Research unlocks one way to help children sleep better

The key to helping your child sleep better may be found in what your child does in the final hours before bedtime.

New Zealand researchers found that children who watched a lot of television in the last hour and a half before bed, had more trouble falling asleep.

Researchers found that children who watch TV before bedtime struggle to go to sleep because it takes the body longer to slip into sleep mode.

Doctors suggest turning off the TV completely in the evenings for children. Another recommendation to help accommodate better sleep is to create an environment with low light and reduced activity in the hours leading up to bedtime.

Complete research findings are in the journal Pediatrics .