Oxford sleep scientist partners with Mammoth to get sleep back on track

A North East health and wellbeing brand is working with a University of Oxford sleep scientist to help families get back into their daily routines following the coronavirus pandemic.

Mammoth has launched a new video with Dr Nicola Barclay sharing support and advice for parents looking to get their sleep routines back on track.

The video covers a range of topics, including bedtime and wake time routines; the relationship between sleep and concentration; the sleep requirements for children of different ages; and the importance of sleep in helping children grow up fit and active.

According to Dr Barclay, children aged three to five, should get between 10 and 13 hours sleep a night; six to 12-year-olds, 9 to 12 hours; and teens between thirteen and eighteen should aim for 8 to 10 hours.

She said: “Since lockdown, we may have found our sleep routines disrupted and many parents say that their young children or teens aren’t getting enough sleep.

“After six months of upheaval, now is a good time to take stock and try to get our routines going again.

“As a mum myself, this is a subject close to my heart. I really recommend bringing bedtimes forward for children and a good tip is to start the bedtime routine 15 minutes earlier each night.

“Keep lights low in the evening, try calm activities, a relaxing bath and minimise screen time before bed. This gradual approach – keeping the routine going at weekends, too – will help the whole family get back into a healthy routine.”

Mammoth founder and CEO John Tuton added: “Dr Barclay’s advice is incredibly helpful for families and we’re grateful to her for sharing her expertise.

“As a dad of two young daughters, I know how important it is to implement a consistent sleep routine and I hope that others find this advice to be as useful as I have.

“At Mammoth, we are committed to helping people improve their health and wellbeing through sleep and comfort.

“Good sleep is the foundation for a healthy lifestyle and during these challenging times it has never been more important to do everything we can to care for ourselves, both physically and mentally.”