Eau Claire, WI – As the unofficial start of summer nears, so do longer hours of daylight. This transition, especially for kids as summer vacation begins, can negatively affect sleep habits.
As part of Better Sleep Month, HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital’s accredited Sleep Disorders Center has tips to keep kids and adults fully rested during summer months.
- Limit the use of electronics one hour prior to bed to prepare bodies and brains for sleep
- Try not to deviate from a normal bedtime for more than two days in a row
- Do not go to bed hungry
- Keep the bedroom temperature cooler than the rest of the house
- Avoid caffeine four to six hours before bedtime
Kelly Schmidt, HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital Sleep Disorders Center facilitator says it’s always best to stay in a routine when it comes to bedtime and wake time, no matter the season. “It’s difficult to get kids to bed when it’s still light outside, so allowing them to stay up a bit later is okay, but try not to deviate more than one hour because sleep is just as important as the air you breathe.”
Schmidt says if you notice hyperactivity, sudden changes in behavior or prolonged extreme tiredness during the day, children may not be getting enough quality sleep. “Children, on average, need eight to 10 hours of sleep depending on their age,” she says. “That doesn’t change during summer break or on holidays.”
There are more than 80 identified sleep disorders and sometimes the cause has nothing to do with actual lack of sleep, according to Schmidt. She says stress, depression, a change in family dynamics, a new caregiver and other life adjustments can lead to trouble sleeping.
If you have concerns about sleep patterns, or have difficulties falling or staying asleep, contact the HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital Sleep Disorders Center at 715-717-4933, or learn more on our website.
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About HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital
HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the Founding Institute, and it is an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1889, it has been meeting patient needs in western Wisconsin with the latest medical innovations and technology, together with a Franciscan whole-person healing tradition.
About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our physician practices and 15 local hospitals in two states - Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.