Ask an expert: Childhood insomnia

Have a question for Dr. Tobin? Ask it here.

Q: Can children have insomnia?

A: Children can suffer from insomnia for many reasons. Stress, fears, depression, poor sleep habits, too much caffeine, or because of underlying medical problems.

The first step is to define the nature of the problem. Is your child having problems falling asleep, or does he wake up too early in the morning? Or does he wake up once he falls asleep? Does he snore or suffer from sleep apnea? The solution depends on the nature of the problem.

If your child is having problems falling asleep, ask him why. If you're lucky, and he's old enough, he may have some insight into the nature of the problem. Fears are a common reason for sleep disturbances. Also, make sure he's tired at bedtime -- is he napping too late in the afternoon or falling asleep in the car on the way home? If your child wakes too early in the morning, I'd cover his windows to keep it dark in his room. Lastly, eliminate coke, teas and other caffeine containing products. Some over-the-counter cough preparations can cause sleeplessness, as can asthma medications.

As you can see, there are many issues to consider when a child isn't sleeping well. I suggest you discuss the situation with your healthcare provider, if the underlying cause isn't immediately obvious.

Best of luck and sweet dreams,
Dr. Cathryn