Parents are experts in sleep deprivation – we’ve guzzled the coffee, wiped the daytime drool off the back of our hands, and accidentally fallen asleep while trying to help our kids drift off to dreamland. You’d think, then, that we’d also be experts in recognizing the signs of sleep deprivation in our children. And once recognized, we’d apply some intuitive sleep aids for children that work like a charm.
- ADHD-Like Symptoms
- Impaired Immune Function
- Meltdowns & Irritability
- Increased Risk Of Obesity And Diabetes
- 10 Ways To Help Your Child Get A Good Night’s Sleep
- 1. Try A Weighted Blanket
- 2. Block The Blue
- 3. Rub in the “magic mineral”
- 4. Help Them Wind Down With Kid-Safe Herbs
- 5. Try Pink or Brown Noise
- 6. Diffuse calming essential oils
- 7. Trade “screen time” for “green time”
- 8. Rethink your night light approach
- 9. Visit your friendly neighborhood pediatric chiropractor
- 10. Try this acupressure technique
- 11. Create a routine
- 12. Trim the schedule (If needed)
- Frequently Asked Questions
When kids are struggling, though, it can look different than we might expect. And that’s a problem, because blue light exposure from screens (which have a stronger biological impact on young developing eyes) and other factors are seriously affecting children’s sleep, resulting in problems like:
ADHD-Like Symptoms ^
Rather than walking around like zombies – or mombies, in our case – sleep deprived children often become hyperactive. In fact, according to this New York Times article:
sleep experts note that children who lose as little as half an hour of needed sleep per night — whether because of a sleep disorder or just staying up too late texting or playing video games — can exhibit behaviors typical of A.D.H.D.
Not only is a misdiagnosis stigmatizing, but treatment of A.D.H.D. can exacerbate sleeplessness, the real problem. The drugs used to treat A.D.H.D., like Ritalin, Adderall or Concerta, can cause insomnia.”
Impaired Immune Function ^
According to this study, inadequate sleep increases inflammation markers in our bodies and lowers immune function.
Newer research also suggests that it may interfere with a process we are just learning about, which is that the brain appears to flush out toxins while we sleep.
Meltdowns & Irritability ^
Lack of sleep directly affects children’s ability to regulate their emotions, which can lead to moodiness, irritability, impulsivity, meltdowns, and increased overall stress. (1)
Increased Risk Of Obesity And Diabetes ^
According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, “Children who get less sleep in infancy and early childhood may be at greater risk of being overweight or obese during mid-childhood.” This is likely due to the way poor sleep disrupts the production of two appetite regulating hormones – ghrelin and leptin. (2)
Meanwhile, the Journal of Sleep & Sleep Disorders Research states that “Abnormalities in sleep quantity, sleep quality, circadian alignment, and melatonin regulation increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.”
10 Ways To Help Your Child Get A Good Night’s Sleep ^
Kids who get deep, uninterrupted sleep tend to be more creative, focused, agreeable, able to solve problems, and more, so making it a priority has huge benefits.
If you’ve read my 23 Science-Backed Sleep Tips, you’re already well on your way to helping your entire family get deeper sleep, but here are some suggestions that are tailored just for kids.
1. Try A Weighted Blanket ^
Research shows that weighted blankets improve sleep quality, reduce stress, improve daytime focus and mood, and ease symptoms associated with sensory processing disorder.
Here’s how they work, plus my favorite options for kids.
2. Block The Blue ^
Computer screens, T.V.’s, and phones emit blue light, which the body perceives like sunlight. Exposure to blue light after sundown can suppress the release of melatonin, which is the hormone that tells our body it’s almost time for bed.
But that’s not all it does – melatonin is vital for health, and low levels can cause more problems than just a rough night’s sleep. (We’re talking an increased risk of cancer, impaired immune function, obesity and heart disease.)
Blocking the blue is especially important for kids because their eyes are more vulnerable to the negative effects of blue light on sleep:
With their brains, sleep patterns and even eyes still developing, children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the sleep-disrupting effects of screen time, according to a sweeping review of the literature published today in the journal Pediatrics.” (3)
The reason kids are so impacted by blue light is that crystalline lens of the eye – aka the part the helps us focus – is more transparent in children. It doesn’t fully develop until around age 14-15, and children’s eyes have larger pupils, too. (4)
In other words, they absorb more blue light than adults do when exposed to light emitting devices, so it’s important to protect against excessive exposure. (5)
One way to do that is to reduce screen time. Personally, my kids do use screens for video chats with faraway friends, an online book club, educational games, and the occasional movie, so I look for other ways to block the blue. Here are my two favorite options:
- Blue Blocking Glasses for Kids – I’ve reviewed my three favorite options here.
