Watch: How can I help my child sleep better?
In this episode of Parentcast, host Dr. Jennifer Arnold is joined by Dr. Judith Owens to explore why sleep is so important and how you can help your child get the rest they need.
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As of January 2, 2021, we are asking families to use the MyChildren’s Patient Portal for all nonurgent and routine communications. This allows our staff to properly triage and direct your message to the appropriate member of your care team for a quick and complete resolution. Examples of nonurgent messages include:
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Using the MyChildren’s Patient Portal lets you bypass hold times on the phone and receive a reply within two business days. You can also use the portal for features such as scheduling follow-up visits at a time most convenient for you, completing pre-check-in activities, and accessing updated information on COVID-19. You can learn more and sign up for the MyChildren’s Patient Portal here.
Making sure that their child gets a “good night’s sleep” is a major concern for many parents. Our goal is to find the best solutions for your child’s sleep issues, monitor progress, and develop a treatment plan that works for you.
While some children with sleep problems do “outgrow” them as they mature, sleep related symptoms — like difficulty falling or staying asleep, daytime sleepiness, and snoring — can be persistent and troublesome. In some cases, they may even be signs of a serious sleep disorder.
Sleep problems are very common. About 25% of healthy kids under the age of 18 experience sleep difficulties, and 80% of teens do not get enough sleep. Sleep problems are even more widespread in children with medical, developmental, or mental health concerns.
In all children, sleep problems can be successfully diagnosed and treated through careful assessment and development of a personalized treatment plan.
Our Sleep Center was the first pediatric center of its kind nationwide, and our work is backed by decades of research that has shaped the field of pediatric sleep medicine. We have extensive expertise in helping families struggling with sleep problems ranging from the most common to the most complex. We see more than 4,000 children a year, and our doctors and nurse practitioners continue to help set the standards of care for sleep problems in children of all ages, from newborns to adolescents.
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Our approach to sleep problems
The Boston Children’s Sleep Center has built a multidisciplinary team of experts all focused on pediatric sleep disorders.
- Developmental pediatricians
- Pediatric neurologists
- Pediatric pulmonologists
- Pediatric nurse practitioners
- Clinical psychologist
We perform Sleep Studies on some patients in our Sleep Laboratory.
In this step-by-step video walkthrough of a sleep study, your family can follow a patient as she completes a night in the Sleep Lab.
Our team works closely with members of many other programs and specialties at Boston Children’s, including bariatric surgery, dentistry, the Down Syndrome Program, gastroenterology, oral surgery, otolaryngology and communication, pain treatment, and psychiatry/psychology.
We evaluate and treat a wide range of sleep problems including,
- Infants with night wakings
- Toddlers with bedtime resistance
- Preschoolers with sleep terrors
- School-aged children with snoring and possible sleep apnea
- Teens who sleep too much or too little
We maintain close contact with your child's primary care provider. Most importantly, we respect and value your input and collaborate closely with you to develop the best possible individualized treatment plan from a wide range of options.
Our past and present
Founded by Richard Ferber, MD, our Sleep Center has been in operation since 1978 as one of the first comprehensive services in the world specializing in pediatric sleep medicine, with one of the busiest and most experienced pediatric sleep labs in the country.
Our current director, Judith Owens, MD, MPH, remains committed to maintaining the highest level of excellence in caring for all types of sleep problems.