Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

Many parenting conversations start with children's difficulties sustaining night time sleep and settling for sleep at night. Persistent difficulties can be associated with children's long-term health and developmental problems and parents' reduced sleep quality and depressed mood. Our research indicates that many parents approach children's sleep problems with a lack of confidence about their ability to manage and concerns about possible interventions to promote sleep, despite hundreds of sources of information about children's sleep. Our research studies raise important questions for discussion. What are the health consequences of children's persistent sleep deprivation? What are the health consequences of parents' persistent sleep deprivation? How does sleep deprivation affect parenting and family life? How can parents assist children to improve their sleep?