Sleep experts call for pediatric sleep research, education to help 'Make Our Children Healthy Again'

Prioritizing sleep health affects children's development and long-term well-being 

DARIEN, Ill., March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Sleep Medicine encourages parents, educators, researchers, and health care professionals to keep children healthy by focusing on the importance of sleep. In response to the current presidential administration's directive to "Make America Healthy Again," the AASM is calling for action by the federal government to prioritize sleep health research and education, while advocating for greater awareness of how quality sleep is critical for children's development, well-being, and long-term health.

Sleep is essential for children, allowing their bodies to repair and grow, their immune systems to strengthen, and their brains to process and store new information. When children don't get sufficient sleep, they experience numerous negative outcomes, as revealed by a survey from the AASM, with parents reporting that their children are negatively impacted in mood (58%), attitude (49%), behavior (49%), physical energy (44%), and academic performance (30%).  Sleep is also a natural, non-pharmaceutical solution to many health concerns in children, supporting physical and mental well-being without the need for medication or medical intervention.

"Making sleep health a priority is one of the simplest and most effective ways to support the next generation," said Dr. Eric Olson, president of the AASM. "Sleep can impact every aspect of a child's well-being – physical growth, mental resilience, learning ability and even long-term disease prevention. By investing in sleep research and education, we can make a meaningful, lasting impact on our nation's children."

Chaired by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Make America Healthy Again Commission is going to submit to President Trump an assessment and strategy to address chronic disease in childhood. The Healthy People 2030 initiative of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion is one example of how the federal government is already emphasizing the importance of sleep for health, productivity, well-being, quality of life, and safety. Its sleep health objectives include increasing the proportion of children and high school students who get enough sleep.

Advancing sleep science is crucial to understanding and preventing health conditions that begin in childhood and persist into adulthood. Research has shown that sleep deprivation in children is linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases, weakened immune function, and mental health challenges. More funding for pediatric sleep research will allow scientists to develop evidence-based strategies to promote better sleep habits and also prevent these conditions before they take root.

Supporting the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research, which was established by Congress in 1993, will be a critical step in addressing children's sleep health at a national level. Increased funding for the NCSDR will accelerate research into the effects sleep has on growth, learning, and well-being, and pave the way for the development of effective interventions that improve sleep health on a large scale.

"By supporting policies that promote healthy sleep and funding research to better understand its impact, we can take meaningful steps toward preventing disease and improving the well-being of everyone – especially our children," said Olson. "Prioritizing sleep health is a vital part of the broader mission to 'Make America Healthy Again' by addressing one of the most fundamental yet often overlooked aspects of our health."

To learn more about why sleep is essential to health, visit sleepisgoodmedicine.com.

About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Established in 1975, the AASM is a medical association that advances sleep care and enhances sleep health to improve lives. The AASM membership includes more than 9,500 physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals who help people who have sleep disorders. The AASM also accredits 2,300 sleep centers that are providing the highest quality of sleep care across the country (aasm.org).

Contact: Hannah Miller, [email protected], 312-565-3900

SOURCE American Academy Of Sleep Medicine