Control the Attention: If seeking caregiver attention is a contributing factor, the parent can initiate consistent bedtime routines, followed by a consistent bedtime and then the parent can return to the child’s bedroom at fixed intervals to give attention until the child falls asleep (O’Reilly et al. 2004). Stepan M, et al. (2020). Effects of total sleep deprivation on procedural placekeeping: More than just lapses of attention. If you’ve found yourself asking “how do I know if I am pregnant or not”, then one of the first things to consider is whether you have any of the top signs of early pregnancy (the other is to take a test!). See below whether you have any of these. The top one: a missed period Jayne agrees: “The main difference we’ve made is to turn the television off and not give her the tablet. I haven’t been running around trying to cram everything in, and we’ve solely focused on the bedtime routine. She’s been so much happier in the morning – you can just see it in her face when she wakes up.”

Changing lifestyles in older age, including an irregular schedule, may lead to more time spent in bed. Kalmbach DA, et al. (2015). The impact of sleep on female sexual response and behavior: A pilot study. If there is one thing you take away from this article – please let it be to be aware that “To truly connect and support our children – emotionally and on their journey to better sleep- we the parent must come first. It is impossible to attend to our children’s constant emotional and physical needs or demands if our cup is empty.” Free Trip: Another similar strategy is to withhold attention by ignoring bedtime resistance after a child is put to bed. Friman et al. (1999) created an intervention that included a card which could be traded for one “free trip” out of their bedroom or to request a visit from the parent. Further attempts for attention were ignored.When it comes to sleep, consistency is key; This means getting into too late or going without your nightly dose will have dire consequences for both daytime performance as well as overall physical wellness in general. How much sleep is too much? You can also read more about the symptoms that lead you to ask “ Am I pregnant or is it PMS” or take our quiz. Medic G, Wille M, Hemels ME. Short- and long-term health consequences of sleep disruption. Nat Sci Sleep. 2017;9:151-161. doi:10.2147/NSS.S134864

Eshbaugh, B., Martin, W., Cunningham, K., & Luiselli, J.K. (2004). Evaluation of a bedtime medication regimen on daytime sleep and challenging behaviors of an adult with intellectual disabilities. Mental Health Aspects of Developmental Disabilities, 7, 21-25. This is because, when we are sleeping, our brains are very active. While in deep sleep, all the information children have learned gets selected, consolidated and stored in the long-term memory, so it can be put to good use at a later date. A child has to be awake enough to be focused and attentive in the first place, Meadows says, and then well-rested to recall those memories and use them to solve problems in future. Poor sleep can affect every stage of the learning process. “If you’re pulling an all-nighter and cramming for exams, you’re actually preventing your brain from laying down the information you’re learning,” he explains.

The families coming to see them often want a panacea or pill that will make their child’s problem vanish immediately. The behavioural approach they recommend instead takes time, but is very effective: 92% of the 167 families who used the clinic over the past year reported that their child’s sleep issues were successfully resolved within six months. And in the cases where they can’t help, the charity refers families to Sheffield children’s hospital for overnight observation. Sleep deprivation can have short-term and long-term physical, emotional, and cognitive health impacts. Physical impacts Sleep deprivation is a real concern for many people, especially those faced with consistent work and life challenges that can further disrupt sleep.