Survey finds that anxiety is affecting children’s sleep

A recent national survey conducted by the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital has found that 25% of parents find bedtime difficult due to their children experiencing anxiety or troubling thoughts.

Although 90% of parents reported having established bedtime routines, almost 25% mentioned that their children frequently or occasionally grapple with mental health issues during the night. 

Over 40% of parents shared that their children often move into their bedrooms in the middle of the night. Furthermore, more than 35% of parents said their children wake up crying or distressed, and 31% indicated that their children want them to move into their beds at night.

Noise from other rooms was reported as a disturbance by 40% of parents, and 10% noted that their children spend part of the night in their parents’ room.

A dark and quiet room enhances the likelihood of children falling asleep, staying asleep, and getting quality rest. When children are comfortable, it also positively impacts the parents’ sleep quality.

The survey also found that parents without a consistent bedtime routine face more difficulties at bedtime. Co-director of the poll Sarah Clark advises parents to make their children’s rooms as comfortable and sleep-friendly as possible. 

She added: “Our report reinforces the common struggle of getting young children to sleep. When this transition to bedtime becomes a nightly conflict, some parents may fall into habits that work in the moment but could set them up for more sleep issues down the road. 

Many young children go through stages when they become scared of the dark or worry that something bad might happen, causing them to delay bedtime or become distressed by parents leaving the room. 

Although this is a normal part of a child’s development, it can be frustrating when parents already feel tired themselves at the end of the day. Establishing a consistent bedtime routine is crucial. When children don’t get enough rest, it can impact their physical development, emotional regulation, and behavior.”