Child sleep: A cross-sectional survey assessing parent perspectives and support needs

This study examined parents' perspectives about sleep challenges in their child aged 10-12 years and their preferences for information, tools, and resources to support healthy sleep.

A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 250 Australian parents/guardians, who reported on the sleep challenges experienced by their own children aged 10-12 years, between May and June 2023. The survey assessed child sleep difficulties, perceived barriers to sleep, the impact of sleep challenges, and parental support needs. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and free-text responses were thematically analysed using an inductive, reflexive approach.

Nearly half of parents (47.6 %) reported that their child often had trouble falling asleep, or regularly worried at bedtime (44.8 %). Two in five (40.8 %) reported their child slept fewer than 9 h per night, below national guidelines. The most common barriers to sleep were worry and rumination (62.8 %), difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep (50.4 %), and screen use (37.2 %). Parents described impacts on children's mood, concentration, school engagement, and family functioning. While most parents were motivated to improve their child's sleep, they identified gaps in their knowledge and access to resources. Key areas of need included sleep hygiene education, guidance on managing anxiety, rumination, and screen use, strategies for establishing routines, and developmentally tailored resources.

Parents reported that sleep problems were common among their 10-12-year-old children and were often underpinned by worry and rumination. Findings from this study highlighted the need for credible, accessible, and age-appropriate resources tailored to child and family contexts, together with the need for co-designed, family-centred resources to promote healthy sleep in childhood.