Editors: Amy R. Wolfson, and Hawley E. Montgomery-Downs

Publisher:Oxford University Press – 632 pages

Book Review by: Sonu Chandiram

This book relates to you the dimensions of the important roles sleep plays in child development/

Ensuring that children – ranging from babies to teenagers – get the right quality and quantity of has been a problem for parents for centuries. Since the twentieth century however, many books have been written suggesting recommendations to overcome this challenge.

Pediatricians and child psychologists have also been dispensing advice involving behavior and educational approaches based on their limited knowledge and experience on what works and what does not.

In recent decades however, investigations into the problem of the quality and quantity of  sleep have heightened and it is getting clearer for parents on how to tackle this problem.

The consequences of sleep deprivation are severe as this book will show you, but workable solutions have been found.

This book presents up-to-date research findings and clinical developments in sleep disorders among infants, children, and adolescents, compiled by 78 specialists from five countries – the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Switzerland.

The contributors of material for the 42 chapters of this book are specialists in various fields, among which are:

  • Education
  • Internal Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Sleep Research

This book has seven Parts:

  • Sleep and Development
  • Complexity of Issues and Factors Influencing Sleep
  • Assessment of Sleep and Sleep Problems
  • Sleep Challenges, Problems, and Disorders
  • Consequences of Insufficient Sleep
  • Sleep Difficulties Associated with Developmental and Behavioral Risks
  • Prevention and Intervention

This book has been written for clinicians, graduate students and researchers working in the multidisciplinary field of child and adolescent sleep and behavior. This is a comprehensive resource for you if you deal with this issue.

Each chapter starts out by presenting a box with an Abstract of what is covered and discussed in it, along with key words to know

After an Introduction, elaboration and detailed discussion of the topics covered in the chapter follow. A Summary is presented at the end, followed by References.

This book is an outstanding work in the field of infant-to-adolescent sleep and behavior. It provides overviews of results of current clinical investigations and developments, as well as analysis and discussion of related issues. It’s a must-read, thanks to the superb compilation, organization, and presentation of material from international experts on the subject by the editors named below.

This is an indispensable reference source for anyone working with youngsters who have problems relating to sleep.

Amy R. Wolfson, PhD is the Associate Dean for Faculty and a Professor of Psychology at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. She is the author of The Women’s Book of Sleep, published in 2001.

Hawley E. Montgomery-Downs, PhD is an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Behavioral Neuroscience program at West Virginia University