Why Do Kids With ADHD Have Trouble Sleeping?

Most people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) suffer from erratic sleep patterns. The physiology of the ADHD brain makes it difficult to stop and rest, exacerbating the destructive behaviors, such as inattentiveness and mood swings, associated with ADHD.

Listen to the Body

When the hyper-focused ADHD mind is in the middle of something, it is nearly impossible to pull the child away. This often leads to the disregard of the simple signals the body sends that it needs sleep.

Turning Off

Parents of a child with ADHD should plan to get him to sleep before his bedtime. It often takes an hour of quiet time to get into the right frame of mind for sleep.

Schedule

When sleep times are erratic, the body cannot settle into a pattern. Put the child to bed at the same time on weekends as you do during the week.

Worrying

Excessive worrying tends to be a trait of ADHD. With the difficulty putting the events of the day out of mind, a pattern of sleep deprivation can become unmanageable very quickly for a child.

Tucked In

People with ADHD will often move excessively in their sleep. If the ADHD child is wrapped snugly in his blanket, this movement can be restricted, allowing for uninterrupted sleep.