Behavioral "insomnia" in the child

Abstract

Most of the causes of sleeplessness in the young child after early infancy are behavioral in nature. These may be primary or they may complicate other disorders. Typical factors include inappropriate associations to the sleep transition process, absent and inconsistent limit setting by caretakers, and various scheduling abnormalities (including unnecessary nighttime feedings). Once proper diagnosis is made, rapid resolution can be expected through behavioral intervention. Even partial arousal symptomatology ("night terrors"), often misdiagnosed at this age, may reflect, and respond to correction of, inappropriate sleeping schedules.