Help Your Child Sleep Better During Treatment

Sleep is the most important part of every daily routine. Without sleep, your body can not function at its highest performance. Sleep is especially important when it comes to your health and recovery. For children who are battling cancer, a good night’s rest helps their bodies recover from chemotherapy and prepare to work hard at fighting each day.

Here are five tips for how to help your child sleep better during their cancer fight:

1. Keep a routine

It is very important that you establish a good sleep schedule. Have your child go to bed and wake up each day around the same time. This helps to make sure that they are getting plenty of sleep each day. Another benefit of keeping a consistent sleep schedule is that it often helps medication and treatment schedules to run smoothly as well. Keeping a routine will ultimately help your child to feel rested and well prepared to put up a strong fight. 

2. Avoid caffeine/sugar in the afternoon and closer to bedtime 

Making sure that your child avoids sugar and anything with caffeine in it late in the day will help to ensure that they have an easier time falling asleep at night.

3. Use the bed only for sleep

Try to prevent your child from using their bed for things other than sleeping. Your child should avoid using their bed for homework, video games, and eating. Instead, perhaps you could encourage them to work on the floor, eat in the kitchen, and hang out in a common living area in the house. Using their bed for bedtimes only will help them to better relax in bed when it is time to lay down and go to sleep for the night.

4. Shorter and earlier nap times

It is normal for children undergoing treatment to feel fatigued or sleepy during the day. However, taking naps during the day can oftentimes make it hard for your child to fall asleep at night. To help with this try to prevent your child from napping for more than a couple of hours during the day and from napping in the afternoon. Instead of long naps, encourage your child to relax by spending time watching a movie, reading a book, or meditating.

5. Fill the day with activities and sunlight

One way to help your child sleep better at night is to make sure that they stay busy during the day. Make plans for fun physical activities throughout the day. If your child isn’t up to being active due to treatment that’s perfectly okay. Instead, have them enjoy some time out in the sunlight. This will help wear them out so that when it comes to bedtime, that they have had a full day and are ready for sleep.

For children who are battling cancer, quality sleep is crucial. Sleep helps aid in their recovery. We suggest trying to implement the tips listed above to help your child get their best night’s sleep. If they continue to have trouble sleeping it could be due to increased stress and anxiety about their condition. If this is the case, we encourage you to speak to your child's doctor.