According to the National Sleep Foundation, children spend 40 percent of their childhood sleeping. Important cognitive and physical development occurs during sleep, but sleeping issues can disrupt this important development time. Sleeping issues...
In the Western world, children sleeping with parents is far less common than in other cultures, but it has gained in popularity in recent years. According to Baby Center, in the U.S. the rate of babies seven months old or younger who slept with...
Children are too young to fully appreciate sleep like adults do. There's too much to see and do, and it's not surprising that sleep doesn't fall into the category of children's favorite things to do. If your child isn't sleeping when he should be,...
You've read him his favorite book, brought him a cup of water, tucked him under the covers and checked under the bed for monsters -- but he still can't sleep. If this sounds like the nightly routine at your house, you're not alone. In fact, nearly...
Many children deal with sleep problems at some point in their lives. In newborns, sleep difficulties are common while their sleep schedules adapt from more sporadic periods of sleep to longer, uninterrupted periods. But even older children can...
When you sleep, muscles and skin repair and grow, memories organize and hormones release, regulating growth and appetite, according to the University of Missouri Extension. Getting adequate sleep is essential to the health and well-being of your...
Parents dream of a long, uninterrupted night of sleep---it's an even bigger dream if you've got a newborn on your hands. But you don't have to wait until your child goes off to college to get a good night's rest. You can train your infant or...
With so much to keep young minds busy, it can be a bit challenging for children to get to sleep and actually stay asleep through the night. Especially important for children who are of school age, getting enough sleep can help children to...
Bedtime is a challenge for children who need help winding down. Bedtime rituals help to prepare children for bedtime and sleep. A bedtime story works best as the end of a bedtime ritual that might include bathing, putting on pajamas, saying...
Children need sleep to grow and thrive. Sleep deprivation can cause a myriad issues including fatigue, academic problems, irritability, weight issues and hyperactivity. Because of the seriousness of these side effects, it is important to...
A 2009 review by J. A. Owens and S. Moturi published in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America indicated that insomnia is a common problem in children. These authors noted that sleep disorders are especially prevalent in...
Herbs can be used as an alternative to medication therapy to help your child sleep. Many herbs are quite safe for use by children and do not pose the risk for harmful side effects that accompany pharmaceutical drugs. However, some herbs are not...
A child who is ill with an infection likely needs a fair amount of rest and sleep to help her recover fully. However, it is often difficult to sleep when the infection is accompanied by uncomfortable or painful symptoms such as earache, sore...
The University of Michigan Health System states that most children are ready to sleep in their own beds between the ages of 2 and 3. However, this may not be an easy transition for all kids. Sometimes, it's necessary for you and your child to...
Some parents may find that providing their child with a weighted blanket will help to improve his sense of comfort and security, allowing him to get to sleep more easily. These products come in a variety of sizes, fabrics and configurations, and...
When your home has limited space, two small children likely have to share a bedroom. While in theory it sounds like a convenient option, two children squabbling and waking each other at night could disrupt your peaceful sleep. By ensuring that...
Children who have difficulty sleeping may exhibit behavioral difficulties and moodiness that affects the entire family, says the American Sleep Association. As your child progresses from toddler to adolescent, a good night's sleep can be impaired...
In most societies around the world, children sleep with their parents at least for the first several years of their life. Early anthropological studies found that in 90 percent of cultures, infants slept with their parents, and not in cradles or...
Bed time can be a trying time for parents and children when tantrums, crying or fear enter into the routine. Children need sleep to help their growth cycle and, just as adults do, to recharge and be in top condition for the next day. When children...
Parents are often surprised to know that pediatricians consider sleep one of the most important parts of a child's health. Children who do not get enough sleep can have trouble learning and may have an increased risk of psychological problems,...
Children need more sleep than adults, but too much sleeping is not beneficial, and parents should reevaluate their child if he seems sleepier than usual for an extended period of time. Carolyn Thiedke, M.D. notes that a child with sleeping...
If your child complains he is still tired when you wake him up after a full night's sleep, or he appears sluggish all day, he may be a restless sleeper. Children between the ages of 5 to 12 need 10 to 11 hours of quality sleep each night,...
Nearly 19,000 babies died in 2006 in the United States during the first month of life, according to the March of Dimes. While birth defects and complications related to premature birth account for a number of the deaths, ignorance by caregivers...
Normal child sleep habits, according to the University of Michigan Health System, include "cycles between light sleep and deep sleep." The cycles last for 50 to 60 minutes, allowing the possibility of waking during the light sleep periods....
Around the world, it is common to have parents sleeping with their children, and this trend is gaining popularity in the United States as well. In fact, the number of infants younger than 7 months old who usually slept with an adult grew from 5.5...
Parents of young children commonly speak to their physicians about sleep behaviors, according to C. Carolyn Thiedke, MD, at the Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine. Children who resist sleeping at bedtime cause stress and...
Iron deficiency, also called iron deficiency anemia, is a condition that occurs in circumstances that include insufficient iron intake, poor iron absorption and unmet increases in daily iron requirements. Children with iron deficiencies can...
There are many types of sleep problems, and if your child experiences any of them, it can affect him in a variety of ways. For his overall health, well being and happiness, as well as your own, figuring out the cause and helping your child...
Co-sleeping refers to sharing a bed with your child, an arrangement that often starts in infancy. With newborns, a breast-feeding mother can nurse easily when sharing the bed with her baby, resulting in more sleep for both. Often, this sleeping...
A regular bedtime routine can make life easier for both parents and children. Learn how to set a bedtime routine for your children in this parenting video.
A regular bedtime routine can make life easier for both parents and children. Learn how to set a bedtime routine for children in this parenting video.
