Is a teen falling asleep after school sometimes relatively normal?

[itme]

My 14 year old DS has started falling asleep after school for an hour sometimes over the past school year (year 9). It’s usually on a Friday at around 6 after he’s had school followed by music lessons. I’ve assumed he’s really tired because it’s the end of the week and a long day for him. More recently it’s occasionally happened on other days too when he’s been home at the normal time of 3:15ish.

Is that within the realms of normality for a teenage boy? I can’t identify as I was quite an energetic teenager - I used to spring out of bed most mornings and never fell asleep when it wasn’t bedtime unless I was ill. His dad says that he was the same as me, but a friend said that she regularly needed a nap after school. Some of his friends are up at 5 to do paper rounds or to work out but DS struggles to get out of bed for school at 7:15 (and no, he’s not awake especially late - usually asleep by 11 at the latest, usually earlier). Should I be worried or is this standard for some teens at this age?

Yes, my 14 yr old DS does this - particularly during growth spurts!

I used to do this semi-regularly. I would lie on my stomach on the floor with a big cushion and fall asleep watching deal or no deal. I probably went to bed later than I should've and had to be up for half 6ish so was just shattered.
I also really love sleep and even now if there's an opportunity for a nap I'll take it. I was probably one of the few who took the 'sleep when the baby sleeps' advice. My house was a shit tip but I was well rested 😂

I believe that there’s medical evidence that naps are good for teens?

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/teenagers-and-sleep-how-much-sleep-is-enough

I remember crashing after school as a teen, and I think I’m okay healthwise

You say you’re sure he’s not gaming in the night but you might want to try shutting the wifi off at night for a week or so to see if that has any effect.

I would be concerned (not panicked, mind you) that the nap is happening too close to bedtime that it could disrupt normal nighttime sleep, and perhaps trying to keep DS occupied during that time so that the urge to nap passes. But maybe that’s my hyper-fragile post-menopausal sleep patterns talking - any sleep during the day, even 10 minutes, and I’m on melatonin at 9:30.

My DD is nearly 13. She's started doing this in the last 2 weeks! I call her for dinner and she's fast asleep. I suspect she's not getting enough sleep at night. Also her life is very full on. Lots of activities and socialising. Also it's the end of term and I think they're all ready for a break.

I regularly had a nap after school. Went on to get a first class degree and 6 figure salary. Nothing to worry about.

My dd did this (year 7) regularly and slept through dinner etc and all night.
Turned out she’d had glandular fever

Mine does this. Naps in the car on the way home. The school bus is full of them having a doze or “resting their eyes“ with their headphones on.

He goes to bed around 9:45 but doesn’t usually fall asleep until 10:30-11.

My 14 year old DS often falls asleep after school, I have to wake him up for dinner! I think it's healthy, they are growing and need plenty of sleep.

Well that all sounds really positive, maybe keep a record of it and see GP if it starts to interfere with his life or other symptoms appear. I am genuinely delighted with the idea of all these giant teenagers just falling asleep where they sit like huge toddlers 😁