Self-Help Resources

Sleep-related information and tools are organized here, with links to additional resources. Children being treated for sleep disturbances may also be struggling with depression, anxiety, deployment-related issues, or any number of other physical and/or mental health conditions. You may find the self-help information posted under other behavioral health categories for children on this web site to be helpful.

Fact Sheets and Handouts

Sleep Problems
A comprehensive resource about normal and problematic sleep in children and adolescent sleep.

Handouts for Children and Adolescents

KidsHealth
A resource designed for parents, kids and teens, each with its own design, and age-appropriate content. Choose the audience, and type the word "sleep" in search field to find a variety of sleep-related information and resources.

Sleep Hygiene and Habits

• Healthy Sleep Habits
  Information about normal sleep and how to improve sleep habits in children.
• Establishing Good Sleep Habits
  Sleep routines for infants and young children.
• Sleep Tips for Adolescents
  Practical recommendations to help teens get the best sleep possible.

Sleep Disorders

• Night Terrors Occur in 2 Percent of Children
  Learn more about Night Terrors and what parents can do to help.
• Narcolepsy
  Although it is a relatively uncommon condition, its impact on a child's life can be dramatic. Learn more about symptoms and treatment of narcolepsy in kids.
• Childhood Sleep Apnea
  Learn about the symptoms, assessment, and treatment of sleep apnea, as well as helpful information about using a C-PAP.
• Nightmares
  Nightmares are scary dreams that can wake a child leaving her upset and in need of comfort. Learn what parents can do to help.
• Sleepwalking
  Get the facts about sleepwalking and what parents can do to help.
• Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome
  A type of Sleep Disorder, with a delayed sleep phase that can result in difficulties getting up for school, often resulting in multiple school absences and tardiness. Learn how parents can help.

Bedtime Refusal

• Bedtime Problems
  Tips to help young people who do not want to go to bed or stay in bed.

Enuresis (Bedwetting)

• Bed-Wetting
  Information for parents about enuresis, as well as helpful and unhelpful ways to react to children struggling with this problem.
• Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis)
  About one out of every 100 teens wets the bed. A handout designed specifically for teens to explain the causes and treatment of enuresis.
• Bedwetting
  Millions of kids and teenagers from every part of the world wet the bed every single night. A handout designed for kids that explains and normalizes this problem.

Videos & Audio Files

Videos

• Monsters in the Closet: Bedtime Basics for Parents
• Top Ten Things to Do to Get Baby to Sleep
• Getting the Family into a Back-to-School Sleep Routine
• Kids and Sleep Apnea

Audio Files

• Bedwetting
• Fear of the Dark
• The Boogie Man Fears
• A Minute For Kids Audio Files
  Several brief audio files focused a number of sleep issues, including sleep problems, sleep schedules, and more.

Books & Workbooks

• Good Night, Sweet Dreams, I Love You: Now Get Into Bed And Go To Sleep!
  P. Friman
• The Sleep Fairy
  J. Peterson & M. Peterson
• Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems
  R. Ferber
• Take Charge of Your Child's Sleep
  J. Owens & J. Mindell
• American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child's Sleep
  American Academy of Pediatrics
• Sleep Better! A Guide to Improving Sleep for Children With Special Needs
  V. M. Durand
• Bedwetting: A Guide for Parents and Children
  A. C. Houts & R. M. Liebert

Web Links

Star Sleeper
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health, this site offers resources parents, teachers, children, and pediatricians to help children sleep better.

KidzzzSleep
A number of resources for families about a variety of sleep disorders and bedtime problems.

National Sleep Foundation

• Sleep and Teens
• Sleep and Children

A number of useful resources related to sleep difficulties experienced by young people.

National Kidney Foundation
Information and help for parents, teens, and kids about bedwetting.

KidsHealth
Developmentally appropriate resources for parents, children, and teens