Connecticut Children's Blog

There are lots of reasons why sleep may be more difficult for your child during the coronavirus pandemic. These reasons might include schedule changes, lack of physical activity and higher levels of anxiety. You can find advice for maintaining structure here, and activities for heart-healthy kids here. But there’s still the matter of anxiety: What […]

Do you have some lawnmower parenting tendencies? You’ve heard of helicopter parenting, but there’s a new phrase making the rounds now: lawnmower parenting. Lawnmower parenting refers to a parenting style that strives to “mow down” all obstacles, challenges or difficulties in a child’s path. Of course, no one really wants to be a lawnmower parent, […]

Do you ever wonder if your child might benefit from a sleep study? Or, has your child already been scheduled for one? You might wonder what is involved and how to make your child more comfortable during this procedure. You might also wonder whether your child will be able to tolerate the necessary sensations for […]

Sleepwalking is a normal part of childhood and is not considered a sleep disorder. It is however, fairly common. Up to 40% of children sleepwalk at some point and, most of the time, this behavior disappears by puberty. A recent study surveyed parents of 1,800 children in Australia and their parents noted that 10% percent of these children […]

Do you have an older child who is not yet dry at night? If so, Connecticut Children’s Sleep Center may be able to help! Bedwetting is considered normal until about age 6. But if your older child is still not dry at night, he or she may be a very deep sleeper who may not […]

If you have a teenager who has a hard time getting up for school, remember that it is a good idea to encourage your teen to get up at about the same time each day, every day of the week. The weekend rise time should not be more than two hours later than the weekday […]

Academic performance, behavior and mood are all dependent on good sleep. Kids need more sleep than we do (9-10 hours per night for children ages 5-12, and 8-9 hours per night for teens). Here are some helpful techniques to help get your child’s back to school sleep schedule back on track. 1. Avoid stalling tactics […]

You have a great bedtime routine and your little cherub sleeps well all night, but suddenly your child is waking up at 4am every day! What to do? Try some of the options below. Improve Your Child’s Bedroom Environment Does your child’s room get bright too early? Try blinds, blackout or dark curtains, or even […]

There are two ways to prepare for Daylight Saving Time. Adjust gradually during the week before the change: If your child goes to bed at 8pm, put him or her to bed at 7:45, 7:30, and so on until you have made up the hour. Adjust naps, too. OR you can… Adjust on the actual weekend of […]

Connecticut Children’s Sleep Center works with many families each year to improve their child’s insomnia. Insomnia refers to trouble falling asleep or trouble staying asleep. Here are three quick facts about childhood insomnia that may help improve your child’s ability to fall and stay asleep. 1.) Not every child with insomnia requires a sleep study […]