Harmful Effects of Babies Going to Bed After 10 p.m.
May 26, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Weiling
Introduction
Going to bed after 10 p.m. may hinder a child’s height growth. Chronic late sleeping can adversely affect physical development, potentially resulting in the child being slightly shorter than peers of the same age. Moreover, frequent late-night sleeping may impair cardiac and hepatic function. The heart and kidneys undergo repair and detoxification during specific nighttime hours; insufficient sleep can therefore damage these two vital organs.
Many physiological processes essential for a child’s development occur primarily during nighttime. Therefore, ensuring adequate and sufficient sleep from an early age is crucial—this requires establishing a healthy circadian sleep rhythm. Children should ideally begin preparing for sleep around 8:30 p.m. Growth hormone secretion peaks between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., so consistently going to bed after 10 p.m. may hinder optimal height development. Over time, chronic late bedtimes can negatively affect overall growth and development, potentially resulting in children being slightly shorter than their peers.
Moreover, frequent late sleeping can impair cardiac and hepatic function. The heart and kidneys undergo critical repair and detoxification processes at specific times each night; insufficient sleep disrupts these vital functions, potentially leading to irritability, restlessness, and difficulty falling or staying asleep. Prolonged sleep deprivation significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Preschool-aged children should therefore obtain 10–13 hours of sleep daily. The optimal bedtime is 8:30 p.m., with no later than 9:00 p.m. recommended. Morning wake-up time should ideally be after 7:00 a.m. Late bedtimes may adversely affect brain development, cardiovascular health, and learning and imitation behaviors.
