The Importance of Sleep
From Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude Podcast by St. Jude (SJCRH)
August 21, 2025 · 35 min · Season 3 · Episode 2
About this episode
This episode discusses the challenges of sleep for families with sick children and offers expert advice on managing sleep issues.
Sleep can be hard for both the patient and family when a child is sick. Sleep problems are common in children with serious illnesses. Trouble sleeping could be caused by treatment, medicines, or the effects of illness. But getting sleep is very important for healing and recovery. In this episode, Erica Sirrine and Valerie Crabtree talk with parents Andy and Caitlin about how they managed to get sleep when their son Max (now age 5) was going through treatment for Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). Andy and Caitlin explain how they reached a compromise on sleeping arrangements at home. Valerie emphasizes that there is no playbook to figuring out sleep for your family. The group talks about the pressure to do things perfectly, and the joy of a simple nighttime song. Listeners will hear expert advice on routine, screen time, using melatonin as sleep aid, and co-sleeping. A special thank you to our host, Erica Sirrine, director of social work at St. Jude; our expert Valerie Crabtree, vice president of Psychosocial Services at St. Jude and a pediatric psychologist who specializes in sleep; and parents Andy and Caitlin. This episode was recorded April 24, 2025. Learn more about Max’s…
People in this episode
Host: Erica Sirrine
Guests: Andy, Caitlin
Topics covered
- sleep
- pediatric care
- family dynamics
- illness impact
- parenting
- expert advice
Keywords
- sleep problems
- pediatric sleep
- LCH
- co-sleeping
- melatonin
- sleep routine
- screen time
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: St. Jude, St. Jude Care & Treatment, Together blog
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