Sleep is so important for the health and well-being of children and teenagers, yet sleep difficulties are common in this age group, impacting around 30% of children. Let’s explore the different types of sleep difficulties experienced by children aged 4 to 18 years and treatments available which can increase sleep health for your child.

Common Sleep Difficulties

Bedtime Resistance and Delayed Sleep Onset

Children and teenagers with bedtime resistance or delayed sleep onset resist going to bed or struggle to fall asleep, often staying awake for hours past their bedtime. Key signs include making requests for additional drinks, stories, cuddles, and so on, in order to delay bedtime, or spending a long time in bed, trying but unable to fall asleep. This can lead to insufficient sleep, resulting in daytime fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating at school.

Excessive Night Waking

Children may wake excessively frequently during the night. This occurs more often in younger children but it can emerge or persist into the teenage years. Key signs include waking up multiple times at night and potentially needing parental assistance to fall back asleep. These disruptions can fragment sleep, leading to poor sleep quality for both the child and their parents, causing stress and exhaustion within the family.

Unhelpful Sleep Associations

Some children require intense support from a parent in order to fall asleep, and this can cause multiple overnight wakes because they require the same intense support to resume sleeping. This can lead to very fragmented sleep, heightened distress, and severe parental fatigue and irritation. Children’s daytime functioning is often impacted too.

Sleep Anxiety and Fear of the Dark

Anxiety at bedtime and/or fear of the dark can make it hard for children to fall asleep and maintain sleep during the night. They may call out to their parents a lot during the night and require parental presence to fall asleep. Key signs include expressing fear or anxiety at bedtime, refusing to sleep alone, or needing prolonged reassurance. Persistent anxiety can lead to chronic sleep difficulties, with long-term effects on mental health and family dynamics.

Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Circadian rhythm disorders occur when there is a mismatch between your child’s sleep-wake cycle and their daily commitments (school start times), societal expectations, or the familial sleep schedule. Common signs include a preference for going to bed very late and waking up late (delayed sleep phase), which is especially common in teenagers, and/or falling asleep at an appropriate time but waking for several hours during the night before falling back asleep again. This can lead to chronic sleep deprivation, especially on school days, affecting academic performance and social interactions.

The Impact on Children and Families

Sleep difficulties can have wide-ranging effects on both the child and the family:

On the Child: Poor sleep can lead to a host of issues, including mood swings, behavioural problems, difficulty concentrating, and lower academic performance. Over time, chronic sleep deprivation can increase the risk of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

On the Family: Sleep difficulties can strain family relationships, as parents may experience stress, exhaustion, and frustration from dealing with their child’s sleep problems. Siblings may also be affected if nighttime disturbances are frequent.

Sleep Difficulties Are Highly Treatable

The silver lining is that sleep difficulties are highly treatable. With the right support, children and teenagers can improve sleep habits, leading to significant improvements in their overall well-being and academic outcomes.

Our best tips!

Establish a consistent bedtime routine. A calming and predictable bedtime routine can help signal to the body that it’s time to wind down and prepare for sleep.
Remove the pressure & provide sleep education. Putting pressure on your child to fall asleep faster, or sleep more, is unlikely to help. Sleep is a process of letting go. Encourage relaxation at bedtime - all rest is good rest, any sleep is better than no sleep. Teach your child about the importance of keeping a regular bedtime and wake up time. Empower them to take good care of their sleep patterns.
Address unhelpful sleep associations. Support your child to build their confidence falling asleep independently. Take gradual steps if you need to.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I): This evidence-based approach addresses the underlying thoughts and behaviours that contribute to sleep difficulties. It’s the gold standard of sleep support and has strong research evidence to support it’s effectiveness at both improving sleep and decreasing anxiety. This therapy needs to be carried out by a trained sleep practitioner or sleep psychologist.

Positive Outcomes of Resolving Sleep Problems

When sleep problems are resolved, the benefits are profound. Don’t let sleep difficulties drag on too long. It’s important to get the support your child needs.

Research evidence tells us that children and teenagers who have quality sleep are more likely to:

Perform better academically due to improved concentration, memory, and cognitive functioning;
Experience better emotional regulation, leading to fewer mood swings and behavioural issues;
Enjoy improved physical health, as good sleep strengthens the immune system and supports overall growth and development;
Develop healthier relationships with family and peers, due to reduced stress and irritability;
For families, resolving a child’s sleep difficulties can restore harmony at home, reducing stress and improving the quality of life for everyone involved.

While sleep difficulties are common, they are also highly treatable. With the right support and strategies, children and teenagers can overcome these challenges, leading to better sleep, improved well-being, and a brighter academic future.

If you need help with your child’s sleep, book an appointment with one of our certified sleep practitioners. We’re trained in CBT-I, the most effective approach for treating sleep difficulties, plus we are trained to provide neuro-affirming, tailored support, that meets the unique needs of each individual child.

Common Sleep Difficulties in Childhood