Excitement over presents and family visits takes its toll. Just over 25 hours of sleep are lost by children due to a lack of time in bed caused by the excitement of the holiday season, says one study of 1,023 British parents released this week. Parents also lose out on an average of three hours’ sleep a night.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, there are basic daily sleep requirements for children, adolescents, pre-teens and teens. They recommend preschoolers get 11-13 hours, elementary school students get 10-12 hours, pre-teens get 9 – 11 hours, and teenagers get 8.5 – 9 hours of sleep each night.

To help kids sleep while away from home our sleep expert, Dr. Christopher Drake, offers parents the following sleep tips:
- Make time for kids to nap before or after being away from home for the night
- Bring your kids’ own pillows
- Make sure there are suitable sleep arrangements wherever your child is headed
- Pack comforting, familiar items such as night lights or books
- Have a light, healthy snack on hand in case your child gets hungry before bed or during the night

Related Articles:

1. GateHouse News Service Publishes Dr. Drake’s Tips for Kids’ First Sleepovers Away from Home
2. SBA Expert Dr. Drake Gives Advice on Kids’ Sleep in OC Register
3. Getting Kids to Sleep While Traveling