Technology is disrupting sleep across many demographics. As gadgets have become more accessible to younger users, they’re also starting to have a negative on toddlers’ sleeping patterns.
Ideally, toddlers around 1-3 years of age should get around 12-14 hours sleep per day. However, this might not always be possible. If not, parents should at least try and ensure their toddlers get at least 10-hours per day so that they don’t suffer any health implications as a result of a lack of sleep.
Parenting Science suggest toddlers who don’t get enough sleep tend to be more sickly, linking childhood sleep loss with bad moods, poor memory, fatigue and a short attention span, among other worrying side effects.
It has been well publicized how toys can be distracting so much so that can keep children from sleeping at night. But in the last 10-years, new tech innovations have paved the way for tablets and mobiles to become easy go-to gadgets that keep toddlers occupied and give parents much needed rest.
Journalist Katie Forster discussed this topic in an article on the Independent, stating that the more time toddlers spend using touchscreen devices, the more likely they will find it hard to sleep at night or take a nap in the afternoon. She went on to say that most kids nowadays have access to tech gadgets like an iPad or smartphone.
Why Tech Gadgets are Dangerous
Apparently, the danger here is that the light emitted by electronic screens can decrease the amount of melatonin in the body. Melatonin is important as it help regulate sleep and has many properties in it that help the body relax.
As previously mentioned, one thing that can affect a toddlers’ ability to take a nap is their exposure to the screen’s blue light. Before the problem gets out of hand, parents must find ways to address the issues at hand. One solution is to avoid having any light emitting devices in the child’s bedroom when it’s sleeping time. Leesa discussed some tips to help improve sleep and dedicated a number of important variables to consider when it comes to tech devices in the bedroom. They suggest keeping “tablets, smartphones, and televisions out” of the bedroom so that there are no distractions. If there are no distractions for your toddler, the chances are they will be able to relax and get a good night’s sleep.
Also, it’s worth noting that the responsibility lies with the parents too. If they go for the easy option of handing their child a tablet to keep them from crying or to keep them distracted, the potential long-term problems are endless. The ability to regulate your toddlers’ sleep is down to you. Remove the tech gadgets from your toddlers’ bedroom and the chances are they will improve their sleep quality and you will see a much more energetic child during the daytime.