In this week's House Call, Dr. Karla Smith offers tips to make bedtime easier.
TRAVERSE CITY -- In last week's House Call, we discussed the importance of good sleep for children from infancy through adolescence. But parents, you may be left thinking... your child doesn't sleep that much or that well, so how can you get them to sleep more?
"While a parent can't 'make' their child sleep more, there are some things you can do to encourage better bedtime and sleep habits and hopefully, over time, improve their quality of sleep," said Dr. Karla Smith with the Traverse Area Pediatrics and Adolescent Clinic.
Dr. Smith said infants and children can benefit most from a regular and consistent time for bed. But also, by establishing a bedtime routine which includes non-stimulating activity leading them up to bed time.
"At some time during infancy or childhood, children need to learn to put themselves to sleep," said Dr. Smith. "Not by body contact with a parent."
To learn more about sleep requirements and recommendations for children, click the video above.
If you missed last week's House Call, we discussed the amount of sleep children and infants need. Click HERE to learn more and HERE to watch the video.
For more information on the Traverse Area Pediatric & Adolescent clinic. click HERE or call 231-421-8099.
