Read this article published in Le Cercle Psy magazine .

Central to a child’s life, sleep is not immune to turbulence. Beyond possible organic causes (digestive disorders, infections…), what are the most common psychological causes?

Falling asleep is no mean feat. For a child, it means separating from the things that reassure and stimulate him: his parents, his brothers and sisters, his favorite toys… He goes from a lively, active and bright universe to a dark, passive and solitary environment (his bedroom), sometimes with nightmares at the end. A few factors can make the situation even more complicated.

No. 1: A stressful family climate

Let’s face it, children are sponges, and stress is as contagious as the flu. Whatever their age, children absorb their family’s dynamics and emotional problems.

Bereavement, moving house, divorce, new birth, change of job, pressure from school… are all events likely to disturb a child’s serenity, inducing a form of anxiety and thus impairing sleep. The naturally anxious, overprotective or rigid temperament of one of the parents and/or the presence of psychopathology can also induce its share of anxieties and annoyances. Studies have repeatedly shown that the quality of interactions between children and their parents at the time of falling asleep is linked to the quality of their sleep.

No. 2: Massive exposure to screens

The blue light emitted by screens (computer, telephone, television…) is increasingly being blamed for children’s sleep problems, to the point of being referred to as « chronotoxic » light. Chronotoxic light is said to be 100 times more stimulating for the retina than ordinary lamp light, and to interfere with the secretion of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. According to a study conducted by Jennifer Falbe of the University of California, the presence of a television in the bedroom reduces sleep by an average of 18 minutes, compared with 21 minutes for children with a smartphone or tablet in the bedroom.

No. 3: Irregular sleep patterns

An unstable environment, a change in bedroom furniture layout or a lack of bedtime rituals can disrupt this delicate transition from wakefulness to sleep. But above all, according to research conducted in 2015 by Pennsylvania State University, it’s irregular bedtime schedules that are most likely to disrupt the quantity and quality of a child’s sleep. When parents have an overloaded schedule, the family tends to align mealtimes and bedtimes with work constraints rather than their child’s natural rhythm.

According to the authors of this study, although the majority of parents understand the importance of sleep for their child’s development and well-being, 90% of children don’t get enough sleep. Another study establishes a link between irregular bedtime, sleep deprivation and behavioral problems during the day. –