Every year on the Monday following the annual "spring forward" time change, America celebrates National Napping Day.

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Of course, that's today and I find it hard to believe that anyone would argue the merits of a good old-fashioned nap, especially on a day like today.

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However, it would appear that here in the Bayou State, all of us, especially our children, not only need a nap, we need more sleep on a regular basis.

New National Study Shows Louisiana Kids Get The Least Sleep Of All in Country

The new "Sleepy States Study" from VocoVision just revealed that Louisiana kids get the least amount of sleep of all children in America.

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The results of the study were staggering and show that only 52.5% of Louisiana kids receive the age-appropriate amount of sleep. On the other end of the spectrum are the children of Utah where nearly 75% get the right amount of sleep regularly.

Louisiana Adults Aren't Doing A Whole Lot Better Than Our Kids

Louisiana also has the sixth highest rate of sleep-deprived parents, where the prevalence of short sleep duration among adults was 38.4%.

According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, sleep deficiency is linked to many chronic health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, strokeobesity, and depression.

  • Sleep deficiency is also linked to a higher chance of injury in adults, teens, and children
  • Sufficient sleep is required for healthy brain development, especially during early childhood

In spite of the hazards of sleep deprivation, research has shown that nearly 25% of typically developing children demonstrate sleep problems.

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What's The Best Remedy For This Sleep Deprivation Issue?

According to Dr. Kathryn Steele, Ph.D., the Director of Clinical Services for VocoVision, “Sleep disturbances may increase stress across the entire family, which may increase undesirable behaviors in children.  Unfortunately, the family may engage in a cycle where chronic poor sleep leads to chronic stress and behavioral challenges.”

Dr. Steele goes on to say that the most important way to encourage healthy sleep in children, especially for neurodiverse children, is to establish morning and evening routines and stick with them.

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