Iberoamerican Journal of Medicine
https://iberoamjmed.com/article/doi/10.53986/ibjm.2026.0013
Iberoamerican Journal of Medicine
Review

Sleep disorders and sleep hygiene in children

Trastornos del sueño e hygiene del sueño en niños

Belen Ateş, Emine Gözde Özdrama Yıldız, Eren Güzeloğlu, Hüseyin Dağ, Vefik Arıca

Downloads: 2
Views: 42

Abstract

Sleep is necessary for the psychological, physiological, and emotional growth of children and adolescents. Pediatric sleep disorders are common and sometimes overlooked by health professionals. Recent developments in screen time have led to more sleep-related problems among adolescents. Encouraging good sleep habits and limiting screen time in children is crucial for their health. Pediatricians have a responsibility to incorporate sleep hygiene advice and routine sleep checks into their practice to promote healthy child development. Heightened awareness, public health initiatives, and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to tackle this pervasive problem effectively.
This study is a narrative review of the literature on sleep disorders and sleep hygiene in children and adolescents. Relevant publications were identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, and SciELO databases using the following keywords: "pediatric sleep disorders," "sleep hygiene children," "screen time sleep adolescents," "obstructive sleep apnea children," "parasomnias childhood," and "behavioral insomnia pediatric." Priority was given to publications from 2019 onwards; however, seminal studies published before this date were also included where appropriate. Articles were selected based on their relevance to the scope of the review. Editorials and opinion pieces without supporting data were excluded.

Keywords

Sleep; Pediatrics; Children

Resumen

El sueño es esencial para el desarrollo psicológico, fisiológico y emocional de niños y adolescentes. Los trastornos del sueño pediátricos son frecuentes y, en ocasiones, pasan desapercibidos para los profesionales de la salud. El aumento del tiempo frente a las pantallas ha provocado un incremento de los problemas de sueño en los adolescentes. Fomentar buenos hábitos de sueño y limitar el tiempo frente a las pantallas es fundamental para la salud infantil. Los pediatras tienen la responsabilidad de incorporar consejos sobre higiene del sueño y controles rutinarios del sueño en su práctica para promover un desarrollo infantil saludable. Una mayor concienciación, iniciativas de salud pública y la colaboración interdisciplinaria son esenciales para abordar este problema generalizado de manera eficaz.
Este estudio es una revisión narrativa de la literatura sobre trastornos del sueño e higiene del sueño en niños y adolescentes. Se identificaron publicaciones relevantes mediante búsquedas en las bases de datos PubMed, Scopus y SciELO utilizando las siguientes palabras clave: "trastornos del sueño pediátricos", "higiene del sueño en niños", "tiempo frente a las pantallas y sueño en adolescentes", "apnea obstructiva del sueño en niños", "parasomnias en la infancia" e "insomnio conductual pediátrico". Se priorizaron las publicaciones a partir de 2019. Sin embargo, también se incluyeron estudios fundamentales publicados antes de esta fecha, cuando fue pertinente. Los artículos se seleccionaron en función de su relevancia para el alcance de la revisión. Se excluyeron los editoriales y los artículos de opinión sin datos que los respaldaran.

