Sleep Issues with Adopted, Foster, or Relative Children

Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care

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4d ago 1:03:15

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How do you handle sleep struggles when raising a child who has been impacted by trauma, prenatal substance exposure, or other challenges? Listen to our conversation with Dr. Chris Winter, a sleep researcher and neurologist who has practiced sleep medicine and neurology since 2004. He is also the author of The Rested Child: Why Your Tired, Wired or Irritable Child May Have A Sleep Disorder--And How To Help, and hosts the podcast Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter.

In this episode, we discuss:

Understanding the value of sleep and reframing the conversation about expectations and what your child needs to support overall health, development, and wellbeing.
What makes adopted, foster, or kinship children particularly vulnerable to sleep challenges?
How might a child’s early trauma and experiences of loss — such as separation from birth families or multiple moves — show up in their sleep patterns?
What effects do frequent environmental changes have on a child’s sleep?
How might prenatal exposure to substances (e.g., opioids, alcohol, others) impact a child’s sleep?
What may be the challenges that children with neurodiversity (Down syndrome, ADHD, ASD etc) experience?
What are the practical strategies you have found successful in helping families with sleep disturbances?
Why is it important to teach our kids the value of rest—even without sleep?
What should we consider when setting up a consistent routine and sleep-friendly setting for our kids?
When is it time to seek professional evaluation—like a sleep study or specialist referral for our kids?
What guidance do you offer caregivers to help them stay consistent, avoid burnout, and model healthy sleep habits?

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Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.
Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:

Weekly podcasts
Weekly articles/blog posts
Resource pages on all aspects of family building

Chapters

1. Sleep Issues with Adopted, Foster, or Relative Children (00:00:00)

2. Understanding the value of sleep and reframing the conversation about expectations and what your child needs to support overall health, development, and wellbeing. (00:01:02)

3. What makes adopted, foster, or kinship children particularly vulnerable to sleep challenges? (00:03:41)

4. How might a child’s early trauma and experiences of loss — such as separation from birth families or multiple moves — show up in their sleep patterns? (00:08:22)

5. What effects do frequent environmental changes have on a child’s sleep? (00:12:52)

6. How might prenatal exposure to substances (e.g., opioids, alcohol, others) impact a child’s sleep? What may be the challenges that children with neurodiversity (Down syndrome, ADHD, ASD etc) experience? (00:17:11)

7. What are the practical strategies you have found successful in helping families with sleep disturbances? (00:23:45)

8. Why is it important to teach our kids the value of rest—even without sleep? (00:34:46)

9. What should we consider when setting up a consistent routine and sleep-friendly setting for our kids? (00:43:19)

10. When is it time to seek professional evaluation—like a sleep study or specialist referral for our kids? (00:54:21)

11. What guidance do you offer caregivers to help them stay consistent, avoid burnout, and model healthy sleep habits? (00:57:27)

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