Every parent knows what a battle bedtime can be, especially if their child has ADHD-related concerns such as waking multiple times each night, resisting settling down, and having high energy levels. These problems are common and can be exhausting for everyone involved. As a pediatric occupational therapist, I understand the toll this can take on … Continue reading ADHD Sleep Issues in Children: An Expert Guide on How to Help ADHD Child Sleep →

We’ve all been there: lying in bed wide awake in the early hours of the morning, unable to fall asleep (or back asleep) while experiencing mounting anxiety about how difficult this will make the next day. When this happens, it’s rarely due to bad habits or poor discipline. This concern can be the result of … Continue reading Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome in ADHD: Causes, Signs, and Treatment →

It’s common for anxious or nervous children to experience difficulty falling asleep as a result of their emotions. Some kids even have anxiety that is specific to sleep. Children with sleep anxiety may ask parents to check their room for monsters, request food or drink before bedtime, engage in preferred activities instead of sleeping, and … Continue reading Sleep Anxiety in Children: Why It Happens and How to Help Your Child Sleep Peacefully →

When you can’t sleep, time seems to stand still. Your attention may be drawn to some of the less obvious parts of your room, such as strange noises or reflections of light. You may explore seemingly simple sleep relief methods like counting ceiling tiles or pretending you’re on a deserted island free of distractions and … Continue reading Sound Therapy for Sleep: An Expert Guide to Falling Asleep Naturally →

Music is a calming, enjoyable experience for many people, so it’s understandable for people with trouble settling down at night to pair this activity with sleep. However, people who seek out podcasts, white noise, guided meditations, or music in bed may find that earbuds are uncomfortable while phone speakers disturb their partner. This leaves an … Continue reading Best Pillow Speakers for Sleep in 2026: Tested, Compared & Ranked →

Sleeping difficulties are quite common. Research shows that nearly 15% of adults report having trouble falling asleep most days. If you’ve had sleeping problems at any point in your life, you know how desperate this can make you for relief.  Many people seek out natural sleep-enhancing methods. For instance, millions of people rely on music, … Continue reading Bone Conduction Pillow Speaker: A Sleep Sound Specialist’s Guide →

As a pediatric occupational therapist, I know the many ways sleep can impact children and their families. Sleep concerns can affect any young child, but they may be even more common in those who have neurodevelopmental conditions. In fact, sleep difficulties occur in nearly 70% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism may cause your … Continue reading A Therapist’s Guide to Helping Your Autistic Child Sleep →

Unlike some other primitive reflexes, the Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) involves movement of both the head and the body. For this reason, it assists with maintaining head position, coordination, movement against gravity, muscle tone, and posture. The TLR (also known as the TLR reflex) also plays a role in focus and the ability to track … Continue reading Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR): Signs, Effects, and Integration Exercises →

As an early developmental movement pattern, the spinal galant reflex plays a big role in a person’s emotional regulation, sensory processing, and postural control. If this reflex is retained, children can experience a range of physical and mental health concerns that impact their well-being. The effects this reflex has on the body become clearer when … Continue reading Spinal Galant Reflex Integration: Signs, Effects, and Exercises →

The Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex, also called STNR or STNR reflex, is an important part of child development. As with other reflexes, the STNR should develop at a certain point, then disappear (integrate). When this happens, a child should demonstrate improved hand-eye coordination, which helps with functional tasks such as writing, scissor use, throwing/catching a … Continue reading STNR Reflex Integration: Signs, Exercises, and How It Differs From ATNR →