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Important Aspects of Sleep Hygiene
Good sleep is important for good health. Sleep hygiene is an important part of good sleeping. 7-8 hours of sleep per night is a good guide but some people need more. A routine before bed is helpful. A checklist to use as part of the routine can improve sleep. Many of our patients find a picture checklist most helpful. It is easy to get pictures from the Internet. Creating a checklist with pictures of the individual is probably even more useful. Regular sleeping hours--- Studies in people without DS have found going to bed about the same time each night and getting up about the same time each morning improves sleep and restfulness. Disturbance-free sleeping quarters should be self-evident, but we have had to encourage that be provided for some of our patients that live in residential facilities. Regular exercise and activities during the day and early evening can improve sleep. It is probably a good idea not to exercise in the last hour before bed.