Why Your Teenager Sleeps In Late: The Real Reason, and It's Not Laziness - Insights from the Experts

Navigating the world of parenting takes on a new set of challenges as your child transitions into the teenage years. While you've moved past night feeds, weaning, and potty training, the realm of parenting teens comes with its own complexities. One common hurdle that many parents face during this period is understanding the mysterious sleep patterns of their teenagers. If you find your teen sleeping until the afternoon, rest assured—it's not just laziness.

Dr. Lindsay Browning, a psychologist, neuroscientist, and sleep expert at And So To Bed, sheds light on the science behind this phenomenon. "When children reach their teenage years, their circadian rhythm, which is their internal 24-hour clock, starts to change to move later," explains Dr. Browning. This shift prompts teenagers to produce melatonin, the sleep hormone, later than both younger children and adults.

The consequence? Teens may appear "lazy" when they sleep in until noon. Dr. Browning clarifies, "In teenagers, their circadian rhythm actually changes to make them want to go to bed much later (which is why they may want to stay up until say one or 2 am) and then, they may sleep in until 10 or 11 am to get enough sleep."

While this scientific insight might not bring immediate relief to parents trying to rouse their teens in the morning, it underscores the natural changes in sleep patterns during adolescence. The challenge lies in the fact that the school system often fails to accommodate these shifts in the body clocks of teenagers.

Attempting to compensate for lost sleep on weekends is not a viable solution, according to Dr. Browning. "If teens are allowed to catch up on sleep and have a long lie-in at the weekend, then their circadian rhythm will struggle to shift earlier to help them fall asleep and wake up at a reasonable time for school on a Monday morning," she warns.

Despite the widely acknowledged need for more sleep among teenagers (8 to 10 hours per night), many struggle to meet this requirement. Dr. Browning offers practical tips for parents aiming to ensure their teens get sufficient rest. Setting a bedtime reminder, avoiding weekend sleep-ins, and prioritizing exposure to bright light in the morning can aid in regulating sleep patterns.

Additionally, managing screen time is crucial. Dr. Browning recommends limiting screen use an hour before bedtime and minimizing screens in the bedroom to mitigate the impact of bright light on melatonin production. Cutting back on caffeine and fizzy drinks and encouraging a consistent bedtime routine are further steps parents can take to support their teenagers in achieving better-quality sleep.

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