Sleep Issues with Adopted, Foster, or Relative Children

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

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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?

Support the show

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

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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)