Is it safe to use herbs or medications to help my child sleep? There are many different types of herbs and medications that are supposed to help children get to sleep but few have any good rigorous scientific data to support these claims and some may cause harm. In general, avoid using herbs or [...]
My baby has a feeding tube. What can I do to help her sleep? Babies with special feeding situations such as g-tubes or g-j tubes should be able to sleep just fine, though there are a few things to consider. First, talk with your child’s health care provider about any concerns you may have. They [...]
My child has autism. Who can help me with his sleep? Many children with autism have a team of people including occupational therapists, behavior therapists, and speech therapists. All of the people on a child’s team can play a role in helping with sleep. Most families have a person who [...]
I have postpartum depression. What can you tell me about how this might affect my little one’s sleep? Links between postpartum depression and infant sleep problems have been reported. It is important that you realize that this does not necessarily mean that your depression is leading to [...]
My child has autism. What can I expect about her sleep? Children with autism and autism spectrum disorders often experience sleep difficulties. These can include difficulties falling asleep, maintaining sleep and experiencing short sleep duration. As with other disorders, the reasons for the [...]
My daughter has ADHD. Will that affect her sleep? Children with ADHD often experience sleep difficulties. For example, children with this disorder may find it difficult to fall asleep at night or may wake up during the night. They may also find that they have restless legs during the night and [...]
Is co-sleeping a safety concern in other cultures? There are lots of mixed opinions about co-sleeping. And, yes, it does vary quite a bit world-wide. However, there is always a safety risk to co-sleeping (sharing the same bed or sleep surface) if your little one is younger than 12-months-old. For [...]
Is it okay to give my preschooler (3 to 5 years old) melatonin? You should always check with your child’s health care provider regarding the safety of giving any over-the-counter product to your little one. But, yes, pediatricians frequently recommend melatonin for children with sleep problems. [...]
What is melatonin and what does it do? Melatonin is a hormone produced by the brain that helps regulate our internal clock (circadian clock) and may induce sleep. Melatonin is commonly used to help people become sleepy, but it does not have this effect in everyone; only the body clock effect occurs [...]
Are there any safe medications to help promote sleep for toddlers? The short answer is, no. There are currently no drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) intended to promote sleep in infants and young children. Most drugs have not been formally tested for pediatric sleep [...]