Using a Family-Centered Approach for Care in Pediatric Sleep Health: Funke Afolabi-Brown, MD, FAASM

WATCH TIME: 5 minutes

"I would say the important thing is to realize that there are a lot of studies out there that have shown the direct correlation between a child’s sleep and the family’s health, their well-being, and quality of life as well as work."

Research has shown that pediatric sleep health may be deeply embedded in the family’s socioenvironmental context. As a previously published review outlined, comprehensive integrative intervention that can range from foundational sleep hygiene and behavioral therapies to mind-body strategies, may be the most effective when tailored to the child’s and family’s unique realities.¹ This care approach acknowledges that parent schedules, household structure, and cultural beliefs have the potential to critically shape bedtime routines and sleep outcomes. Thus, studies suggest that clinicians should shift from standardized “one-size-fits-all” advice to adaptable care plans that resonate with each family’s capacities and values.²

Previous studies on technology-enabled interventions may further underscore the importance of engaging caregivers in pediatric sleep health. In a recently published randomized optimization trial, findings demonstrated that combining personalized sleep goals with caregiver-directed incentives, screen-time reduction messages, and structured daily routines delivered via a mobile platform led to an average increase of nearly 40 minutes of child sleep per night.³ These results highlight that successful treatment can hinge not only on the child’s behavior but significantly on active family involvement and empowerment. By integrating caregivers into the treatment plan, pediatric sleep can be both more effective and sustainable over time.

Sleep expert Funke Afolabi-Brown, MD, FAASM, chief executive officer of Restful Sleep MD, recently presented a talk on the complex interplay between individual, familial, and societal factors that can influence pediatric sleep health at 2025 SLEEP Annual Meeting, held June 8 to 11, in Seattle, Washington.⁴ Following her presentation, Afolabi-Brown sat down with NeurologyLive^® to advocate for a more pragmatic, personalized approach that considers the family’s circumstances, values, and daily realities. In the interview, she recommended that clinicians should support parents in a way that connects sleep routines to tangible improvements in family well-being, reinforcing that effective interventions may require empathy, creativity, and collaboration.

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REFERENCES
1. Okorie C. Review of Integrative Interventions in Pediatric Sleep. Pediatr Ann. 2025;54(3):e88-e93. doi:10.3928/19382359-20250108-03
2. Svavarsdottir EK, Flygerning KB, Sigurdardottir AO. Contribution of the Brief Family Strength-Oriented Therapeutic Conversation Intervention to Early Childhood Sleep Health: A Quasi-Experimental Study. J Fam Nurs. 2025;31(1):45-57. doi:10.1177/10748407241313463
3. Mitchell JA, Morales KH, Williamson AA, et al. Promoting Sleep Duration in the Pediatric Setting Using a Mobile Health Platform: A Randomized Optimization Trial. Preprint. medRxiv. 2023;2023.01.04.23284151. Published 2023 Jan 5. doi:10.1101/2023.01.04.23284151
4. Afolabi-Brown F. Pediatric Sleep and The Family: Integrating Family Dynamics, Clinical Care, and Treatment Success. Presented at: 2025 SLEEP Annual Meeting; June 8-11; Seattle, WA.