A child should avoid drinking or eating anything with high levels of caffeine right before going to bed (“Children and Sleep”). Stimulating activity should also be avoided for a period of time before the child lies down to sleep. The slower your child's heart rate is when he or she lies down to go to sleep, the easier and faster it will be for him or her to fall asleep and get a good night's sleep (“The Connection Between Sleep and Growth”). Another thing that might help a baby sleep better at night is to make sure the room he or she sleeps in is dark and quiet. It may also be a good idea to make sure your child doesn't have a computer or TV in their room. Both could work as a distraction for the child. Eliminating all the things that might cause your baby to stay awake when he or she should be sleeping could help him or her sleep more eventually (“The Connection Between Sleep and Growth”). Bottom line, children need adequate sleep for more reasons than just to get through the day. Lack of sleep for a child can affect brain development, slow growth and cause problems in hormonal circulation. Parents should take extra precautionary measures to ensure their children are receiving the right amount of healthy sleep for their particular age group. This can make a lot of difference in their behavior and