How Sleep Impacts Seizures and Behaviour in Children.
- Ashley
- Nov 10
- 2 min read
How Sleep Impacts Seizures and Behaviour in Children with Additional Needs
Sleep isn’t just a time for rest — it’s one of the most critical parts of brain regulation. For children with epilepsy, autism, or cerebral palsy, poor or disrupted sleep can affect more than tiredness. It can alter emotional control, increase seizure activity, and impact daily behaviour.
At My Penelope, our Sleep Tracker was designed to help parents understand these invisible patterns — to turn worry and guesswork into clarity and action.
Why Sleep Matters for Neurological Health
During sleep, the brain resets and restores itself. For children with neurological conditions, this process can directly influence seizure control, emotional regulation, and concentration.
When sleep is poor or broken:
The brain becomes overstimulated and fatigued
Seizure thresholds may drop, increasing risk
Emotional and behavioural regulation becomes harder
Many parents report mornings that begin with meltdowns or anxiety — often not realising they stem from interrupted sleep the night before.
What the Research Shows
Research from epilepsy and autism studies consistently highlights one truth: children with neurological conditions are more likely to experience sleep disturbances, and those disruptions can worsen symptoms. Sleep deprivation and fragmented rest are known triggers for seizures in children with epilepsy and can amplify sensory overload for autistic children.
In other words — tracking sleep is more than curiosity; it’s a key part of understanding their health.
Using My Penelope to Track Sleep
Our Sleep Tracker was created out of necessity — we needed to understand why our daughter Penny’s nights were so inconsistent.
Here’s how it helps:
One-tap sleep timer records total hours of rest
A disturbance button tracks awakenings, with tags like seizure, spasm, or night terror etc..
Parents can add custom notes to describe what happened and rate sleep quality (good, okay, poor)
This data gives families a visual record of their child’s nights and helps professionals see real, evidence-based insights.
Finding Meaning in the Patterns
When sleep data is reviewed alongside seizure logs, mood tracking, or meltdown records, clear links often appear — perhaps seizures follow nights of poor rest, or mood dips after disrupted sleep. These insights help medical professionals adjust medication, routines, or therapies.
Building Healthier Sleep Habits
While tracking is the first step, improving sleep can start with small, consistent habits:
Keep a predictable bedtime and wake-up time
Avoid bright screens an hour before bed
Keep rooms cool, dark, and calm
Build calming routines (reading, soft music, weighted blanket)
Final Thoughts
Sleep isn’t just recovery; it’s a foundation for stability. By tracking and understanding your child’s sleep, you’re giving doctors — and yourself — a clearer picture of what’s really going on.
Discover: My Penelope App→
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