- Add an Ocushield screen filter – Apply this transparent film onto your device’s screen like you would a screen protector, only this one blocks up to 90% of blue light emissions. And unlike apps and ‘night mode’ settings, Ocushield doesn’t change the color on your screen. It’s an accredited Class 1 medical device by the MHRA in the UK. Shop Ocushield here.
3. Rub in the “magic mineral” ^
Magnesium is often called the “magic mineral” due to its ability to relax muscles, help with stress, and support restful sleep for both adults and kids. (It’s really helpful for easing growing pains!)
Unfortunately for some people, magnesium oil can cause an itchy or uncomfortable sensation when applied in undiluted form. This extra-gentle children’s magnesium lotion solves that by blending skin-calming ingredients like organic shea butter, argan seed oil, prickly pear seed oil with high potency transdermal magnesium. They have a grown-up version, too!
If you’d rather DIY, you can find my magnesium body butter recipe here.
4. Help Them Wind Down With Kid-Safe Herbs ^
Catnip, chamomile, passionflower, and lavender are all gentle, kid-safe herbs that support relaxation and sleep. In addition to their popularity among herbalists and even children’s books (remember how Peter Rabbits mom used to put him to bed with chamomile tea?), these herbs are now making their way into research.
According to this PubMed review, the relaxing effects of chamomile may be due to a flavonoid called apigenin, while this study found that passionflower improved sleep quality when taken as a tea before bed.
In addition, one study showed that lavender’s aroma improved sleep in individuals suffering from insomnia. When brewed as a tea, lavender buds release their aroma while adding flavor.
Here are some tea recipes to try for kids over age one:
- Sweet dreams tea – This article includes several blend ideas that my kids love.
- Passionflower tea – This relaxing tea can be sipped before bed to support deep, restful sleep. It can also be consumed throughout the day to quiet mental chatter.
- Catnip tea – This herb is amazing for people who need to relax, or want to help their kids wind down for bed, or who need some digestive support. So basically all of us!
- Banana tea – Banana peels contain compounds that our bodies use to make melatonin and relax muscles, which is why they’re often made into a delicious bedtime tea.
If your kids don’t love tea or you need to simplify your bedtime routine, this sleep tincture can be made in advance with just a few minutes of active prep time, then given before bed without the need to boil water and wait for the tea to cool.
5. Try Pink or Brown Noise ^
Though white noise machines help to drown out the sound of barking dogs, loud neighbors, or other disruptive sounds that can get in the way of sleep, some research indicates that they can also increase stress levels and may temporarily affect brain development in young babies. (6)
Though more research is needed, this study found that exposing baby rats to “continuous white noise sabotages the development of the auditory region of the brain, which may ultimately impair hearing and language acquisition.” (7)
Now obviously rats aren’t people, but researchers think it conveys valuable information regarding general auditory development in mammals from this study. The good news is that although brain development was significantly delayed, the rats compensated by extending the “critical period” in which the brain wires its neural networks – a feature called neuroplasticity. As soon as the white noise was removed, they completely caught up.
One of the researchers, Edward Chang, summarized the findings by saying “it’s like the brain is waiting for some clearly patterned sounds in order to continue its development. And when it finally gets them, it is heavily by influenced them, even when the animal is physically older.”
That’s where pink and brown noise comes in. Though it’s often embedded in a sound clip of crashing waves or rain, white noise is actually machine-generated static that combines all the frequencies we can hear – about 20,000 tones – into one sound. Nature tends to favor pink or brown noise, which emphasizes lower frequencies while softening the intensity of higher-pitched frequencies.
In contrast, pink or brown noise emphasizes lower frequencies soften the high-pitched frequencies. I’ve written more about the benefits of pink and brown noise here, which includes what to look for in a sound machine. Here are my top three choices:
6. Diffuse calming essential oils ^
Here are a few calming essential oils that are generally considered safe for use with children:
- Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia)
- Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)
- Atlas Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)
- Cedarwood Virginian Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana)
- German Chamomile(Matricaria chamomilla L)
- Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
- Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
- Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides)
If you prefer pre-made blends, here are a few of my family’s favorites:
- Nighty Night – A blend of lavender, sweet marjoram, mandarin, cedarwood atlas, patchouli, clary sage, Roman chamomile and blue tansy
- Sweet Slumber – Contains Himalayan cedarwood, ho wood oil, sweet orange, Roman chamomile, and vetiver
- Sweet Dreams – A blend of sweet orange, juniper berry, coriander, blue tansy and rose absolute
I love this Jasmine essential oil diffuser because it can be set to interval mode, where it diffuses for 10 minutes and then turns off for 20 minutes. This allows essential oils to be consistently diffused without becoming overwhelming. Also, it can run in interval mode for 21 hours, so it’s basically set-and-forget. This one is also beautiful and has an intermittent mode, too.
