Bedtime Stories: Tailored Sleep Health Messaging for Caregivers

Healthy sleep practices are a fundamental component of sleep education interventions designed to prevent sleep problems from developing (Masten et al., 2006) and aide in managing existing sleep disorders such as insomnia in children (Moore et al., 2007). Although poor sleep is linked to a host of negative outcomes, sleep health may also be viewed in a positive light, i.e., "sleep wellness" that places the emphasis on the benefits of good sleep and its importance to overall health maintenance and improvement. Indeed, both the positive and negative aspects of sleep are highly relevant with regards to developing sleep health educational programs, while providing concrete targets for health promotion, wellness and prevention. Fostering healthy sleep habits in children and adolescents builds the foundation for healthy sleep habits in adulthood (Galland et al., 2010). A major challenge to identifying sleep concerns in children is that identification often relies on parent reported concerns, professional clinical judgment, and the presence of symptomatology that changes with age. The early diagnosis of sleep concerns is a key factor to enable access to interventions that improve sleep health. To address this critical gap requires targeted interventions tailored to healthcare providers, particularly those serving communities and populations most in need.

Interventions for caregivers focused on sleep health, including sleep health practice, building and supporting routines, and consistent sleep schedules are integral features to sleep. Settings to promote healthy sleep practices including well-child visits. The well-child visit is an opportunity to educate parents about normal sleep in children and provide strategies to prevent sleep problems from either developing, or if problems already exist from becoming chronic. Community health centers which serve both children and adults, afford unique opportunities to incorporate screening and the prevention of sleep disorders; and deliver coordinated health messages to parents and children in order to effect positive behavioral change within the entire family.