While this may take time to get right, Lucy says it is a positive step toward establishing healthy sleep habits for the family, which is vital in light of the health dangers associated with a lack of sleep.
Dangers of a bad "sleep diet"
Just as maintaining a healthy diet is vital for a growing child, Lucy says that establishing a good "sleep diet" is key for development.
"Sleep supervises a variety of biological maintenance jobs. It is important to the maturation of the brain and the central nervous system as well as future cognition, temperament and psychomotor development," she explains.
As well as irritability, frustration, moodiness, and emotional and behavioural problems; lack of sleep can also result in a decreased capacity for memory, attention, learning and reasoning. Worryingly, a parent may notice none of these symptoms, with the fallout from a bad sleep routine only presenting itself later in the child's life.
What to avoid
One of the key findings of our survey was the importance of routine, with our mums stressing the importance of monitoring what their children eat, drink and do before bedtime. With all of these factoring into your child's sleep pattern, Lucy shared the following advice:
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Avoid TV and electronics at least an hour before bedtime.
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Avoid high-level activity at least 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime.
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Finish drinks within 30-45 minutes before bedtime (this weakens bottle dependency in younger children, while older children will need to brush their teeth).
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Eat at least two hours before bedtime to allow the digestive tract to relax.
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Make sure their environment is appropriate for sleep - adequately dark and generally without distractions.
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Be careful if you are using music or light shows as your child is falling asleep, that this doesn’t become a sleep enabler and contribute to waking during the night.
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Make sure that your child is getting enough fresh air and outside activity (an hour a day is recommended). Being outside, exposed to natural light, can help regulate sleeping patterns.
