Should I Worry If My Teenager Sleeps Too Much?
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. So, in the following article, we’ll explain why it’s not just your child that happens… This is common at a certain age!
My teenager 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 might say it’s simply ‘rebellion’, but in fact it’s more common for them to continually get sleepy at a certain age. To understand a little bit why, we need to talk about the internal clock we all have. It is responsible for regulating body temperature, hormonal changes, appetite and sleep.
Puberty influences and modifies the resting times of this biological clock. In this way, perhaps the young person goes to bed at 10 pm, but is not able to sleep until 3 am. So when the alarm goes off at 7 am the next day, it’s impossible to wake up well.
Also, it ‘s normal for them to sleep longer on weekends or during vacations, as somehow the body is ‘catching up’ all the lost sleep hours. The same happens when a teenager is sleepy all the time or ends up sleeping on the bus, in the car, at a party or anywhere else.
Teenagers need nine hours of sleep a night so they can perform well throughout the day. We cannot forget that, at this stage, the activities and obligations are greater than when they were children. They have lots of tasks to do daily!
A young person’s lack of sleep may seem unimportant precisely because he is young. However, this has many negative consequences: mood swings, behavioral problems, difficulty learning or concentrating, among others.
My child sleeps excessively: what can I do?
As parents, it’s normal to worry when something doesn’t work well with our kids, no matter how old they are. If your child is in their teens and you notice that they sleep too much – or at least too much for you – we recommend the following:
1. Maintain a sleep routine
It is essential to have a schedule for everything, as the body gets used to habits and routines. So determine what time your teenager should be in bed and when he should get up. This also includes weekends and holidays: don’t allow more than two hours delay on weekdays.
So if he goes to bed every day at 10 pm and wakes up at 7 am, for example, there may be some exceptions on Fridays or Saturdays, but nothing beyond midnight and 9 am. No doubt 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 allow the consumption of soft drinks that also contain caffeine. Be very careful about what your child eats and drinks, especially at night.
Also pay attention to what he consumes during the day. You may need to adjust some meals and add more fruits, carbohydrates or healthy fats to your diet so that your baby will have more energy. Consult a nutritionist.
3. Goodbye to long naps
If your child takes a two-hour or more nap when he gets home from school at noon or early afternoon, he will likely have trouble getting to sleep at night. Therefore, a 30-minute nap should be enough to recharge your energy and continue the day.
4. Reduce technology
Another reason teenagers have trouble sleeping is the use of technology. The brightness of the devices’ screens affects the circadian rhythm and keeps them on alert. Therefore, it is better that they do not use technological devices at night before bed.
So should I worry if my teenager sleeps too much? If this need for rest does not allow him to do any other activity, if he sleeps at school, if all he wants is to sleep, and if he has dark circles, pale skin and marked changes in behavior, it is best to see a doctor.
