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Children with insomnia are very common. They may have difficulty going to sleep or having trouble staying asleep. Insomniac children may also be prone to waking up early. Children of all ages can have insomnia, including infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, school-aged kids, and adolescents.
Sleep problems can have a significant impact on daytime functioning. Issues related to insufficient rest include difficulties with attention, fatigue, excessive sleepiness, behavioral problems like hyperactivity, poor impulse control, and emotional regulation issues. Furthermore, insomnia in children may force caregivers to be sleep deprived and disrupt family life.
The Sleep Centre at Boston Children’s Hospital can assist parents in addressing these issues. This can make a big difference in getting a good sleep.
Our team of specialists provides specialized care for your child.
Children can experience insomnia at any age, from childhood to adolescence. In some cases, it can become a chronic problem. Symptoms include:
Parents or caregivers often report that children with insomnia experience daily symptoms. Daytime symptoms include:
Sleeplessness is often a symptom of something else. Some of the possible causes of insomnia include:
Sleep specialists can diagnose your child’s insomnia using these techniques:
It is good to know that insomnia can be treated, mainly when it’s behavioral. Some children are dependent on certain conditions to fall asleep. For instance, they may need to be rocked, fed, or have a parent nearby. A caregiver must help the child fall asleep when they wake up at night, as all children do. Other times, toddlers may resist going to bed, be unable to relax before bedtime or have an irregular or inappropriate sleep schedule. Changes in these behaviors and habits can improve sleep for all. A sleep specialist can help.
In older children or adolescents with insomnia, the behavioral strategies include active patient involvement in developing and implementing the treatment plan. It may be a program designed specifically for insomnia called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia or CBT-I.
In rare cases, behavioral therapy and sleep medication may be recommended for children with insomnia. It is most common in children with more complex medical or mental health issues. The Sleep Center at Boston Children’s Hospital works with families to determine the most appropriate and effective medication for these children.