7. Trade “screen time” for “green time” ^
According to the National Wildlife Federation, American children spend an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes in front of a screen every day. For every hour spent participating in sedentary activities, this study found that children took and average of three additional minutes to fall asleep.
“Outdoor time improves a child’s sleep in three critical ways. Natural light from the sun regulates the body’s internal ‘sleep clock’, which makes children more alert during the day, and tired at night.”
It also has a calming effect that helps children release built up tension from stressful or scary events. Research also suggests that children play harder and release more endorphins when allowed to play in an outdoor setting vs. an indoor setting. (8)
‘While there is no single solution to childhood sleep deprivation, part of having a well-rested child involves trading some ‘screen time’ for ‘green time’, says Kevin Coyle, NWF Vice President of Education and Training, and author of the NWF guide. More play time in natural settings can help kids get a high-quality night’s sleep.’ (9)
8. Rethink your night light approach ^
We know that excessive screen time can disrupt our circadian rhythm – aka our internal clock that lets us know when it’s time to start making melatonin and wind down for sleep – but what’s not often considered is how some night lights increase blue light exposure.
Here are some good options for children who are more comfortable falling asleep with a night light on.
- A Himalayan salt night light is a good option because it emits orange/yellow light instead of blue. It’s still important to sleep in darkness if possible, though, so I suggest turning it off after the child falls asleep.
- Another option is to use a red night light.
9. Visit your friendly neighborhood pediatric chiropractor ^
When my babies were restless, I found that taking them in for a chiropractic adjustment usually had two effects:
- Poop explosion.
- Deep sleep.
Both usually happened before I even got them home from their appointment! Fortunately now that they’re older there are no explosions, just happier children during the day and night.
Though there are only a few small studies that have found a positive relationship between chiropractic care and sleep, it is thought to have a calming effect on the Central Nervous System (CNS).
A study presented at the International Research And Philosophy Symposium held at Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic finds that Chiropractic adjustments have a positive effect on the Central Nervous System (CNS), specifically on the four primary frequencies of brain function.
Brain function is measured on four primary frequencies: Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta. Alpha waves reflect the meditative, relaxing healing mode. Beta waves represent the active, busy brain. Theta waves reflect light sleep, relaxation and conceptual development. Delta waves represent the brain activity during deep sleep, repair mode and energy storage.” (10)
I recommend going with a pediatric chiropractor – you can find a list of them here.
10. Try this acupressure technique ^
If you’ve ever wished there was a ‘go to sleep’ button on your baby, then you might find it in the acupuncture point, Yingtang. This point is located above the bridge of the nose between the eyes. This very relaxing acupressure point can induce sleep in even the most reluctant sleeper. Massaging this point can greatly improve sleep. You can massage upward with medium strokes until the baby drifts off to dreamland. It is good for adults, too.” – 12 Acupressure Points For Pediatric Sleep Improvement And Wellness Support
I’ve found this technique to be helpful with my older kids as well, particularly on days when they are overtired and/or emotions are running high. I just stroke the acupressure point and let them share whatever is on their mind while I listen.
For several more intensive protocols that may work better for some children, check out Jennifer Taveras, L.Ac.’s 12 complete guide: Acupressure Points For Pediatric Sleep Improvement And Wellness Support.
11. Create a routine ^
Children who follow a consistent bedtime routine fall asleep more quickly, wake less often during the night, and sleep for an extra hour on average, concluded this study.
Below are some options to consider for your family routine. Some – like oral care – are essential, while others can be selected based on what works best for you:
- Put on orange glasses around sunset
- Brush teeth
- Take a warm bath
- Rub on some magnesium
- Diffuse essential oils
- Read a short story
- Turn on sound machine
12. Trim the schedule (If needed) ^
Our tendency is to want to wear kids out during the day, but overscheduling can actually cause sleep problems.
Participation in too many after-school activities can get kids amped up, pushing back dinnertime, homework time—and bedtime. Compared to 1981, now the average kid has almost two hours less of unstructured time each day. Instead, they spend twice as much time in structured competitive sports, while good old-fashioned outdoor play—the running, jumping, and catch-playing that reduces stress and helps them sleep at night—has dropped by more than half. A rule of thumb: ‘If your kid never says, ‘I’m bored,’ he’s overscheduled,’ says child psychologist Jodi A. Mindell, Ph.D., coauthor of Take Charge of Your Child’s Sleep and associate director of the Sleep Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. (11)
Frequently Asked Questions ^
How many hours of sleep do kids need?
