Understanding Your Child’s Sleep
Sleep shapes nearly every part of a child’s health which includes attention and learning, mood and behavior, growth, and the immune system. When a child snores, fights bedtime, wakes repeatedly through the night, or seems tired no matter how early they go to bed, it can be hard for families to tell what is a passing phase and what is worth raising with a doctor.
The resources below are a starting point. They include articles from our own health library, information about the sleep services we offer at Rady Children’s, and organizations our team trusts for clear, evidence-based information on children’s sleep — from snoring and obstructive sleep apnea to nightmares, night terrors and the shifting sleep patterns of the teenage years.
Sleep Topics in Our Health Library
- Kids and Sleep — how much sleep children need at each age, and how to build a bedtime routine
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea — the most common sleep-related breathing disorder in children
- A to Z: Central Sleep Apnea
- Sleep Study (Polysomnogram) — what an overnight sleep study measures
- Sleep Problems in Teens
- Nightmares
- Night Terrors
- Tonsillectomy — often the first treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in children
Sleep Care at Rady Children’s
- Center for Healthy Sleep — our pediatric sleep program, the conditions we treat and how to request an appointment
- Preparing For a Sleep Study — what to bring, what happens overnight and when results arrive
- Complex Sleep Apnea Program — for children whose sleep apnea continues after standard treatment
- Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Clinic — follow-up care for children who use CPAP or BiPAP
- PAP Education — mask fit, cleaning and troubleshooting for families using PAP therapy at home
- Locations — where to go for a sleep study or a clinic visit
Other Resources
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Healthy Sleep Habits — recommended hours of sleep by age, from the AAP’s website for parents
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine: Healthy Sleep — sleep education from the professional body that accredits sleep centers
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry: Sleep Problems — behavioral and anxiety-related sleep difficulties