Sleeping Problems

Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress

child - sleep problems after medical trauma

Are you worried because your child:

Has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking in the morning?
Has bad dreams or nightmares?

In the hospital, things like noise, vital sign checks, pain, and worries can cause sleep problems. At home, sleep problems may persist due to disruptions in your child's schedule and routines. Pain, worries, and other thoughts that make it hard to relax cay also make sleep problems worse.

How can you help your child sleep?

Promote healthy sleep patterns

When your child is in the hospital, sleep is an important part of healing, so talk with the health care team about what can be done to promote and protect your child’s sleep as much as possible. For example, keeping the room dark and limiting entry to the room during your child's typical sleep hours.

Bad dreams can be a normal response

Help your child understand that bad dreams can be a natural response when things are stressful or scary, and will probably get better with time.
If bad dreams wake your child in the night, listen (briefly) to what was in their dreams, give them a hug and reassure them that they are safe, then help them get back to sleep.

At home, set up (or continue) regular bedtime routines

Regular bedtime routines can help your child relax before falling asleep.
Work with your child to create bedtime routines that make sense for your family.
For younger kids, read a story or spend quiet time together just before tucking them into bed.
For older children and teens, help them create good sleep habits and routines, like going to bed at the same time every night, reading before bed instead of being on electronics, and help them take charge of following these routines themselves.

Manage pain

If your child has pain that is making it hard to fall asleep or waking them up during the night, talk with your child’s nurse or doctor about controlling pain at bedtime and through the night.

Keep a list of concerns and questions

If your child is losing sleep most nights for more than a week because of bad dreams, pain,or other reasons, it’s a good idea to talk with your child’s nurse or doctor about it.

Helpful Resources:

field_image

Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress

Patient Education

Screening & Assessment

Intervention

Trauma-Informed Care

COVID-19

Resources