By: Jenni June Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, and Sleep Hygiene Specialist www.jennijune.com/familysleep
While attending the Pediatric Sleep Symposium in Toronto for the Sick Kids Hospital this year, I was surprised to hear how many doctors are prescribing this to kids before advising a family to consult with a pediatric sleep hygiene specialist who helps babies and children, even those with ADHD and Autism Spectrum disorders, get better, more restorative sleep at night by adjusting the sleep environment and timing sleep to align with their natural biological sleep rhythms.
Creating personalized methods for parents, so they can provide consistent implementation of new, healthier sleep habits is also a primary function of a Certified Child Sleep Consultant.
By the end of this weekend-long symposium, it was easy to understand how to seek the help of urgent care Forest Hills NY on emergency cases and why some doctors are quick to prescribe melatonin, rather than refer out to qualified child sleep consultants. Studies published online by BMC in April 2013 revealed that pediatricians aren’t receiving enough education in pediatric sleep hygiene. The study concludes that, “Overall, the average amount of time spent on sleep education is 4.4 hours (median+2.0 hours), with 23% responding that their pediatric residency program provides no sleep education.
Additionally, pediatric practices are simply not equipped to provide in home sleep environment evaluations, guidance, customized schedules and daily on-call support to families who are struggling to help their babies sleep.
It’s easier and common practice to just tell parents their babies aren’t sleeping because of teething, or that, “some babies just don’t take naps or need as much sleep.” Or worse, they are prescribing melatonin.
Has your child’s pediatrician or family doctor suggested over-the-counter or prescribed melatonin for your child?
What other explanations or suggestions has your pediatrician given you to help your baby or child get the rest they need?