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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.

Behaviour-based persistent sleep problems

Some persistent sleep problems are related to behaviour. These problems can happen at bedtime or during the night.

Behaviour-based persistent sleep 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
  • sleeping at irregular times – for example, going to sleep much later on some nights.

These persistent sleep problems can sometimes be managed with behaviour strategies to reduce the behaviour that’s causing the problem. For example, if your child gets out of bed at night as a way of keeping you around, it can help to minimise the amount of talking and eye contact you give your child each time you gently return them to bed.

Your health professional will work with you and your child to find a behaviour strategy to help your child sleep better.

Medical conditions and persistent sleep problems

Some persistent sleep problems might need some kind of medical treatment. They include:

  • sleep apnoea
  • insomnia
  • restless leg syndrome
  • nightmares and night terrors
  • narcolepsy
  • delayed sleep phase.

For example, if your child has sleep apnoea that’s caused by enlarged adenoids, they might need an operation to take out their adenoids. This should improve your child’s breathing during sleep.

How persistent sleep problems affect children and their families

Persistent sleep problems usually mean not enough sleep – and not enough good-quality sleep – for children and their families.

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

  • behaviour problems – for example, younger children being overactive or older children being sleepy
  • 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.

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, psychologist or other health professional who’s experienced in identifying and treating persistent sleep problems in children. 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 help 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.

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 some 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 and night terrors
  • sleep apnoea
  • sleepwalking.

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 screen-based device in the bedroom
  • nightmares and night terrors
  • sleep apnoea
  • sleepwalking
  • 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 screen-based device in the bedroom
  • anxiety, including being anxious about getting enough sleep
  • sleep apnoea
  • insomnia
  • delayed sleep phase.

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

  • poor sleep habits – for example, caused by having a screen-based device in the bedroom
  • anxiety, including being anxious about getting enough sleep
  • sleep apnoea
  • insomnia
  • 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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