The amount of sleep varies by age. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), here’s a general outline:
- 4-12 months old – 12-16 hours (including naps)
- 1-2 years old – 11-14 hours (including naps)
- 3-5 years old – 10-13 hours (including naps)
- 6-12 years old – 9-12 hours
- 13-18 years old – 8-10 hours
What about melatonin?
Due to the concerns I’ve mentioned here, I’ve opted not to use melatonin. Fortunately, the strategies mentioned above have worked well for my family.
What other factors can impact sleep quality?
Snoring may suggest sleep apnea, which should be evaluated by a sleep specialist. If your family is practicing healthy sleep habits and one or more of you is still not waking up feeling refreshed, make sure to bring it up with your trusted healthcare provider.
What’s helped your little ones? Please let me know in the comments below!
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Sources
1. Mauss, Iris et. al. (2012) Poorer sleep quality is associated with lower emotion-regulation ability in a laboratory paradigm
2. Miller, Alison et. al. (2015) Sleep patterns and obesity in childhood
3. University of Colorado Boulder (2017) Kids uniquely vulnerable to sleep disruption from electronics
4. Turner, PL and Mainster, M.A. (2008) Circadian photoreception: ageing and the eye’s important role in systemic health
5. Behar-Cohen, F et. al. (2011) Light-emitting diodes (LED) for domestic lighting: any risks for the eye?
6. Scientific American (2010) How does background noise affect our concentration?
7. Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2003) White Noise Delays Auditory Organization in the Brain
8. National Wildlife Federation (2011) Green Time for Sleep Time
9. KSAT News. Outdoor play time can enhance children’s sleep
10. Martin, Benjamin (2013) Chiropractic Improves Brain Wave Patterns, Brain Function
11. WebMD. Sleep Tips for Kids of All Ages
I also give them warm epsom salt baths before bed to help with sleeping (not every night)
I will definitely be trying the acupressure and lavender oil tonight! I agree that keeping it totally dark is best and have always tried to keep my boys room as dark as possible at night. Here’s to hoping trying some of these things will help my two year old to wake up less at night! I would love to find a chiropractor for my kids, but I have had a hard time finding a chiropractor that is experienced with young children 🙁
How does inhalation work? I have the Nighty Night KidSafe synergy from Plant Therapy and have been doing it topically in coconut oil but not sure it is working.
Inhalation is just breathing it in. Technically, when you are putting it on them topically, they are also inhaling. Diffusing is probably the best way to inhale, but the pillow spray method or even putting it on a cotton ball and sticking it under their fitted sheet could work as well.
I don’t keep vodka on hand, can I use rubbing alcohol in place of vodka for the pillow spray? Thanks
P.S. I love your work, I refer to your website constantly, keep up the great job!
I would use witch hazel instead of rubbing alcohol. No medicinal smell!
Hi, sorry I can’t provide a link for this reference, but I have read *something* somewhere online…
It noted that breathing in vapours of rubbing alcohol may actually be harmful. Google “why breathing isopropyl alcohol fumes is bad for your health”, and you will find the articles about it.
You can find super cheapo Vodka at the grocery store, that’s what i use for the room sprays, just a few drops of lavender EO in a cup or so of CHEAP Vodka; shake bottle vigorously before each use. I do understand people may have their reasons for not having liquor in their homes. Make your room spray undrinkable by adding a couple drops of Visine to the concoction–! (And keep Visine out of reach of children, of course, as well as the vodka!) Another option is to have a neighbor or friend keep the cheapo vodka at their house, and have a room spray making tea party (at their house, lol) every so often and stock up with a few bottles of spray. Keep them tightly capped because the vodka will evaporate just like rubbing alcohol would, if youre making up several bottles.
I am looking into the intellibed for my sons first bed. I have a couple questions about ur experience with the children’s beds. Are they okay on the floor? Also the children’s ones say not to use over 150 lbs but we are working on transition from a sidecar bed to a floor bed in my sons room so I my still be laying with him sometimes so, any experience here, is that okay? I hope to buy one for our room soon but I’m starting with the little guy. I will call them and ask the question but I figured maybe u had experience and I prefer that over sales 🙂 thanks so much.
I think they would be fine on the floor but you may want to double check with intelliBED. I’ve snuggled with my older kids in their beds when they were sick. Together we are over the 150 pound weight limit and I would say it wasn’t as comfortable as sleeping with them in my bed but still very comfortable. I’m not sure if that voids the warranty – wasn’t really thinking about that at 3am, lol!
