Connecticut Children's Blog

All parents can agree—a good night’s sleep is one of the most amazing feelings—and even more so when our children sleep well. It’s not always easy, though, and sometimes kids need a little help getting into a healthy sleeping routine. Melatonin has become a popular, over-the-counter supplement to help kids sleep, but some of the […]

By: Alyssa Nycz, MD We all know sleep is a necessary part of life, especially at a younger age. Kids need sleep for healthy growth, development, behavior and overall success in society. But, did you know? Children 6 to 12 years old need between nine and twelve hours of sleep a day— naps and nighttime […]

Daylight Saving Time ends the first Sunday of November in most states, including Connecticut. That means on Nov. 7, 2021, clocks “fall back” an hour: Instead of 2 am, it’ll be 1 am. That extra hour can cause problems around bedtime (even if your child already has a great bedtime routine) because they will not […]

Good sleep is essential for a good school year: During the day, a well-rested child has an easier time focusing and behaving. At night, quality sleep allows their brain to organize and store everything they learned. But your child’s sleep schedule probably hasn’t been at its best during summer vacation. After months of sleeping in […]

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 […]