Is your child sleeping right? 5 mistakes every parent must avoid

             Written by: Ehsan Siddiqui

18 November 2025

Restful and sound sleep is one of the most important things for a child's brain and physical development. But unknowingly, some common mistakes by parents can disrupt sleep and the child's development.

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Irregular bedtimes disrupt a child's natural circadian cycle. This frequent disturbance hinders the brain from entering deep, restorative sleep, which is necessary for information retention, learning, and cognitive processing.

Inconsistent Bedtime

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Blue light from screens lowers melatonin levels before bedtime, which makes it harder to fall asleep, lowers the quality of sleep, and affects concentration and learning the next day.

Screen Before Bedtime

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Eating sugary foods right before bed can raise blood sugar levels late at night, lead to restless sleep, and alter brain plasticity, which makes it more difficult for children to concentrate and take in new information.

Sugary Foods Before Bed

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Unaddressed worries or fears can elevate cortisol levels in a child, which impair memory formation and emotional resilience. Creating a calm, reassuring bedtime environment is vital.

Ignoring Anxiety Before Bed

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A brightly lit or loud room interrupts the brain's nightly healing processes and prevents deep sleep. Light exposure suppresses melatonin, and noise disrupts memory consolidation, making it more difficult to focus and learn the next day. 

Bright Or Noisy Sleep Environment

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By avoiding these common bedtime mistakes and building healthy sleep habits, you can support your child’s memory, mood, and overall development. Better sleep tonight leads to a stronger brain tomorrow.

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