Solving kids' sleep problems

The researchers initially looked at 357 babies at 9 months of age and found that those whose parents reported high levels of marital instability -- having frequent fights or contemplating divorce -- were more likely to have trouble falling and staying asleep than those whose parents didn't report marriage problems. They were also more likely to have those problems persist at 18 months of age.

(Interestingly, the study didn't find that poor-sleeping children triggered marital conflict in their sleep-deprived parents -- which is surprising news to me.)

"We know that in families where there is lower marital instability, those young children have fewer sleep problems," says study leader Anne Mannering, a psychologist at Oregon Social Learning Center. And "evidence from other studies suggests that marital conflict that is intense, frequent, and poorly resolved" can be harmful to children in other ways, causing higher anxiety levels.

Marriage counseling may be beneficial, she says, for helping to resolve not just tension in the relationship but tension in the child who's a fitful sleeper.

Of course, sleep issues often occur in kids who have happily married parents. So what's the solution for them?

Dr. Dennis Rosen, associate medical director at the Center for Sleep Disorders at Children's Hospital Boston, recommends the following:

-- Set a regular wake up time, even on weekends. "Parents can't control when their child falls asleep, but they can control when they wake up," he says. Those who want to shift their child's bedtime to earlier in the night should set an earlier wake up time in the morning. Being consistent is vital to allow a child's body to adapt to the new schedule.

-- No naps for those over 4 years of age. An afternoon nap is a sure way to keep a kid up at night; in fact, I try to get my fifth-grader to take a nap when I know he's going to a sleepover -- which should really be called a no-sleepover. Toddlers who still need naps shouldn't take one within four or five hours of bedtime, Rosen advises.

-- Set a regular bedtime routine. "They should be unwinding to set the stage for sleep," says Rosen, "like bath, PJs, brushing teeth, book, lights out."

-- Minimize light exposure at night. Rosen recommends dimming the lights two hours before bedtime and eliminating screen time on TVs, computers, and iPods during that time. Bright lights can suppress the natural nighttime release of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. (More on why you should dim the lights at night)

-- Eliminate pets from your child's bed. As cuddly as dogs and cats are, they can wake children up at night or keep them from settling down at the appointed hour. (They can also spread germs.)

-- Consider the effect of stimulants. Caffeinated beverages should be avoided within eight hours of bedtime, Rosen recommends. In fact, better to avoid them altogether. Certain stimulant drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may also cause sleep disturbances if given too late in the day. Sometimes the solution may be to shift the dose to earlier, but Rosen says this decision should be made in conjunction with a child's doctor.