Occasional reviewDoctor, my child won't sleep. How can you help?

Sleep is a basic human function and is essential in allowing the body to recuperate. Chronic sleep deprivation can adversely affect cognitive functioning, memory and attention. It is estimated that 25-40% of children under 5 years, and up to 80% of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, have disrupted sleep. It is important to recognise this to prevent adverse effects on their health.The aetiology of sleep disturbance in children is complex. The first line approach to sleep management should be to incorporate and implement good sleep hygiene through parental education. If sleep continues to be a problem, then pharmacological options may be used in conjunction with sleep hygiene. Melatonin is commonly prescribed despite not being licensed for the paediatric population. We review the use of melatonin and provide practical advice on prescribing regimes as well as advice on history taking and sleep hygiene management.