Somerset Sleep Toolkit

A message from the Community Child Health team:

Sleep difficulties are common and we know it can take time and persistence to help children to sleep well. Learning to sleep is a developmental milestone like any other!

We know that good sleep is important for the health and development of children. The best way to get good sleep is by consistent, calming bedtime routines, avoiding screen time at least an hour before bed, and making sure children get outside and are active in the daytime. Most children with sleep difficulties will improve if this is put in place.

As Community Child Health doctors we would advise that if you are facing difficulties with sleep in the family, then you explore the advice and resources in this Sleep Toolkit and put those strategies in place consistently. It can take many weeks and months of doing these things every day to make a difference; there is no magic quick fix for sleep! But putting these healthy sleep routines in place from early on will help set up good patterns for life.

If despite trying these strategies, you need more help, we would advise exploring the Somerset Parent Carer Forum Wise Up sleep workshops. Depending on your child’s age, you could also contact your Health Visitor or the School Nursing Service for more support. There may be other professionals already working with you as a family, such as a FIS worker, who could also support you with putting healthy routines in place.

Of course, if there is concern there may be a medical reason underlying sleep difficulties (such as snoring with possible sleep apnoea, or Epilepsy), then you should see your GP for review and referral to the appropriate medical team if required.

A small number of children with Neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism, sometimes require more input despite the above support and these children may be referred into our Community Child Health service with sleep difficulties. It is important to say that the medication we can prescribe for sleep (Melatonin) is only licensed to be used in certain circumstances. It is only meant to be used for a short period of time to reset sleep patterns, and we do not have evidence on the impact of using this medicine long term in children. Melatonin also will not work unless healthy bedtime routines are in place. In Somerset, GPs do not prescribe Melatonin to children and young people. In summary, most children and young people with sleep difficulties will not need or would not be eligible for a Melatonin prescription, and the best way to improve sleep is by following the advice in this Toolkit and having consistent healthy sleep routines in place.