Sleep research backs use of ‘sleep hygiene’ to promote healthy sleep for children.

A review by The UBC found good-to-strong endorsement of certain sleep hygiene practices for younger kids and school-age kids. These practices include regular bedtimes, reading before bed, having a quiet bedroom, and self-soothing. The focus was on four age groups in particular: infants and toddlers, pre-schoolers, school-age children and adolescents, involving close to 300,000 kids in North America, Europe and Asia. “Research tells us that kids who don’t get enough sleep on a consistent basis are more likely to have problems at school and develop more slowly than their peers who are getting enough sleep.” Says University of British Columbia sleep expert and nursing professor Wendy Hall.