Why is sleep so important?

When your child is unwell, and especially if they are in pain, tired, frightened or worried, they feel most secure with the people they feel closest to. Going into the hospital environment and the side effects of treatment can cause a child’s sleep to become disturbed. They may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, which can cause significant distress.

Parents need nurturing too. All ‘giving’ and no ‘getting’ can wear you thin, and it can be tough to parent a sick or tired child if you are worn out yourself.

Although it’s natural to put your child’s needs first, that doesn’t mean you should always put your needs last. In fact, if you don’t take the time to care of yourself, you can end up feeling pretty run down, which can make it harder for you to help your child.

Even if you normally sleep well, being in hospital away from your family and home environment, as well as the stress of having an unwell child, can make it difficult to get good sleep.

Common type of sleep problems include:

Think about which of these apply to you:

Improving your sleep may:

The cycle of poor sleep

Periods of extreme stress or significant change (like a cancer diagnosis) can often trigger sleep difficulties. We can then get in a cycle of poor sleep.

If you are anxious, it can be very difficult to get to sleep, so you end up lying in bed worrying and because you are not sleeping, your original belief that ‘I can’t get to sleep’ is strengthened.

Environmental factors like machines beeping, people making noise and lights in the ward can also make it harder to get good sleep, in a hospital.

Fortunately, there are lots of strategies which can help reset the cycle so we can improve our sleep.

CatNap

CatNap is designed for parents and carers of children with cancer who are navigating the daily challenges of caring for their child in hospital or at home. 

CatNap is a flexible, multi-component program that offers practical, evidence-based strategies for improving sleep and self-care for parents caring for a child with cancer. Developed with input from sleep psychologists, paediatric oncologists, and experienced parents, CatNap aims to provide rest and renewal when it’s needed most:

CatNap offers you an invaluable set of tools to manage stress, improve your sleep quality, and care for yourself while caring for your child. By building healthier sleep routines, you’ll not only improve your own energy levels and resilience, but you’ll also be better equipped to support your child throughout their treatment journey.  

Key benefits include guidance on maintaining relaxation, minimising burnout, and help with creating a sense of calm and well-being, no matter where you are on your child’s journey.