August 2003
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Reviewed by Lynne Lamberg |
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About 1 in 4 children experiences problems with sleep. Difficulties range from trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, to more serious disorders, such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy. While some problems, such as night wakings, usually subside as children grow older, medical and behavioral help at an early age often can make both the child's and parents' lives much happier. Sleep specialists Jodi Mindell, PhD, of St. Joseph's University and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Judith Owens, MD, MPH, of Brown University Medical School and Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, RI, wrote this book to help physicians spot children's sleep problems early and treat them appropriately. Perhaps surprisingly, given the intended audience, parents can gain heaps of information from this conversationally-written book, too. If you routinely look for medical information at the Medlineplus website of the National Library of Medicine or read the science section of the newspaper, you'll probably be comfortable with the reading level here. Early attention to sleep disorders often benefits a child's mood, behavior, attention, and school performance, the authors say. Sufficient sleep helps children function at their best. The flip side here is that children who get insufficient sleep often act more disobedient and defiant than they would if well rested. They can't focus as well and have more trouble solving abstract problems. They also show less creativity, speak less fluently, and complete tasks less quickly and efficiently than they otherwise would. Sleep problems worsen virtually any other illness the child has, from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to depression to chronic pain. The flip side again: improving sleep improves other illnesses, too. Parents can avoid or minimize some sleep problems by paying attention to sound sleep practices, such as regular bedtimes and bedtime routines, from the first days of life. Putting a 3- to 6-month-old to bed "drowsy but awake" fosters the child's ability to self-soothe, for example. There are plenty of reasons to make good sleep a priority for all children. Sleep problems not only cause considerable parental stress, Mindell and Owens say, but also may be a risk factor for child abuse. A recent survey of 600 community-based pediatricians found 1 in 5 did not routinely screen for sleep problems, and 3 in 4 did not routinely ask about snoring in children under age 5, Mindell and Owens report. Parents who are sleep-savvy can watch for symptoms that need to be brought to the doctor's attention. You'll learn from this book what sleep questions to expect from the doctor at periodic checkups from infancy through adolescence. You'll find many helpful tips for everyday problems: Television, far from helping children relax at bedtime, often hinders falling asleep, and contributes to nightmares and nighttime anxiety; read a bedtime story instead. To ease nighttime fears, try squirting "monster spray"--actually, water from a plastic spray bottle--around your child's room at bedtime, or give him a flashlight. School-age children should wake up spontaneously in the morning. If your child needs an alarm clock, she may not be getting enough sleep. The book includes a batch of age-specific guidelines designed for physicians to use as "handouts." Thus, they are written directly to parents. Topics include sleep in newborns, infants, toddlers, and older children. There also are tips for dealing with nighttime fears, nightmares, and sleepwalking and other common sleep disturbances. One surprising omission is bed-wetting. A CD-ROM that comes with the book includes sleep diary forms and a list of resources for families. There are many excellent
books for parents on children's sleep. Mindell's SLEEPING
THROUGH THE NIGHT, published in 1997, is among them. But parents
looking for a practical, authoritative, up-to-date guide won't find
anything to rival A CLINICAL GUIDE TO PEDIATRIC SLEEP. They'll probably
recommend it to their children's doctor. |
© 2003
WebSciences and Lynne Lamberg |
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CLINICAL GUIDE TO PEDIATRIC SLEEP: