Young Children Are Staying Up Too Late

by Emma Barlow | 1 October 2015

The research shows that children as young as one are not going to bed until after 10pm. Parents have admitted to being more lenient with their children's bedtime than their parents were with them. 26% of children between the ages of one and five are watching TV or playing video games when they go to bed.

1 in 10 parents say they don't have a fixed bedtime routine for their children, some children between the ages of 1 and 5 are not getting to sleep until 11pm. This goes against the NHS recommendations, stating children between the ages of 1 and 5 should get, on average, 12 hours of sleep each night.

Getting a full night's sleep is a fundamental part of a child's development. Children who don't get enough sleep are more likely to become overweight. Younger children who are constantly sleep deprived seek constant stimulation and don't concentrate as well.

It's not just the children that suffer, as 1 in 10 parents stated their bedtime is dependent on their child's and nearly half are not getting to sleep themselves until past 11pm. So why aren't children getting enough sleep? Parents are letting their children decide their own bedtime, with over a quarter of parents letting their older children decide what time the youngest go to sleep.

Lisa Artis of The Sleep Council comments "Children don't always understand the importance of sleep so it is up to parents to teach them good sleep habits such as going to bed early, sleeping in their own bed and removing the use of gadgets before bedtime. It is particularly important for parents to know how much sleep their child should get and enforce an appropriate bedtime routine including sufficient wind down time."

Chris Yates, Bed Expert at Furniture Choice comments: "We understand how important it is for all members of the family to get a good night's sleep. Now the school terms have started we want to make sure families can get as much advice as possible to help get their children into a routine that works for them. We hope our guide which you can find here http://www.furniturechoice.co.uk/A-Parents-Guide-to-Better-Sleep.htm can provide some extra help."