What to expect when you arrive at the sleep clinic
When you arrive for your initial consultation with the sleep team, the team will spend time evaluating your child’s medical history, developmental history, family history (including medical history, psychological history, parenting skills, and limit-setting abilities), and your child’s behavioral history. A detailed history of your child’s sleep behaviors and nightwakings will also be discussed. Your child will also likely have a brief physical examination. If any medical causes are suspected of contributing to your child’s nightwakings (e.g., gastroesophageal reflux, periodic limb movement, restless sleep, sleep apnea etc), further medical evaluation may be recommended.
Treatment
Treatment for nightwakings related to negative sleep onset associations may include establishing good sleep habits including a consistent sleep/wake schedule, a consistent bedtime routine, the maintenance of a daytime nap (at least through age 3), the encouragement of a transitional object, graduated extinction, fading of adult intervention, weaning/discontinuation of nighttime feedings (when developmentally appropriate), reinforcement strategies, and scheduled awakenings. Our sleep psychologist will work with your family one-on-one to develop a personally tailored sleep behavior medicine program to fit your family’s needs. Following the initial consultation and treatment session, your family will be asked to complete a 2-week sleep log so that our providers will have detailed information about how the changes you are making are working. The frequency and duration of follow-up depends on each families needs, but you can expect to return in approximately 2 weeks following your initial visit.