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Sleep problems in children

R Baweja1, S Calhoun, R Baweja

  • 1Department of Psychiatry Penn State Hershey Medical Center Hershey, PA, USA - rbaweja@hmc.psu.edu.

Minerva Pediatrica
|September 24, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric sleep disorders are prevalent and impact child development. This review covers common childhood sleep problems, emphasizing behavioral treatments for better physical, emotional, and cognitive health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Neurology

Background:

  • Sleep complaints and disorders are frequent in children and adolescents.
  • Insufficient sleep negatively affects physical health, emotional well-being, cognitive function, and social development.
  • Common pediatric sleep issues include insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing, parasomnias, and disorders linked to medical/psychiatric conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the most common sleep problems in children and adolescents.
  • To discuss prevalence, presentation, and symptoms of these disorders.
  • To outline evaluation and management strategies for pediatric sleep disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of common pediatric sleep disorders.
  • Analysis of prevalence, clinical presentation, and diagnostic approaches.
  • Examination of current management strategies, including behavioral and pharmacological interventions.

Main Results:

  • Common pediatric sleep disorders identified include insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing, and parasomnias.
  • Evaluation requires consideration of developmental changes in sleep architecture and requirements.
  • Behavioral interventions are recommended as first-line treatment, with caution regarding off-label medication use.

Conclusions:

  • Effective management of pediatric sleep disorders necessitates understanding developmental variations.
  • Prioritizing behavioral treatments is crucial, especially given the off-label use of many medications in this population.
  • This review provides a comprehensive overview for clinicians managing sleep problems in children and adolescents.

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