How Puberty Affects Sleep

At 5 Little Monkeys, we believe every child deserves to experience healthy, restful sleep each and every night, and we're on a mission to help kids everywhere achieve it. That's why we've created one of the best mattresses for kids, designing each feature of our children's mattress to give growing bodies exactly what they need for restful sleep. But while all kids need adequate sleep and a high-quality mattress, children's sleep needs change over time – and perhaps the biggest changes occur during puberty.

How Do Sleep Needs Change During Puberty?

Usually, girls enter puberty around age 10 or 11, while boys begin puberty a couple years later. This kicks off a wide range of changes in the body, and some of those changes have to do with sleep.

Perhaps the biggest puberty-related change in sleep is what's known as "sleep phase delay." This refers to the shift that occurs in a child's circadian rhythm, which is sort of like an internal "body clock" that regulates a variety of functions, including sleep. Before puberty, the body's circadian rhythm starts to trigger sleep hormones and feelings of sleepiness around 8pm or 9pm. However, when puberty hits, circadian rhythm shifts back an hour or two, with sleepiness usually starting around 10pm or 11pm. This can sometimes cause a child to seem as if they've developed sudden insomnia. But in reality, their body's circadian rhythm has simply shifted back in response to puberty.

Unfortunately, a shift in the timing of the circadian rhythm doesn't mean your child needs any less sleep. Teenagers still need 9 to 9.5 hours of sleep per night for healthy development – and with most high schools starting class as early as 8 or even 7 in the morning, it's easy to see the problem this presents. Still, as difficult as it may be, it's vital to ensure the proper amount of sleep to ensure healthy physical and emotional development. So while it may be difficult, it's best for kids to stay on an earlier bedtime schedule that helps them get 9 hours of sleep each night.

Try Our Kids Twin Mattress

Sleep is just one of the many changes that occur during puberty, but no matter what stage of development your child is in, a high-quality kids mattress is vital to proper sleep. At 5 Little Monkeys, we've worked hard to craft a specialized kids bed that's beloved by parents and kids alike. Want to find out more about our children's bed and how it can help your little one? Contact us today!