Hi, I’m really just starting out with essential oils, although I’ve been reading about them for awhile. I want to make a lavender & vanilla room/body spray. Can I use my homemade vanilla extract (just vodka & vanilla beans) for part (or all) of the vodka in the pillow spray recipe? Will it be sticky?
You can, but vanilla extract (or vanilla oleoresin which is similar to an essential oil) may discolor your sheets.
Hi, can I ask where you purchase your catnip for tea? I used to have it in bulk from a farmer in California, but I lost contact information. I have been looking on internet but pet catnip is all that I can find . Thank you for the sleeping tips.
Good post. What kind of pink footie pajamas are those? It seems like they are cotton and that they have feet but no plastic-y stuff on them, is this so?
Unfortunately that is a stock photo so I’m not sure what they are. My daughter and I would love to know, too! All the other photos are mine, though 🙂
Try and look at H&M the should have some and i think they have them til 2T but not sure
I often just put a few drops of essential oil on a tissue and leave in little ones room somewhere out of reach. Seems to work really well.
Does it matter when they get the sleep? My almost 2 year old has always been impossible to take naps. She will take a 20 minute nap and be done. But she will sleep from 630 pm until 7:30 am. So we don’t put she nap subject too much further since she is still getting sleep
It seems to me that if she’s sleeping 13 hours a night, and is cheerful during the day with a 20 minute nap, she’s sleeping very well indeed!
Some great ideas in this article! I’m a naturopath, so I knew about the herbal remedies but the acupressure technique and essential oils are something I’d like to try. Thanks again for such an informative article.
Has anyone tried weighted blankets for older kids? I was looking into this for my 12 year old who has anxiety and trouble sleeping.
We use a weighted blanket for my daughter who also deals with anxiety and sensory processing disorder. It helps her so much. She loves hers. I highly recommend them as long as they feel good to the child. We also use actual sea salt in bath time, that is supposed to be more bio available, allowing for better magnesium absorption. It has helped her with anxiety more than anything else we’ve done. After one week of baths with real sea salt I trimmed her nails for the first time in over a year because without even realizing it she stopped biting them. We also did blood work and found that her vitamin b levels that connect to stress management were low, so we do a stress b supplement a few times a week and fish oil. Lack of sleep and anxiety so easily feed each other. I hope you are able to find some things that help. It has been a 5 year process for us, but we are grateful for each thing we find that helps a little.
I have and they are AMAZING. I make them for my son with poly beads. I’ve made them for adults and used rice and lavender, just to save money.
Epsom salt baths help my kid. I make a magnesium/arnica/hemp CBD body butter that I rub anywhere that is painful when he has growing pains. Regular old massage and scratching his back knock him out too ?
Good blog on how to get your baby to sleep! As a licensed massage therapist I would add to massage your baby daily. It bonds you closer and relaxes your baby ?
Hi, I really loved your post and I have gone through all your ideas and I find it quite easy and a working one. You have almost covered all the topics in it. But could you please elaborate about the routine ?
Great article! Any ideas for a holistic milk for sleeping. Trying to help a friend to stop giving her daughter 2% milk for bedtime. Maybe I should try to make her hemp milk with a little turmeric to ween her off that whole routine? Any concoction ideas would be fabulous!
Thoughts about white noise. My children have had a box fan to help sleep their whole lives. In my opinion, it helps them stay asleep because they don’t hear noises that could wake them up at night. When they haven’t had white noise at night, we are up quite often. But I’ve wondered, if constant sound can be damaging in any way?
My daughter just had her tonsils removed. After a scan at the dentist, and a sleep study, we found out my daughter’s sleep quality was terrible. Her tonsils were so big they were causing sleep apnea. It also explained why at 8 years old she was still regularly wetting the bed. I really hope this helps someone with their child. I’m very looking forward to a better rested kiddo.
I enjoyed your content, the whole article is written very well. I have been searching for informative regarding the sleep subject and this really helped me. I have always struggled with falling asleep I am not sure why either. Sleep tablets have always made me feel worried as they can have side effects. Thank you again stay safe and wishing you a lovely day.
I found this information to be helpful! I will definitely be trying this soon.
This is the most helpful article I have ever read. To the point and factual. Thank you so much! My daughter 2.9y went from AMAZING sleeper to struggling to go to bed, waking throughout the night and not wanting to go back to sleep, and skipping her nap. I’ll be running to Target today for some of these thing… this mama can’t wait for delivery lol