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What are persistent sleep problems?

Persistent sleep problems affect your child’s ability to sleep or settle over a long period.

Not all sleep problems are persistent. A sudden change in your child’s sleep might be a short-term sleep problem, rather than a persistent one.

You can sort out many short-term sleep problems by encouraging good sleep habits. But persistent sleep problems continue even after you introduce better sleep habits and other lifestyle changes.

Persistent sleep problems related to bedtime or sleep habits

Some persistent sleep problems are related to bedtime routines and sleep habits.

These problems include your child:

  • calling out and getting out of bed
  • not wanting to sleep in their own bed
  • having trouble getting to sleep because they need you to help them settle
  • waking up often during the night and needing help to get back to sleep
  • feeling very anxious about going to bed or staying in bed
  • sleeping at irregular times – for example, going to sleep much later some nights.

Persistent sleep problems related to medical conditions

Some persistent sleep problems might need medical treatment. These problems include:

  • sleep apnoea
  • insomnia
  • restless leg syndrome
  • narcolepsy
  • delayed sleep phase.

For example, if your child has obstructive sleep apnoea that’s caused by enlarged adenoids and tonsils, they might need an operation to remove them. This should improve your child’s breathing during sleep.

Getting help for persistent sleep problems

Persistent sleep problems can affect your child and your whole family, so it’s important to seek help. Persistent sleep problems usually need professional treatment.

The first step is talking with your GP about getting an assessment of your child’s sleep. You might be referred to a paediatrician, childhood sleep specialist, psychologist or other health professional who’s experienced in identifying and treating persistent sleep problems in children and teenagers.

You can also go to Australian Psychological Society – Find a psychologist to look for psychologists with expertise in sleep problems.

Very occasionally, your child’s doctor might prescribe a sleep medicine to treat your child’s persistent sleep problem. You should give your child sleep medicine only if your doctor advises you to do so and only if your doctor is supervising your child’s treatment.

Children often grow out of sleep issues like body-rocking, head-rolling and head-banging, nightmares and night terrors. If these issues aren’t upsetting your child or your family, you don’t usually need to seek help.

How persistent sleep problems affect children, teenagers and families

Persistent sleep problems usually mean not enough sleep – and not enough good-quality sleep – for your child and your family.

On top of that, if your child has a persistent sleep problem, they might have daytime problems like:

  • overactivity
  • poor memory
  • trouble with concentrating or understanding instructions
  • more tiredness during the day
  • the need for more naps
  • inability to wake up for school or work
  • irritability and anger
  • mental health issues like childhood depression, teenage depression, childhood anxiety or teenage anxiety.

You, your partner and your other children might also have some of these daytime problems.

Caring for a child with a persistent sleep problem can disrupt the family routine. It can also cause poor sleep, stress, anxiety or even depression for you. Try to look after yourself and ask for help from family and friends. Parenting helplines can also help.

Persistent sleep problems at different ages

Children of all ages can have persistent sleep problems, but different problems are more common at different ages. Below are examples of persistent sleep problems at different ages.

In toddlers and preschoolers (2-5 years), common persistent sleep problems include:

  • night-time fears like fear of the dark
  • the need for something or someone to go to sleep with – for example, a bottle of milk in bed or a parent
  • bedtime resistance – for example, calling out and getting out of bed
  • nightmares
  • night terrors
  • sleepwalking
  • sleep apnoea.

In school-age children (5-8 years), common persistent sleep problems include:

  • night-time fears like fear of the dark
  • poor sleep habits – for example, caused by having a device in the bedroom
  • nightmares
  • night terrors
  • sleep walking
  • sleep apnoea
  • teeth-grinding
  • anxiety – either general anxiety or anxiety about not getting enough sleep.

In pre-teens (9-11 years), common persistent sleep problems include:

  • poor sleep habits – for example, caused by having a device in the bedroom
  • anxiety, including being anxious about getting enough sleep
  • sleep apnoea
  • insomnia
  • teeth-grinding
  • delayed sleep phase.

In teenagers (12-18 years), common persistent sleep problems include:

  • poor sleep habits – for example, caused by having a device in the bedroom
  • anxiety, including being anxious about getting enough sleep
  • sleep apnoea
  • insomnia
  • teeth-grinding
  • delayed sleep phase
  • restless leg syndrome.

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Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

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