Sleep
& Rest
Helping your child get the rest they need
Children with rheumatic disease may experience sleep challenges due to pain, discomfort, stress, or changes in routine. These factors can make it harder to fall asleep, stay asleep, or feel rested in the morning.
Understanding these challenges is an important step toward improving sleep over time.
Why Sleep is Important
Sleep can help improve overall daily functions.
Sleep supports many aspects of a child’s physical and emotional health. It helps with recovery, energy, mood, and the ability to manage daily challenges.
For children with rheumatic disease, sleep also plays an important role in how symptoms are experienced. Poor sleep can increase fatigue and make pain feel more intense, while better sleep can support improved comfort and functioning throughout the day.
Even small improvements in sleep can have a positive impact on daily life.
Why Sleep Can Be Difficult
Children with rheumatic disease may experience a range of challenges that affect their sleep.
- Pain and discomfort, especially at night
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Night waking or early waking
- Stress, anxiety, or low mood
- Medication timing or side effects
- Irregular routines or screen use before bed
These challenges are common and often connected. For example, pain can disrupt sleep, and poor sleep can make pain feel worse the next day.
Understanding these patterns is an important step toward improving sleep.
Benefits of Sleep and Rest
Getting needed sleep and rest to promote wellbeing.
Sleep is essential for recovery, energy, and overall wellbeing — especially for children and youth living with rheumatic disease. Pain, stiffness, and inflammation can make it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep, and poor sleep can increase fatigue and even make pain feel worse the next day.
Building consistent sleep habits (often called sleep hygiene) can make a meaningful difference. Even small adjustments to routines and environment can help support deeper, more restorative rest over time.
Sleep Tips
Consistent
Sleep Schedule
Calm Bedtime
Routine
Manage
Discomfort
Limit
Screen Time
Comfortable Environment
Emotional
Wellbeing
When to Seek Support
If sleep challenges continue despite trying different strategies, it may be helpful to connect with your healthcare team. Ongoing sleep difficulties can sometimes be linked to underlying issues that need additional support.
Adjustments to treatment, pain management, or additional strategies may help improve sleep over time.
You don’t have to manage this alone — support is available.
Sleep FAQs
How does juvenile arthritis affect sleep?
Children with rheumatic disease may have more difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or feeling rested. Pain, stiffness, and inflammation can interrupt sleep, while stress or anxiety can also make it harder to relax at night.
Can improving sleep really help with pain and fatigue?
Yes. Sleep and pain are closely connected. Poor sleep can increase fatigue and make pain feel more intense the next day. Improving sleep habits can help support better energy, mood, and overall symptom management.
What should I do if my child wakes up during the night?
Try to keep the environment calm and consistent. Address any discomfort if needed, and encourage quiet, soothing activities rather than screens or stimulation. Helping your child feel safe and relaxed can make it easier to fall back asleep.
Is napping okay?
Short naps can be helpful, especially during periods of fatigue. However, long or late naps may make it harder to fall asleep at night. Keeping naps earlier in the day and relatively brief is usually best.
How much sleep does my child need?
Sleep needs vary by age, but most school-aged children need 9–11 hours per night, while teens typically need 8–10 hours. Consistency is just as important as total hours.
When should I be concerned about sleep problems?
If sleep issues are ongoing, worsening, or affecting your child’s daily functioning, it’s a good idea to speak with your healthcare team. They can help identify possible causes and recommend next steps.
Related Resources for You
Related sleep tools and useful resources are here for you.
Sleep and Rest Videos
Video resources for children and older children.Video resources for students, families, and educators.
These short videos offer practical guidance and simple techniques to support better sleep and relaxation.
Sleep: A bedtime story
A Bed Time Story, a video (that’s been viewed over 3 million times!) created in partnership with Cassie + Friends and About Kids Health, to help teens get a good night’s sleep.
Sleep 101 Webinar with Dr. Glenn Landry
Learn how to improve physical and mental health through better sleep. Understand the impact of chronic sleep debt on human health and performance.
Interview 7 – Sleep and insomnia among people living with arthritis
Cheryl Koen, Founder and President of Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE), interviews Ms. Emilie McQuire, an undergraduate psychology student at the University of British Columbia working at Arthritis Research Canada.