WHEN the occasional night spent walking the floor with a crying baby or rocking a toddler becomes a common occurrence, paediatricians often advise a little pharmaceutical help. A survey of 671 mostly suburban paediatricians in the US showed that 75% had recommended sleeping medication for a child within the last six months.
But few studies have examined the effectiveness of sleeping medicines in children, and no medication has been approved for them by the US Food and Drug Administration. Doctors said they most often turn to drugs for special situations, such as when a child is travelling or is in pain, but about half of those surveyed said they also prescribed sleeping aids when the child’s insomnia was causing a great deal of stress for the family. (Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, were four times more likely to be given medication for night time sleep problems than other children.)
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