Proof that Parents are Sleep-Deprived

Here is a study out of Brown Medical School that again seems obvious to me; but at least we now have some science to back it up.

When kids don't sleep, neither do their parents -- specifically their mothers.

Julie Boergers, PhD, studied 107 families seeking treatment for their children aged 2 to 12 at a pediatric sleep disorders clinic, and found a link between children's and parents' sleep problems.

For both parents, having a child with more than one sleep disorder was associated with greater parental daytime sleepiness. Also, mothers of children with sleep disorders had significantly greater daytime sleepiness than fathers, even though they reported about the same number of hours of sleep per night.

Why, you ask, could this be true? Well, for one, mothers may be the ones who get up in the middle of the night with the little ones, at least more so on average.

According to a poll by by the National Sleep Foundation, 53% of parents say they are awakened by their child at least once a week.

I say HAH, I wish I was only up once per week by my kids -- that would actually be heaven! My 5 year old, no problem, but my 3.5 year old is now finally getting to the point of sleeping significantly better.

Related Topics:

• The Toll of Sleep Loss in America
• Sleep Habits: More Important Than You Think

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