This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Children with chronic sleep problems are getting several hours’ extra rest, and enjoying a boost to their mood, as a result of an innovative programme of intensive help from the NHS.

Families struggling with children’s seriously disrupted sleep have seen major improvements by deploying consistent bedtimes, banning sugary drinks in the evening and removing toys and electronics from bedrooms.

In the hour before bed, children are also not allowed to watch TV or use their phone or computer; instead they do more calming activities such as jigsaws, playdough or board games.

Health professionals in Sheffield now use this method to help 800 families in which a child sleeps for just four or five hours a night. NHS England’s mental health chief calls the initiative “life-changing”.

Children following the regime now get an average of 2.4 hours more sleep a night, an evaluation study shows. They are also eating more healthily, doing better at school and much less likely to need to take hormone supplements to help them sleep, it found.

Heather Elphick, a consultant in paediatric sleep medicine at Sheffield Children’s Hospital who helped devise the scheme, said parents’ lives had also been made better because they worry less about their child’s sleep.

Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s mental health director, said: “Common-sense, effective measures like this can offer a practical and life-changing helping hand to millions.”

NHS staff have joined forces with Sheffield council and the Children’s Sleep Charity to help families in which a child has sleep difficulties linked to ADHD or other disorders, trauma, adoption or fostering. After a pilot in 2016 involving 40 families, the technique was extended across the city to all such vulnerable children.

Families have a meeting with a nurse or health visitor, then start to implement an action plan at home. They then receive a weekly phone call from a health professional to check on progress and offer extra advice.

“It’s really difficult to get children to adapt to the new routine,” Elphick added. “A lot of parents have read stuff online about tackling children’s sleep problems but failed. This programme takes two to three weeks of perseverance, and it often gets worse before it gets better.

“But this isn’t a complex invention. Yes, a lot of this is just good parental practice. Children involved are now getting to sleep faster, and many say their mood has changed from ‘grumpy’ to ‘happy’ thanks to a good night’s sleep. Many of their parents say their quality of life and wellbeing have improved and they have a better relationship with their child.”

Child sleep expert Heather Elphick suggests …

• Have a consistent bedtime and wake-up time, even at weekends.

• Plan a relaxing routine an hour before bedtime with, say, jigsaws, colouring or play dough.

• Stop using screens an hour before bedtime and keep devices out of the bedroom overnight.

• Avoid energy drinks and caffeine-based products from noon onwards.

• Make the bedroom calm and comfortable, not stimulating.