title: Sleep problems in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Childhood sleep problems are common, and frequently reduce the wellbeing and functioning of both child and family. The majority of childhood sleep problems are behavioural in origin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article outlines the aetiology and features of sleep difficulties in children, from infants to teenagers, and provides a corresponding 'toolkit' of evidence-based behavioural management strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Childhood behavioural sleep problems manifest across age groups as various forms of difficulty initiating and/or maintaining sleep. These difficulties are often amenable to home-based behavioural interventions, which can be taught to parents and, de-pending on their developmental stage, the child or adolescent. Sustaining the intervention for sufficient sleep duration can be challenging for families. Community health practitioners play a central role in tailoring the explanation of management strategies to families and children or adolescents. Sleep diaries and education materials from evidence-based websites can assist the practitioner and family in achieving successful diagnosis and treatment.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hannan
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hiscock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012890:Sleep; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*