Palabras clave

Sueño; Pediatría; Niños

References

1. Kakomani VG, Arvaniti A, Dikeos DG. Sleep disorders in children and adolescents: A review of the literature. Psychiatriki. 2022;33(2):91-101. doi: 10.22365/jpsych.2022.033.02.091.
2. Paruthi S, Brooks LJ, D'Ambrosio C, Hall WA, Kotagal S, Lloyd RM, et al. Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on the Recommended Amount of Sleep for Healthy Children: Methodology and Discussion. J Clin Sleep Med. 2016;12(11):1549-61. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.6288.
3. Han X, Zhou E, Liu D. Electronic Media Use and Sleep Quality: Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2024;26:e48356. doi: 10.2196/48356.
4. Cappuccio FP, Taggart FM, Kandala NB, Currie A, Peile E, Stranges S, et al. Meta-analysis of short sleep duration and obesity in children and adults. Sleep. 2008;31(5):619-26. doi: 10.1093/sleep/31.5.619.
5. Eto T, Higuchi S. Review on age-related differences in non-visual effects of light: melatonin suppression, circadian phase shift and pupillary light reflex in children to older adults. J Physiol Anthropol. 2023;42(1):11. doi: 10.1186/s40101-023-00328-1.
6. Miller CK. Updates on pediatric feeding and swallowing problems. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2009;17(3):194-9. doi: 10.1097/MOO.0b013e32832b3117.
7. Mindell JA, Telofski LS, Wiegand B, Kurtz ES. A nightly bedtime routine: impact on sleep in young children and maternal mood. Sleep. 2009;32(5):599-606. doi: 10.1093/sleep/32.5.599.
8. Crowley SJ, Acebo C, Carskadon MA. Sleep, circadian rhythms, and delayed phase in adolescence. Sleep Med. 2007;8(6):602-12. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2006.12.002.
9. Hoban TF. Sleep disorders in children. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2013;19(1 Sleep Disorders):185-98. doi: 10.1212/01.CON.0000427206.75435.0e.
10. Marcus CL, Brooks LJ, Draper KA, Gozal D, Halbower AC, Jones J, et al; American Academy of Pediatrics. Diagnosis and management of childhood
obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Pediatrics. 2012;130(3):e714-55. doi: 10.1542/peds.2012-1672.
11. Owens JA. Sleep disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2008;10(5):439-44. doi: 10.1007/s11920-008-0070-x.
12. Dye TJ. Clinical Evaluation and Management of Narcolepsy in Children and Adolescents. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2023;48:101089. doi: 10.1016/j.spen.2023.101089.
13. Chung IH, Chin WC, Huang YS, Wang CH. Pediatric Narcolepsy-A Practical Review. Children (Basel). 2022;9(7):974. doi: 10.3390/children9070974.
14. Silvestri R, DelRosso LM. Pediatric Restless Legs Syndrome. Sleep Med Clin. 2021;16(2):305-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2021.02.006.
15. DelRosso LM, Mogavero MP, Ferri R. Restless sleep disorder, restless legs syndrome, and periodic limb movement disorder-Sleep in motion! Pediatr Pulmonol. 2022;57(8):1879-86. doi: 10.1002/ppul.25305.
16. Cain N, Gradisar M. Electronic media use and sleep in school-aged children and adolescents: A review. Sleep Med. 2010;11(8):735-42. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2010.02.006.
17. COUNCIL ON COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA. Media and Young Minds. Pediatrics. 2016;138(5):e20162591. doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-2591.
18. Lee SI, Matsumori K, Nishimura K, Nishimura Y, Ikeda Y, Eto T, et al. Melatonin suppression and sleepiness in children exposed to blue-enriched white LED lighting at night. Physiol Rep. 2018;6(24):e13942. doi: 10.14814/phy2.13942.
19. Hartstein LE, Behn CD, Akacem LD, Stack N, Wright KP Jr, LeBourgeois MK. High sensitivity of melatonin suppression response to evening light in preschool-aged children. J Pineal Res. 2022;72(2):e12780. doi: 10.1111/jpi.12780.
20. Falbe J, Davison KK, Franckle RL, Ganter C, Gortmaker SL, Smith L, et al. Sleep duration, restfulness, and screens in the sleep environment. Pediatrics. 2015;135(2):e367-75. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-2306.
21. Pirdehghan A, Khezmeh E, Panahi S. Social Media Use and Sleep Disturbance among Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study. Iran J Psychiatry. 2021;16(2):137-45. doi: 10.18502/ijps.v16i2.5814.
22. Bergfeld NS, Van den Bulck J. It's not all about the likes: Social media affordances with nighttime, problematic, and adverse use as predictors of adolescent sleep indicators. Sleep Health. 2021;7(5):548-55. doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2021.05.009.
23. Brautsch LA, Lund L, Andersen MM, Jennum PJ, Folker AP, Andersen S. Digital media use and sleep in late adolescence and young adulthood: A systematic review. Sleep Med Rev. 2023;68:101742. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2022.101742.
24. Reid Chassiakos YL, Radesky J, Christakis D, Moreno MA, Cross C; COUNCIL ON COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA. Children and Adolescents and Digital Media. Pediatrics. 2016;138(5):e20162593. doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-2593.
25. Stores G. Practitioner review: assessment and treatment of sleep disorders in children and adolescents. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1996;37(8):907-25. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1996.tb01489.x.
26. Castillo-Álvarez F, Marzo-Sola ME. Restless legs syndrome. Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment. Med Clin (Barc). 2025;164(2):84-90. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2024.05.026.


Submitted date:
11/12/2025

Reviewed date:
04/16/2026

Accepted date:
05/04/2026

Publication date:
05/13/2026

6a0421d1a953955e766fa684 iberoamericanjm Articles
Links & Downloads

Iberoam J Med

Share this page
Page Sections