Food And Its Role In Stimulating Sleep

There are many foods that help with insomnia as well as foods that should be avoided before bedtime.
Diet is important to make sure that you or your child gets enough sleep and sleeps well. Some children sleep different lengths of time, either shorter or longer. You lose sleep as a result of your child’s bedtime and sleeping patterns.  By avoiding certain foods before bedtime you are helping your child develop good habits that can have a positive effect on their sleep patterns that will last a lifetime and avoid many of the medical problems that can be caused by abnormal sleep patterns.

Chronic insomnia can itself be a symptom of another condition, such as depression, heart disease, sleep apnea, lung disease, or diabetes, so it's important to see a doctor if you are having trouble sleeping or if your child is having trouble sleeping.  This is just a precaution to rule out any medical problems.

A well used and healthy body has very little trouble sleeping. That is why physical exercise is very good for a child as well as an adult.Also there should an established regular bedtime for children to avoid sleep problems.  You should also avoid candy or any foods that might act as a stimulant before bedtime.

It is important to make sure that your child gets enough sleep. Many parents are unsure of how much their child should sleep. According to reports from parents, many American children are not getting enough sleep. Some children sleep different lengths of time, either shorter or longer. But most children do have the ability to sleep through the night. Children who do not sleep well may have a sleep problem.

Many children have behavioral insomnia of childhood. This sleep disorder involves one or both of the two following problems:  All of us wake up briefly a number of times during the night. This sleep stage is known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Parents naturally may feel that they need to “help” their child return to sleep. The child learns to connect or “associate” going to sleep with a person or activity. I have to rock my child to sleep every night and for every nap. Set aside 10 to 30 minutes to get your child ready to go to sleep each night.

A child who gets enough sleep is more likely to be cheerful during the day. The entire family will be happier if the child sleeps better. Most sleep problems in children are not a result of bad parenting. If your child has an ongoing sleep problem, then you should talk to your child’s doctor or to a sleep specialist. In reality, sleeping is your most valuable activity of the day. Sleeping well enables you to feel, think, and perform better.

In the United States, and in many other countries, sleep deprivation is common among students. School aged children should be getting between 8.5 and 9.25 hours of sleep but many do not. A National Sleep Foundation survey found that college/university-aged students get an average of 6.8 hours of sleep each night.

Foods that do help with sleep are warm milk, and foods with tryptophan which is an amino acid that is a precursor to serotonin, which is then converted to melatonin. Carbohydrate snacks such whole grain crackers before bedtime may help to promote sleep.  Also foods rich in magnesium as magnesium is a natural sedative. Deficiency of magnesium can result in difficulty sleeping, constipation, muscle tremors or cramps, anxiety, irritability, and pain.

So diet does have an effect on sleep.  Avoid caffeine, sweets, chocolates or any diet that could be considered a stimulate before bedtime – especially with child.  And add to your diet foods rich in tryptophan and magnesium.