Should I Be Concerned If My Teenager Sleeps A Lot?
One of the most common comments among parents is “my teenager sleeps a lot.” Another common complaint is that young people sleep during the day and stay awake at night. Therefore, in the following article we will tell you why he is not the only one to whom that happens … It is something common at a certain age!
My Teen Sleeps a Lot: Why?
“I can’t wake him up early to go to school”, “He spends the weekend sleeping”, “He sleeps anywhere” or “He always seems to be tired”; These are all very common phrases among parents of teenagers.
Some may say that it is simple ‘rebellion’, but the truth is that at a certain age it is more common for them to be continually sleepy. To understand a little why, we must talk about the internal clock that we all have. This is responsible for regulating body temperature, hormonal changes, appetite and also sleep.
Puberty influences this biological clock and modifies rest times. In this way, the young man may go to bed at 10 at night but fall asleep at 3 in the morning. So when the alarm goes off at 7 the next day, it is impossible for him to get up as usual.
Likewise, it is normal for the weekend or vacation to sleep more, since in some way, the body is ‘recovering’ all the hours of sleep lost. The same thing happens when you are seen drowsy at all hours or you can sleep in the bus, the car, a party or wherever.
Adolescents need about nine hours of sleep a night to be able to perform well throughout the day. Do not forget that at this stage the activities and obligations are greater than when they were young children. They have too many tasks to do on a daily basis!
Lack of sleep in a young person may seem unimportant, precisely because he is young. However, it has many negative consequences: mood swings, behavior problems, difficulties learning or concentrating, among others.
What to do if my child sleeps excessively?
As parents, it is normal to worry when something does not work well for our children, no matter how old they are. In the event that you are going through adolescence and you notice that you sleep too much – or that it seems a lot to you -, we recommend the following:
1. Stick to a sleep routine
It is essential to have schedules for everything, since the body gets used to habits and routines. Therefore, determine the time to be in bed and when to get up. This also includes weekends and holidays: do not allow a delay greater than two hours than on weekdays.
If you go to bed at 10 p.m. every day and get up at 7 a.m., for example, there may be some exceptions on Fridays or Saturdays, but no later than 12 p.m. and 9 a.m. Logically, it is possible to make an exception from time to time.
2. Do not consume caffeine
Many parents prevent their children from drinking coffee, but they do allow sodas that also contain caffeine. Be very careful what your children eat and drink, especially at night.
Also pay attention to what you consume during the day; you may need to adjust some intakes and add more fruits, carbohydrates, or healthy fats to your diet for more energy. Consult with a nutritionist.
3. Goodbye to long naps
If when your child comes home from school at noon or in the early afternoon he takes a nap of two hours or more, it is likely that later he will have trouble falling asleep at night. Therefore, a 30-minute nap should be enough to recharge and continue the day.
4. Reduce technology
Another reason teenagers have trouble sleeping is their use of technology. The brightness of the screens on the devices affects the circadian rhythm and keeps them on their toes. Therefore, better if they do not use technological devices at night before going to sleep.
So when do I worry if my teenager sleeps a lot? When that need to rest does not allow you to do any other activity, when you fall asleep at school, if you just want to lie down and have dark circles, pale skin and marked changes in your behavior, it is best to consult a doctor.
