What are persistent sleep problems?

Persistent sleep problems affect your child’s ability to sleep or settle over a long period, typically for more than one month. This can make it hard for your child to function during the day.

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.

Examples of persistent sleep problems in children of different ages

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

Toddlers and preschoolers (2-5 years)

School-age children (5-8 years)

Pre-teens (9-11 years)

Teenagers (12-18 years)

  • Poor sleep habits, like having an electronic device in the bedroom
  • Anxiety, including anxiety about getting enough sleep
  • Sleep apnoea
  • Insomnia
  • Teeth-grinding
  • Delayed sleep phase

What causes persistent sleep problems?

Bedtime or sleep habits

Some persistent sleep problems are related to how and where your child settles at bedtime and their sleep habits. These problems include:

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

Medical conditions

Some persistent sleep problems are caused by medical conditions. These problems include:

Why it’s important to get help for persistent sleep problems in children and teenagers

It’s important to seek help for persistent sleep problems because these problems can affect your child and your whole family. They usually mean no-one is getting enough sleep – and enough good-quality sleep.

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 conditions like depression or 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.

Treatment for persistent sleep problems

Persistent sleep problems usually need professional treatment.

The first step is talking with your GP about getting an assessment of your child’s sleep.

The GP might refer you and your child to a paediatrician, childhood sleep specialist, psychologist, respiratory physician or other health professional who’s experienced in identifying and treating persistent sleep problems in children and teenagers. 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.

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

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.

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

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