Question by Kyra: Insomnia in Teenage Boys?
I have a 16 year old boy staying with me. He states that he has insomnia and only sleeps 1-3 hours a night, and then would want to sleep in and/or looks like he’s about to collapse of tiredness during the day. In all of his adolescence, his mother would let him stay up until 1 am or 2 am, and then would let him sleep in until noon. Is this insomnia or a sleeping pattern? If insomnia, how do you “cure” this? If sleeping pattern, how long does it take to break? (My husband and I are making him read from 9-10, and then we wake him up at 5:30 or 6:00)

Thank-you so much!

Best answer:

Answer by Michael
Treatment of primary insomnia in older children and adolescents usually involves behavioral interventions similar to those used in adults. As poor sleep hygiene is a common cause of sleep problems, establishing a consistent sleep schedule is also important for adolescents.

Established strategies include educating the adolescent about principles of sleep hygiene, particularly keeping a regular sleep schedule and not “sleeping in” on weekends. Also, the bed should be used for sleep only, and the teenager should be instructed to get out of bed if he can’t fall asleep. The time spent in bed should be restricted to the actual time spent asleep. There are also some relaxation techniques that may help to reduce anxiety, if this is a factor.

Some common principles of sleep hygiene include:
1. Have a set bedtime and bedtime routine.
2. Bedtime and awakening time should be about the same time on school nights and non-school nights.
3. During the hour before bed, avoid high-energy activities, such as rough play, and stimulating activities, such as watching television or playing computer games.
4. Don’t let him go to bed hungry. A light snack, such as milk and cookies, before bed is a good idea. However, heavy meals within an hour or two of bedtime may interfere with sleep.
5. Avoid caffeinated products (caffeinated sodas, coffee, tea, and chocolate) for at least several hours before bedtime.
6. Make sure he spends time outside every day and gets regular exercise.
7. Keep his bedroom quiet and dark and at a comfortable temperature during the night (about 75°F).
8. Keep the television set out of his bedroom.

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