Our readers are invited to email us with their questions! Q: Daylight savings time is coming up. How can I help my child adjust to the time change? (Dawn K.) A: Hey Dawn, a week or two before we fall back, put your child to bed 15 minutes later and wake them up 15 minutes later in the morning. For example, if bedtime is usually at 8 p.m., move bedtime to 8:15 and then wake them up 6:45 a.m. instead of 6:30 a.m. If your child is still waking up early due to the time change, keep the room dark and quiet for an extra 15 minutes or 30 minutes. The goal is to avoid bright lights until the time you want them to wake up. --------------------------------------------------------------- Q: Everyone talks about getting "good, quality sleep;" what does that mean? (Gordon K) A: Gordon, healthy sleep is sleep that restores and energizes a person, so he or she feels wide awake, dynamic and energetic all day long. Health and disease are opposites; when a sleep disorder exists, it is vitally important to investigate and resolve the issue. Sleep disorders are not rare, and they can cause serious problems, if left untreated. |