How, what and why of sleep

Working to ensure that children get a good night's sleep………and so do their parents! www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

Why?

Working to ensure that children get a good night’s sleep………and so do their parents! www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

• Why don’t they fall asleep?• Why don’t they stay asleep?• Why do they wake so early?• Why is there so much conflicting ‘advice’?• Why is there so little training for

practitioners?• Why is there so little support for parents?

More Whys!

Working to ensure that children get a good nights sleep………and so do their parents! www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

• Why does everybody and anybody have words of wisdom about sleep and why does most of it not work?

• Why do other parents have children who sleep well?

• Why do I feel such a failure as a parent?

Impact of sleep deprivation on parents

Working to ensure that children get a good night’s sleep………and so do their parents! www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

• Research shows negative impact on mood (Dignes and Banks, 2007)

• Maternal stress and fatigue (Meltzer and Mindell, 2007)

• Depression (Whayte et al 2011)• Immune system• Ability to work/financial pressures• Social life

Impact continued . . .

Working to ensure that children get a good night’s sleep………and so do their parents! www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

• Siblings • Weight• Parents relationship• Holidays• Driving/operating machinery• Extended family membersAnd the list goes on . . . . .

Impact on children

Working to ensure that children get a good night’s sleep………and so do their parents! www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

• Cannot meet their full potential• Grumpy, tearful, moods• Hyperactivity• Concentration levels• Behaviour• Weight/growth

Gracie’s Story

Working to ensure that children get a good night’s sleep………and so do their parents! www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

• Doctors told mum that sleepless nights could be stunting Gracie’s growth

• Within one month of attending workshop Gracie slept through

• Gracie has grown 6cm!• Her attention span has increased

dramatically

Sleep Cycles

www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

Common Causes of sleep issues

Working to ensure that children get a good night’s sleep………and so do their parents! www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

• Lack of routine• Inability to self settle• Diet• Pre-bedtime activity• Inappropriate sleep associations• Bedroom environment• Pain• Illness

Causes cont’d

Working to ensure that children get a good night’s sleep………and so do their parents! www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

• Over-tired or not tired• Sensory issues• Reward being gained• Inappropriate napping• Anxiety• Discomfort

Moving Forward....

Working to ensure that children get a good night’s sleep………and so do their parents! www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

• Sleep issues that are behaviour based can be resolved but it takes time and commitment

• Find out what is the cause• Make changes that families can cope

with• Review progress and evaluate• Be consistent

What Practitioners Say

Working to ensure that children get a good night’s sleep………and so do their parents! www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

“I’m a social worker and at least one third of the families on my caseload have sleep problems. There is very limited information available about this often overlooked issue.”

And parents say . . .

Working to ensure that children get a good night’s sleep………and so do their parents! www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

And a parent’s perspective: “We have never had any support

with our child’s sleep issues. The Sleep Success workshop has given us me lots of useful information and I’ve come away feeling very confident.”

The Future?

Working to ensure that children get a good night’s sleep………and so do their parents! www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

• Continue to deliver Sleep Success workshops• Developing national sleep services• Developing work in schools• Securing funding for online/telephone service• Sleep Tight Project in Children’s Centres• Developing products• Listening to parents – you are the experts!

Keep In Touch!

Working to ensure that children get a good night’s sleep………and so do their parents! www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

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www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk info@thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk