It’s after midnight and you can hardly keep your eyes open. Your teenager is in his or her bedroom watching TV and showing no signs of being sleepy. As a parent, it’s hard to understand how teenagers are so energetic at night when you have to drag them out of bed in the morning.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many teens stay up late and sleep even later. This change in sleep patterns is caused by a normal shift in the body’s internal clock that happens around the time of puberty. Most teens handle this normal shift without problems, andl they outgrow it in their late 20s. However, some teens may develop a sleep disorder called delayed sleep phase syndrome, an exaggerated response to the normal shift in sleep patterns.

Teens with delayed sleep phase syndrome usually can’t fall asleep until after midnight and then have problems waking up early for school. They often are falling asleep in school, especially during morning classes, and complain about feeling tired during the day. When the sun goes down, these teens get a second wind and can’t fall asleep at bedtime. On weekends, if these teens are allowed to sleep in, they will wake up refreshed after getting about nine hours of sleep. That means that they don’t roll out of bed until 10 a.m. or later.

So how can you help your teenager keep a regular sleep pattern? Here are a few tips:

1. Teens need an average of nine hours of sleep per night. The TV and other electronics need to be turned off 30 minutes before bedtime.
2. Limit “sleep stealers” like caffeine or daytime naps, especially after 4 p.m.
3. You can’t “catch up on sleep” by sleeping in on the weekends. It’s best to encourage your teen to keep a similar sleep schedule on the weekdays and weekends.
4. Exposure to bright, natural light in the mornings after waking will help reset the body’s internal clock.

If you’re concerned about your teen’s sleep habits, talk to your pediatrician or one of our specialists. Children’s Hospital has Wisconsin’s only pediatric sleep center accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

To make an appointment at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Clinics-New Berlin, call Central Scheduling at (414) 607-5280 or request an appointment online.

Learn more about our free parent education program.

Click here to subscribe to the New Berlin clinic blog.


 

Kids with asthma used to be discouraged from playing sports. Now, we know that being active, working out and playing sports do more than help kids have fun and maintain a healthy weight. These activities actually strengthen the muscles that help you breathe and help your lungs work better.

If your child has asthma, a doctor may recommend exercise as part of his or her asthma action plan. If you have any doubts about whether sports and asthma mix, consider all the professional and Olympic athletes who have asthma!

Game on
Here are two important things to remember about asthma and sports participation:

1. Your child's asthma must be under control in order to play and enjoy sports.
2. When your child's asthma is well controlled, he or she can, and should, be active and play sports just like anyone else.

Some activities, like swimming and leisurely biking, are less likely to cause problems for kids with asthma. Sports that require short bursts of activity, like baseball, football, gymnastics, and shorter track and field events, also are good choices. Endurance sports, like long-distance running, soccer and basketball, require extended energy, and may be more challenging. But that doesn't mean your child can't participate in these sports if he or she really likes them. Many athletes with asthma have found that with proper training and medication, they can participate in any sport.

Gaining control
It takes time and energy to keep asthma well controlled, but it’s worth the effort! Help your child follow these tips:

• Take medicine as prescribed: Skipping controller medication can make symptoms worse
• Forgetting to take prescribed medication before exercise can lead to severe flare-ups or even a trip to the emergency room. Kids should always carry rescue medication.
• Keep triggers in mind. Depending on his or her triggers, you child may want to:
• Skip outdoor workouts and activities when pollen or mold counts are high.
• Make sure he or she always has time for a careful warm up and cool down.

These recommendations should be included in the asthma action plan you create with your child's doctor. Be sure that your child's coach knows he or she has asthma and has a copy of the plan. Most importantly, everyone needs to understand when it's time for a break from a practice or game so that flare-ups can be managed before they become emergencies.

If you’re concerned about your child’s asthma, talk to your pediatrician or one of our specialists. To make an appointment at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Clinics-New Berlin, call Central Scheduling at (414) 607-5280 or request an appointment online.

Learn more about our free parent education program.

Click here to subscribe to the New Berlin clinic blog.
 

Did you know that UV rays actually begin increasing in April, even though it’s not that warm outside yet? Many people think a suntan is a healthy glow, but parents need to understand that tanned skin actually is damaged skin.

Sun exposure can have serious consequences to our physical appearance and health, including skin cancer. Up to two-thirds of all cases of melanoma – the most dangerous form of skin cancer – can be linked to sun exposure.

The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that about 80 percent of the average person’s lifetime sun damage occurs before age 18, so it’s really important to make sure your kids are properly protected from the sun.

When your kids are outside, remember the ABCs of skin protection:

A = Away. Stay away from the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun’s damaging UV rays are most intense.

B = Block. Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher. Sunscreens should block both UVA and UVB rays, or provide broad-spectrum UV coverage. Remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours while in the sun, or every 30 minutes when swimming or during high-intensity activities. The higher the SPF rating, the more protection your skin has.

C = Cover up. Wear a T-shirt, sunglasses and hat.

S = Speak out. Talk to your family and friends about sun protection.

Children younger than 6 months should not have prolonged exposure to the sun. If shade or protective clothing isn’t available, apply a small amount of sunscreen to the baby’s face and hands.

If your child does suffer a sunburn:

• Put him or her in a cool bath or use cool compresses on burned areas.
• Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help relieve the pain.
• Apply aloe gel or hydrocortisone cream to burned areas right away and reapply as needed for up to two days. Avoid benzocaine, Vaseline^® or moisturizers that can trap heat into the skin.
• If sunburn is combined with fever, nausea, vomiting and dizziness, get urgent medical attention because this may be a sign of heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

Prevention is the best tactic. Remember to examine your child’s skin each month for unusual growths. Sun exposure is only one cause of skin cancer. Ask your pediatrician if you are concerned about a growing or changing skin lesion.

If you’re concerned about sun exposure or skin damage, talk to your pediatrician or one of our specialists. To make an appointment at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Clinics-New Berlin, call Central Scheduling at (414) 607-5280 or request an appointment online.

Learn more about our free parent education program.

Click here to subscribe to the New Berlin clinic blog.