Sleep

It is very hard to find a teenager who does not have a smart phone or a cell phone. There clearly are many benefits to having a personal phone. It connects teenagers to their parents and peers, they can use it to play music, watch videos, read books and to surf the Web. While these are important activities that enrich a teenager’s life experience, there can also be unintended consequences that affect sleep duration and … Read More

There is a growing amount of research demonstrating that adequate quality and quantity of sleep is closely related to improved health and behavioral outcomes in children. Getting enough sleep makes children healthier and parents happier. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends behavioral treatment for insomnia in children. Behavioral methods are quite effective. According to a recent review of behavioral methods to treat insomnia (SLEEP, Vol. 29, No. 10, 2006), more than 80 percent of children … Read More

Snoring during sleep is fairly common in children. As many as 15 in 100 children will have some snoring during sleep. Just because snoring is common doesn’t mean that you never have to worry about it. Snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnea, a more serious underlying problem that can affect your child’s physical and mental well-being. Sleep apnea refers to a narrowing of the throat during sleep and is associated with difficulties moving … Read More

During the month of August, I frequently see teenagers in the OHSU Doernbecher Pediatric Sleep Disorders Clinic who are sleeping routinely until noon or later. Their parents are understandably concerned about school soon starting, wondering how their child will suddenly start waking up substantially earlier come early September. Research has shown that teenagers are biologically prone to be “night owls,” and this tendency rears its head during the summer. The main reason this occurs is … Read More

As a new parent, you may have difficulty fending off newborn sleep advice from grandparents and friends. On top of advice, there seems to be a dizzying array of infant sleep products on the market. At OHSU Doernbecher, we recommend families adhere to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines and place babies on their back for every sleep to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Babies who sleep on their stomachs are much … Read More