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Sleep wars: research and opinion

Susan Riter1, Laurel Wills

  • 1The Center for Sleep Medicine, 9721 W 165th Street, Orland Park, IL 60647, USA. sriter@sleepmedcenter.com

Pediatric Clinics of North America
|March 11, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric sleep complaints have conflicting advice, but this article offers a framework for practitioners. It covers co-sleeping, cultural factors, and adolescent sleepiness to guide routine practice.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric sleep medicine
  • Child and adolescent psychiatry
  • Public health policy

Background:

  • Pediatric practitioners face conflicting advice on managing sleep complaints in children and adolescents.
  • Parental preferences like co-sleeping and cross-cultural factors complicate treatment planning.
  • Adolescent sleepiness is a significant public health concern, impacting academic performance and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a framework for pediatric practitioners to address sleep-related chief complaints in children and adolescents.
  • To synthesize evidence-based knowledge and clinical expertise on pediatric sleep issues.
  • To offer guidelines for routine practice in managing common pediatric sleep problems.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on pediatric sleep disorders and controversies.
  • Analysis of cultural and societal factors influencing sleep practices and complaints.
  • Integration of clinical experience with evidence-based recommendations.

Main Results:

  • Conflicting advice exists regarding pediatric sleep complaints, necessitating a structured approach.
  • Parent-child co-sleeping and cultural variations require sensitive consideration in diagnosis and treatment.
  • Adolescent sleepiness is linked to later school start times, highlighting a public policy dimension.

Conclusions:

  • A framework integrating evidence and clinical expertise is crucial for managing pediatric sleep complaints.
  • Practitioners should consider individual preferences, cultural contexts, and public policy in sleep management.
  • Guidelines are provided to support routine pediatric practice for sleep-related issues.

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