When the pandemic began, children’s sleeping schedules and routine, with school coming back to in-person, those schedules may have to change yet again.
Dr. Asim Zamir, Chief of Pediatrics at Valley Baptist Health System in Brownsville, said some parents use medications to help their children go to sleep.
However, he does not recommend the treatment for everyone.
“There are certain medications that we use but we need to evaluate the patient and look at the benefits and risks before we prescribe,” said Dr. Zamir.
According to Zamir, kids ages 6 to 12 need to have at least 9 to 12 hours of sleep every day.
He said kids who have a hard time staying asleep usually do not have a proper sleep routine in place and he highly encourages one, like warm baths and activities such as reading a book.
“Have a schedule set for bedtime, at that time dim the lights, stop using electronics or screens at least an hour before bed,” he said.
Dr. Zamir said not getting enough sleep affects a child’s performance at school and can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, and depression.
