Is it true what they say about sleep and children growing?

Question

I was wondering if it's true what they say about children needing to get enough sleep to grow, never mind the fact they need enough sleep to not be cranky! My step-daughter is 4 and is extremely small for her age and my bf's family blames in on the steroids in her eczema lotion but she hasn't been putting it on everyday like before and she didn't have a bedtime before and would get up early so she wasn't getting enough sleep to not be crank let alone anything else.

Answer 1

yes it is true that steroid medication stunt growth. all it takes is one dose to have an effect on the body, that is why doctor's are so careful with prescribing them(my son takes one for asthma attacks) but she could just be small. Also her diet plays a big impact, the body needs nutrients to grow. So sad when people don't take responsibility for their children and teach them properly! she should be in bed at 8pm at 4 years old.

unfortunately sounds like you are not getting a say in the matter, and your the one looking out for her best interests

Answer 2

Ha Ha Yeah, Its True Alright!

Answer 3

If anything, steroids would be making her get  bigger.  Sleep deprivation, however, can indeed stunt a child's growth.

Answer 4

Most sayings have some history behind them that we are completely unaware of, but was completely understood when they were first coined. (oops there's another saying with a history!) Children do indeed need to get plenty of sleep to keep healthy and thus grow or grow-up. Most of us are cranky when we don't feel well. It is highly unlikely that loss of sleep or steroid cream would have any thing to do with her size. Historically, small people where those who had poor nutrition, specifically a diet that was low in protein.

Most of us older people can recall a grandparent that was particularly short or small in stature. Have you visited a museum where they displayed early century clothing, the womens shoes were very very tiny.

Sometimes you can't change or even influence other peoples opinions, especially family. Generally its best not to argue the point. Just help your step-daughter to get enough sleep, eat a good balanced diet and to be physically active. If her eczema is getting better due to your influence on her life, you have your first physical evidence that proper sleep does have a positive result.  :)

Answer 5

does she have heart problem? bc sometimes that dont' let children grow since the system works slowly  

Answer 6

some people are just shorter than others. she will grow eventually, everyone grown at their same pace. Like my sister, she was always the smallest one in the class, but now at 15 she is the tallest one since she just shot up within the last few months.

Plus there is so much chemicales in the foods these days that kids grown differently and early. Ie girls 12 and 10 have distinct b***s.