Sleep disorders

Question 1

Management

Answer 1

Advice to parents:

Resist taking the child into bed during the night unless they are happy to encourage this

Avoid giving attention to the child in the middle of the night—it encourages attention seeking

Return the child to bed promptly and spend only a brief time with it to give reassurance

A rigid series of rituals performed before bedtime helps the child to develop a routine.

Settling to sleep may be assisted by soft music, a soft toy and a gentle night-light

Question 2

Medication

Answer 2

has a minimal place in the management of sleep disturbances

although the judicious use of sedative/hypnotics for a short term may break the sleepless cycle.

E.g trimeprazine (Vallergan) 1–2 mg/kg per dose.