\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n \tRelated story \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tThese Are All the Countries With or Considering Social Media Bans for Teens. One Is Glaringly Absent.\t\t<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n \t \n\tStill, the connection was noteworthy, especially because sleep is considered a modifiable risk factor for depression\u2014meaning that you can address it early, often without medical intervention, and improve your kids\u2019 odds. <\/p>\n \n\tThe study found that the average sleep time for children ages 6 months to 7 years was about 11 hours, with more variation among younger kids. They defined \u201cpersistently shorter sleep\u201d during this period as 9 to 9.5 hours. <\/p>\n \n\tIt\u2019s also worth noting that inflammation may play a role in the link between childhood sleep and depression, the researchers say. \u201cThe findings suggest that chronic poor sleep may contribute to long-term mental health difficulties through biological pathways including inflammation,\u201d study co-author Dr. Rebekah Amos said in the press release. The good news? Improving sleep can disrupt this effect and improve a child\u2019s chance of better mental health.<\/p>\n \n\tSo how can you help your child get better sleep? It starts with earlier and consistent bedtimes<\/a>, researchers say \u2014 and better sleep hygiene habits, too. That includes reducing screen time<\/a> before bed and promoting a sleep environment that\u2019s calm, quiet, and peaceful. It also helps if your child gets plenty of physical activity during the day to tire them out. <\/p>\n \n\tResearchers noted, though, that access to good sleep conditions aren\u2019t always equal or possible. Housing, income, and neighborhood environments are big factors in children\u2019s sleep quality that aren\u2019t so easy to control. Still, knowing the factors that go into a good night\u2019s rest \u2014 and about how much sleep kids should be getting \u2014 is a good start.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cSleep is also an element of childhood that is possible to improve without needing medical interventions,\u201d Dr. Morales-Mu\u00f1oz said, \u201cand efforts to address persistent poor sleep during childhood will have a host of benefits including addressing any potential mental health risks.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/wp-content\/themes\/vip\/pmc-sheknows-2020\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\")
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