Making pediatric sleep health a priority: from scientific research to clinical practice

Sleep health in children is essential for every aspect of their physical and mental health [1]. A vast amount of scientific evidence consistently highlights the critical importance of prioritizing pediatric sleep health, given its indispensable role in shaping healthy growth, optimal cognitive, language, and social-emotional development, as well as academic performance [2]. However, sleep disturbances are prevalent throughout childhood and may persist into adulthood if left unaddressed [3, 4]. Of concern, sleep disturbances are associated with a wide range of detrimental health outcomes in children including obesity, cardiovascular disease, neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), emotional/behavioral problems and heightened suicidal risks. All of these may elevate the risk of physical and mental disease in adulthood [1, 5‐7]. Consequently, it is crucial to explore modifiable factors linked to poor sleep health in children, alongside the health outcomes of sleep disturbances,  through both developmental and cross-cultural lenses. Such investigation will equip clinicians with access to validated, scalable sleep assessment tools, as well as evidence-based intervention strategies. …