Are your kids facing sleep problems? Here’s what you should know

As parents you’re attentive to every milestone in your child’s development. But sleep issues in children can be much tougher to discern than other markers of development because children’s sleep patterns and adaptation can vary widely and there is less of an accepted “norm.” On top of that, children aren’t always forthcoming about not getting enough sleep or if they’re having sleep troubles. For young kids, they may not have the vocabulary to tell you they’re having trouble falling asleep or waking up in the night. Or, as the parent, you may be all too familiar with their issues because they are bouncing off the walls at night when you’re trying desperately to get them to sleep. Regardless, as the science becomes more prolific on sleep and kids, we are being awakened to the startling consequences of a lack of sleep in children across the various stages of their development.

Even one sleepless night can have a discernible impact on your child’s mood and performance.

It may not seem like a big deal if your child has a few bad nights here and there—in fact, it probably seems normal given that all kids seem to struggle with sleep issues at some point, and occasional sleeplessness is an increasing problem in adults, as well. Here are some common next-day side effects of a lack of sleep:

Moodiness and irritability

Scientists have long understood the role of serotonin, a chemical in the brain, in regulating mood and emotion. But it’s also clear that serotonin plays a key role in the sleep cycle. It is synthesized by the pineal gland to make melatonin, the hormone that tells the body when it’s morning or night, and therefore time to sleep. Stress and anxiety can result in lower serotonin levels, which in turn can be one of the causes of sleeplessness. Short term, this could manifest itself as outbursts or tantrums in your child; longer-term, it can cause issues with social adaptation and mental wellbeing.

Lack of concentration

Of particular concern for children in early school years where their minds need to be sponge-like due to the amount they’re learning each day. Sleeplessness can make it difficult for them to concentrate the next day. Sleep helps the brain “file and sort” information learned during the day, intuitively filing away information that isn’t needed imminently or repetitively and keeping information that is called upon more frequently close at hand. Lack of sleep makes it harder for the brain to make those classifications and can result in poor (often unexplained at first) school performance.

Unexplained sadness

Insufficient sleep can cause difficulty in regulating emotion in older kids and teenagers. Older kids may also be more reluctant to share their occasional sleeplessness—they may not want you to know they’re staying up late with their phone or trying to finish last-minute homework, or gaming. But left unaddressed, these types of sleep issues in children can result in lower-serotonin production. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter than regulates emotion and higher levels of serotonin are related to feelings like bliss and happiness¹ while lower levels are correlated to feelings of depression and anxiety.

Grogginess

After a bad night of sleep, kids may appear clumsier or slower than usual, and paired with a lack of energy, this can result in activities that are normally a fun and active release for them becoming frustrating and even scary.

It’s important to acknowledge that your child may not realize they aren’t getting enough sleep. This can be true even if they are chronically under-sleeping; if they don’t know what a “normal” night’s sleep feels like, it’s hard to know they’re missing it. Look for these signs to determine if your child may be struggling with sleep.

• Extreme difficulty getting out of bed in the morning

• Oversleeping on weekends

• Snapping, moodiness, and irritability

• Unexplained increase in appetite and weight gain

• Sudden changes in mood

Ways to help kids with sleeping problems