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Sleep in Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women

Professional Resource Guide

Introduction

This professional resource guide directs readers to a selection of current, high-quality resources about sleep in infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant women. This professional resource guide can be used by health professionals, researchers, educators, community advocates, and families to learn more about sleep, to improve diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders, for program development, and to locate training resources and information to answer specific questions. Separate briefs present resources for families and schools. This professional resource guide has been developed by the six national Pediatric Pulmonary Training Programs and the MCH Digital Library at Georgetown University, all of whom are funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). It will be updated periodically.

Overview

Sleep is an important component of daily life for people of all ages, with children spending an average of 30 percent to 50 percent of their day sleeping. Sleep is especially important for infants, children, adolescents, pregnant women, and new mothers. Good sleep is essential to a well-functioning family. Poor sleep and/or sleep disorders in children can have an impact on the child and the entire family. Infants, children, and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to sleep disorders and are at higher risk than adults for getting insufficient sleep. Sleep problems are increasingly being recognized as a public health issue with ties to obesity, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and poor school performance. Underserved populations are at higher risk for sleep problems. Health professionals, families, and communities need to be knowledgeable about how to improve sleep and be able to recognize sleep disorders.

General Resources for Professionals

Websites

Additional Electronic Publications

Data and Statistics Literature and Research Databases Programs Databases

News and Commentary

Resources for Families

Resources for Schools

Resources on Specific Aspects of Sleep

Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Stress

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Bruxism, Parasomnias, and Rhythmic Movement Disorder

Insomnia

Narcolepsy

Polysomnography

Pregnancy

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Deprivation

Sleep Practices

Related MCH Digital Library Resources


Sleep in Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women: Professional Resource Guide. (October 2011). (Updated: August 2014, March 2020, October 2024)

Authors: Susan Chauncey Horky, L.C.S.W., M.S.W., University of Florida; Susan Brune Lorenzo, M.L.S., MCH Digital Library; Mary H. Wagner, M.D., University of Florida.
Contributors: Kristen Hedger Archbold, R.N., Ph.D., University of Arizona; Candace Dreier, R.R.T., University of Wisconsin; Carla Salldin, Parent Consultant, University of Washington; Sarah Walker, M.S., M.P.H., R.D., University of New Mexico.
Reviewers: Jeanne Anastasi, M.A., National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center; Olivia Pickett, M.A., M.L.S., MCH Digital Library.
Editor: Ruth Barzel, M.A., MCH Digital Library.

The MCH Digital Library is one of six special collections at Geogetown University, the nation's oldest Jesuit institution of higher education. It is supported in part by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under award number U02MC31613, MCH Advanced Education Policy with an award of $700,000/year. The library is also supported through foundation and univerity funding. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.