Sleep stimulates growth.

Dr Abe V Rotor

Sleep stimulates growth. 

Old folks believe that a child, to grow big and tall, must get more than just enough sleep. When I was a child my auntie Basang always reminded me to sleep early at night and to take siesta everyday so that I will grow well. I believe her, I’m 180 lbs, 5’ 8.” tall. 

What has sleep to do with growing up? During sleep the body releases growth hormone, which is essential to growth. More hours of sleep are needed proportionately with the increase in the rate of growth.  As we grow older we need less and less sleep. 

Research reveals that preschoolers spend 20 to 30 percent of their sleeping time in deep sleep as compared with college students spending only 10 to 15 percent of their sleeping time.  Once we reach sixty, only 1 to 2 percent of our total sleep is spent to deep sleep, which explains why older people do not need as much sleep as younger people.  

Children who are abused often fail to grow at normal rates. But if these children are placed in a safe place where their sleep becomes undisturbed, their normal growth is resumed. Thus parents are advised to provide their growing children the conditions highly conducive to long and deep sleep.