A Clinical Guide to Pediatric Sleep

Abstract

Considering that sleep takes up a significant proportion of a child's life, indeed the majority of life in the child under two, it is remarkably neglected in undergraduate and postgraduate education. For paediatric neurologists it is of interest, in particular due to the interaction between sleep and pathology such as epilepsy. For the general paediatrician, the primary care professional and the parent, however, it is of enormous importance in the otherwise normal child whose sleep pattern at various times in childhood may have a major impact on their lives, those of their family and sometimes even those of the neighbours! The child with learning difficulties or long term physical conditions may present additional challenges.