A new Study Confirms what most moms already know… Putting Kids To Bed Earlier Is Better For Mom’s Mental Health.
The study found that when kids go to bed early, they are healthier and mom is happier.
This may seem like common sense, but science has confirmed its truth with the Growing Up in Australia study, during which researchers tracked thousands of families beginning in 2004. Every two years, the families took part in a series of interviews that allowed researchers to check in on the state of their physical and mental health.
Analyzing the sleep and lifestyle data they collected, researchers found that children with early bedtimes—those asleep by 8:30 p.m.—had “better health-related quality of life.” And their moms had improved mental health.
Moms agree with the findings. Blogger Kate Desmond wrote, “Having kids is a mental and physical feat. When you add the mental load of jobs, marriage, home maintenance and some semblance of self-care to the list, it’s no wonder parents have some excess stress and fatigue in their lives.
And there are benefits to children as well. A U.S. poll featured on the National Institutes of Health website suggests that children who go to bed earlier also sleep longer.
A good first step in getting kids to bed earlier and asleep sooner according to the experts is to limit screen time. The blue light emitted from screens can delay the release of sleep-inducing melatonin, increase alertness and reset the body’s internal clock to a later schedule.