Read up on Sleep problems in children treatment options at Consumer Reports Health.

Sleep problems in children

Key points about treatments

There are some good treatments that can help your child sleep better quite quickly. The best ones include having a calm bedtime routine and training your child to sleep through the night. Doctors call these behavioral treatments. These treatments are safer for your child and can help them better than taking a medication.

Key messages about treatments for sleep problems

A regular, calming routine at bedtime (also known as good sleep hygiene) can be helpful.
Sleep training, where you don't respond immediately to your child's calls for attention, is likely to help your child settle down and sleep through the night.
We don't know how well medication works for sleep disorders in children. But drugs to make your child drowsy have some side effects.
Melatonin may help your child go to sleep earlier and stay asleep longer. But your child could get side effects.
If your child also has a disability, you may need to take them to a specialist to sort out their sleep problems.

Source:
Quine L.
Sleep problems in children with mental handicap.
Journal of Mental Deficiency Research. 1991; 35: 269-290.

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Sources for the information on this page:

Quine L.Sleep problems in children with mental handicap.Journal of Mental Deficiency Research. 1991; 35: 269-290.

This information was last updated on May 12, 2009

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