Teenage sleep patterns

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Teenage sleep patterns

Getting enough sleep and rest is important during the teen years. Teens need more sleep than younger children because rapid physical growth and activity during the teen years can cause fatigue. Many teenagers sleep late whenever possible and often have problems getting up in the morning.

Teenagers' biological clocks change during puberty. Typically, adolescents and teens fall asleep at a later hour at night and tend to sleep later in the morning. This pattern can present problems because school schedules often require that teens get up early for classes. Some teens may develop sleep deprivation, which can result in:

Having problems getting up in the morning or falling asleep during the day.
Being sleepy and irritable during the day.

Teenagers need about 10 hours of sleep each night. If your teen is showing signs of not getting enough sleep, you can:

Talk about how your teen's body is changing, and explain the need for more sleep.
Try to set a better sleeping pattern for your teen. Encourage your teen to finish homework on weekends or during the day.
Suggest after-school naps.

Credits

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Author	Debby Golonka, MPH
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics
Last Updated	March 17, 2008

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Last updated:	March 17, 2008
Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC

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