Sleep is an essential ingredient in children’s long-term health and development, yet at least 1 in 3 US children are not getting enough. In the most recent National Survey of Children’s Health, nearly 35% of children (ages 4 months – 17) received less than the recommended amount of sleep for adequate rest and development.
A new report from CHILDREN AT RISK and Mattress Firm takes a closer look at the factors that contribute to childhood sleep insecurity and its effects on children’s well-being. Rest & Resilience: Securing Children’s Well-Being Through Sleep, provides an overview of the latest research on the importance of sleep for children, as well as new data insights on sleep insecurity risk in Texas, and recommendations for policymakers.
“Sleep is an essential ingredient in child development,” says Dr. Bob Sanborn, president and CEO of CHILDREN AT RISK. “While there are science-based ways parents can help their children get better sleep, many families lack the time, money, or privilege to prioritize healthy sleep practices.”
“At Mattress Firm, we believe all families deserve a safe and comfortable place to rest their head at night. Ultimately, we know the right mattress is the foundation for quality rest, but many other factors can affect how well we sleep,” says Kindel Nuño, executive vice president and General Counsel at Mattress Firm. “The data confirms much of what we already suspected – our children do not have equitable access to sleep. Socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, or even the street they live on continues to have undue influence over the quality and quantity of sleep children are getting.”
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