Parental counselling could help kids sleep better
12/09/2011
Kids who struggle to sleep in their children's beds could benefit from their parents receiving counselling on the issue, researchers have claimed.
Sleep consultations with parents lead to youngsters having fewer sleep problems and better bedtime habits, experts from the University of Melbourne revealed.
Study author Jon Quach explained to Reuters Health: "Sleep problems are common in young school children and are treatable using ... a brief behaviour-based intervention.
"Parents should seek advice for their child's sleep if they are concerned."
Published in Pediatrics, the study found that anxiety is one of the biggest causes of sleep problems in youngsters, especially among those who are starting school for the first time.
Researchers emphasised the need for children to go to bed before 9pm, as this is when they are most likely to be able to doze off. Bedtime reading can also help improve the quality of rest.
Posted by Michael Ewing
