Sleep issues are common in babies and toddlers – but for looked after and adopted children, these problems can last a lot longer or reoccur at later ages, affecting family life and meaning that children are less able to benefit from supportive care. For this group, everyday techniques to help children sleep may not be enough, as they do not address the underlying causes – these children’s difficult early experiences. 

This new title in the Parenting Matters series provides authoritative, clinical guidance for carers and adopters on why this issue can occur and what can be done about it. In straightforward language, it explains how children’s difficult early experiences can affect their behaviour; the various possible causes; how to understand what the child is experiencing and why, and how using therapeutic techniques along with practical changes can help find a solution. In the second half of the book, two adoptive families who have been affected by this issue explore what it is like to live with an affected child, and what solutions they found. 

This book is part of CoramBAAF’s Parenting Matters series which explores many of the health conditions commonly diagnosed in looked after children.

Who is this book for?

A useful book for adopters, those thinking about adopting, foster carers, social work practitioners and all those involved in the care of looked after children. The combination of expert information and case study experience will help readers gain knowledge and understanding and make informed decisions.

What you will find in this book

The first half of the book examines the often complex underlying reasons for sleep issues in fostered and adopted children, and how these may be connected to earlier experiences of abuse, neglect, loss and separation. It also considers how best to diagnose, manage and treat this issue. In the second half, personal narratives from two adoptive families explore how their child has been affected by sleep issues, and the ways in which they have managed and/or solved the child’s difficulties.