Sleep Problems in Children: When to Get Help
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Sleep problems are common in children and include trouble falling asleep, resisting bedtime, waking during the night, waking very early, nightmares, and night terrors. Many are a normal part of development and improve with consistent routines. It is worth getting help when sleep problems last for weeks, affect your child's mood, behaviour, or learning, or leave the whole family exhausted, or when there are signs of a medical sleep disorder, such as loud snoring, pauses in breathing, or extreme daytime sleepiness. A family doctor or paediatrician is the first step for medical concerns. Psychologists can help when anxiety, behaviour, or neurodevelopmental differences such as ADHD or autism are part of the picture.
What Is Typical
Sleep needs change with age. As a general guide, preschoolers need about 10 to 13 hours in 24 hours, school-aged children about 9 to 12 hours, and teens about 8 to 10 hours. Many young children resist bedtime, call out after lights out, or wake occasionally during the night. Nightmares are common between ages three and six, as described on the page about nightmares and night terrors in children. Short periods of disrupted sleep often follow illness, travel, a new sibling, starting school, or other changes.
Common Causes of Sleep Problems
- Inconsistent routines. Variable bedtimes and wake times confuse the body clock.
- Screens and stimulation. Devices close to bedtime delay sleep and can be hard to stop, as described on the page about problematic technology use.
- Anxiety. Worry about school, friendships, separation, or the dark can make settling hard, as described on the page about anxiety in children and teens.
- Learned sleep associations. Children who fall asleep with a parent present may need the same help when they wake at night, as described on the page about bedtime resistance and night waking.
- Neurodevelopmental differences. Sleep problems are especially common in children with ADHD and autism, as described on the page about why autistic and ADHD children often struggle with sleep.
- Medical causes. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids, allergies, reflux, eczema, pain, or restless legs.
- Changes in teens. A natural shift toward later sleep in adolescence, described on the page about teen sleep.
Signs It Is Time to Get Help
- Loud snoring, gasping, or pauses in breathing during sleep
- Extreme daytime sleepiness, falling asleep in class, or hard-to-wake mornings
- Sleep problems lasting more than a few weeks despite consistent routines
- Mood, behaviour, attention, or learning problems that seem linked to poor sleep
- Strong fear or distress at bedtime that does not ease
- Unusual behaviours in sleep, such as frequent sleepwalking or episodes that could be seizures
- Parents who are exhausted and struggling to cope
Who Can Help
A family doctor or paediatrician can check for medical causes and refer to a sleep specialist if needed. Psychologists and other mental health professionals can help when anxiety, behaviour, or emotional difficulties affect sleep, and can support parents with consistent, gentle strategies, as described on the page about parent coaching. When sleep problems are part of a broader concern, such as attention or social differences, an assessment may help clarify what is going on.
What It Is Not
A child who struggles with sleep is not being deliberately difficult, and sleep problems are not a sign of bad parenting. They are common and usually improve with the right approach. Melatonin and other sleep aids should only be used after talking with a physician, since they do not address the underlying cause and are not right for every child.
Getting Support at Pacific Maple Psych Centre
If your child's sleep is affecting their mood or your family's wellbeing, support can help you understand what is going on and what to try next.
Pacific Maple Psych Centre offers support for parents, therapy for children and teens, and assessments for concerns such as anxiety and ADHD, in Vancouver and virtually across British Columbia.
Book a SessionCommon Questions About Children's Sleep Problems
How much sleep does my child need?
Preschoolers need about 10 to 13 hours, school-aged children about 9 to 12 hours, and teens about 8 to 10 hours of sleep per day.
When should I worry about my child's sleep?
Worry about your child's sleep if problems last weeks, affect mood or learning, or involve loud snoring, breathing pauses, or extreme sleepiness.
Is snoring in children a problem?
Loud, regular snoring in children can be a sign of sleep apnea and should be checked by a family doctor or paediatrician.
Why does my child wake up every night?
Night waking in children can come from sleep associations, anxiety, nightmares, illness, or medical causes such as allergies or reflux.
Can anxiety cause sleep problems in children?
Yes. Anxiety is a common cause of sleep problems in children, especially difficulty falling asleep and needing a parent nearby.
Do screens affect children's sleep?
Yes. Screens close to bedtime can delay children's sleep through stimulation, light, and difficulty stopping.
Should I give my child melatonin?
Talk to a physician before giving your child melatonin. It does not treat the underlying cause and is not right for every child.
Can poor sleep cause behaviour problems in children?
Yes. Poor sleep can cause irritability, hyperactivity, poor attention, and emotional outbursts in children.
Who can help with my child's sleep problems?
A family doctor can check medical causes, and a psychologist can help when anxiety, behaviour, or development affect your child's sleep.
Are sleep problems common in children with ADHD or autism?
Yes. Sleep problems are especially common in children with ADHD and autism and benefit from tailored strategies.