According to the National Sleep Foundation, children spend 40 percent of their childhoods asleep; the average 2-year-old has spent more of her life asleep than awake. Given the significant amount of early life we spend sleeping, it's no surprise...
Sleep disorders affect at least 4 percent of children, according to a 2010 study in "Pediatrics." These debilitating disorders change the lives of infants as well as adolescents. Prescription medications can effectively and safely treat adults,...
Good sleep is important to your child's overall health, affecting his physical and emotional development. The amount of sleep your child needs may astound you; the National Sleep Foundation indicates a child spends 40 percent of childhood asleep....
Tucking your children in at night is a wonderful time to spend with them; however, it can also be an exhausting experience. One of the best ways to insure a relaxing experience of putting your children to sleep---and keeping them asleep---is to...
While many adults look forward to and know the beauty of sleep, some kids are not as enthralled with it. Some go out of their way to avoid the bed as if it held a plague, while others are so wound up it seems they will never get some shuteye....
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,...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Brain development primarily occurs during sleep in the first two years of life, according to the National Sleep Foundation. By the time children turn 2 years old, they've spent about 40 percent of their lives sleeping. As children begin school,...
A 2009 survey by A. Smaldone and colleagues published in the "Journal of Pediatric Health Care" estimated that about 33 percent of American children ages 6 to 17 do not get adequate sleep. Insufficient sleep was associated with higher rates of...
Children with attention deficit disorder, or ADD, may be more prone to sleep difficulties than the average child. Problem with sleep in young children may even be a sign of attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder....
Insomnia can occur at any age. Insomnia is defined as the inability to go to sleep or stay asleep. Children can develop insomnia through poor bedtime habits or certain medical conditions. A few natural sleep aids can help children drift off...
Everybody needs a good night's sleep. For your child, a hearty night's sleep is as important as a good breakfast. That's because when children don't get enough sleep, they can have problems with their mental, emotional and physical health.
Melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the sleep/wake cycle, may be the road to a restful night's sleep for children with a variety of sleep disorders. Studies on the use of melatonin are limited, however the hormone does show promise for some...
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...
Sleep problems in children often involve anxiety associated with bedtime. Getting adequate rest plays an integral role in the emotional, intellectual and physical development of a child. Several issues can contribute to sleep anxiety as well as to...
In her 2004 article, “Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Children and Adolescents,” Peg Dawson, EdD, indicates that health professionals estimate 30 percent of children suffer acute or chronic sleep disturbances. While the necessary amount...
According to the National Association of School Psychologists, about 30 percent of children will have a sleeping disorder. Sleep disturbances can cause children to be irritable, have difficulty concentrating in school, be hyperactive and have mood...
Getting children under the age of 7 to fall asleep at a reasonable hour can be a challenge for even the most experienced parents. There are many ways to help your child settle in for bed, including relaxation techniques, specific bedtime routines,...
"Sleep--or lack of it--is probably the most-discussed aspect of baby care," according to KidsHealth from Nemours, an education organization that focuses on children. The important thing for parents to remember is that the charts listing the number...
Homeopathic remedies have a long history in treating insomnia in both children and adults. The National Sleep Foundation states that children who have disturbed sleep can have trouble with learning or be hyperactive. Snoring can also disturb...
Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous condition in which a child stops breathing during sleep for 20 seconds or more, or a shorter period if accompanied by bradycardia (slow heart rate). According to the authors of "Wong's Essentials of Pediatric...
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.