Where to get help:
If you are concerned about your child's sleep, please contact your general practitioner/paediatrician in the first instance, who can provide you with tailored information, and make any appropriate referrals if required. This should always be a first step to ensure that the sleep difficulties are not caused by an underlying medical condition.
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You may also wish to take a look at the following information, links and books:
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Organisations
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Cerebra
A unique charity set up to help to improve the lives of children with brain-related conditions through researching, educating and directly supporting children and their carers www.cerebra.org.uk
0800 3281159
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Contact a Family (CAF)
Helps families who care for a child or young person with additional needs. They have produced a booklet called Helping your Child to Sleep
www.cafamily.org.uk
0808 8083555
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Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA)
Provides information and support on all aspects of living with Down’s syndrome
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National Autistic Society (NAS)
Offers support for families when a child has an autism spectrum disorder
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Scope
Disability charity that has a number of sleep services and befriending services across the country
www.scope.org.uk
0808 8003333
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Sense
A UK voluntary organisation for children and adults born with multi-sensory impairment. The website contains information about sleep difficulties.
www.sense.org.uk
0845 1270060
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The Children’s Sleep Charity
A charity that supports both parents and practitioners to ensure that children get a better night’s sleep.
www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk
07912 667676
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British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies
Find details of all officially accredited CBT Therapists. All the practitioners listed are accredited members of either the British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), which is the lead organisation for CBT in the UK and Ireland, or the Association for Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (AREBT).
Imperial House Hornby Street Bury Lancashire BL9 5BN
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British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association
Helping snorers and their sleeping partners in the UK and worldwide, the association provides information on the causes and also advice on remedies for snoring. A range of books, devices and remedies are available to purchase on the site, providing information on achieving an undisturbed night’s sleep and there is a monthly newsletter available.
Chapter House 33 London Street REIGATE Surrey RH2 9HZ
01737 245638 – Freephone helpline 0800 085 1097
CPAP
A free public information resource for those seeking to learn more about sleep apnoea and snoring and for those who are existing sleep apnoea patients on CPAP therapy. Run by a company called Intus Healthcare, which specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the site offers users the latest news on OSA, forums for patients to discuss their concerns and health problems, useful tips and trouble-shooting on CPAP therapy via the forums and blogs, useful links to further services and the latest research on OSA, along with frequently asked questions.
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Narcolepsy Association UK (UKAN)
Narcolepsy is a malfunction of the sleep/wake regulating system of the brain where the sufferer has an irresistible tendency to fall asleep – often in unlikely circumstances – or may have sudden loss of muscle control triggered by excitement, anger or amusement. The website was set up by UKAN, the Narcolepsy Association UK, with the aim of promoting awareness and providing information on how the condition is diagnosed and treated. Members also receive a quarterly newsletter.
PO Box 26865 KIRKCALDY KY2 9BY
Sleep Apnoea Trust
Sleep apnoea is a disorder that occurs during sleep when the sleeper actually stops breathing due to a tightening of muscles in the throat which awakes them in a breathless state before quickly returning back to sleep. A registered charity and managed by volunteers, the trust aims to improve the lives of sleep apnoea patients and their families by offering information, support and non-medical advice while also sending regular newsletters to trust members. Membership can be obtained via the website, which also lists a number of sleep clinics and helplines to call for advice.
PO Box 60 Chinnor Oxfordshire OX39 4XE
Sleep Matters Helpline
This helpline run by the Medical Advisory Service puts callers straight through to trained nurses who will talk through problems and, if necessary, refer to the right source for further help and advice.
PO Box 3087 LONDON W4 4ZP
020 8994 9874 (6pm-8pm weekdays)
office@medicaladvisoryservice.org.uk
www.medicaladvisoryservice.org.uk
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Books
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The No Cry sleep solution
Elizabeth Pantley
Touchpoints: Your child’s emotional and behavioural development
T.Berry Brazelton MD
Teach Your Child to Sleep
Millpond Children’s Sleep Clinic
The Science of parenting
Margot Sunderland
How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk.
Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish.
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