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A Tennessee parent’s guide to helping kids sleep better

Making sure that children get enough sleep is essential for their overall health, development, and well-being. From bedtime struggles to sleep disorders, many families experience challenges when it comes to establishing healthy sleep routines.

Fortunately, Tennessee offers a variety of resources, programs, and expert services to help parents support their children’s sleep.

Whether you’re looking for state-supported safe sleep initiatives, pediatric sleep clinics, parenting workshops, or one-on-one consultations, this guide highlights the best options available across Tennessee.

Here are some top resources and programs to help children get the rest they need:

Tennessee specific resources

  • Safe Sleep Tennessee: This state-run initiative focuses on preventing sleep-related infant deaths by promoting safe sleep environments. Parents and caregivers can access educational materials, training, and guidelines on the ABCs of safe sleep (Alone, on their Back, in a Crib).

Educational resources, courses, and workshops

  • KidCentral TN: KidCentral TN is a state-sponsored resource that provides families with expert-backed information on child health and development. Their sleep-related articles include guidance on creating bedtime routines, understanding sleep cycles, and preventing sleep disturbances.
  • Medical Information and Resources Refresher: The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services offers webinars and online training sessions that cover various child safety topics, including sleep education. Parents and caregivers can participate in these sessions to learn about safe sleep practices and earn training credits.
  • The Family Center’s Family Resilience Programs: The Family Center offers parenting workshops that help families manage daily stressors and improve household routines—including bedtime habits. Their programs focus on positive parenting techniques that encourage children to develop independent and healthy sleep patterns.
  • Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network (CCR&R): CCR&R provides child care training and educational materials for parents, including best practices for promoting sleep health in infants and young children. They also support childcare providers in implementing sleep-safe environments.

Specialized Sleep Clinics and Support Services

  • Nurture House: Nurture House in Franklin provides counseling services for children struggling with anxiety, behavioral issues, and sleep disturbances. Their therapists work with families to develop structured bedtime routines and address underlying emotional concerns that may be affecting sleep.

Address: 210 2nd Ave S, Franklin, TN 37064

  • East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Sleep Medicine Center: This pediatric sleep center in Knoxville specializes in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders in children, including night terrors, narcolepsy, and breathing-related sleep issues. Their team of sleep specialists provides tailored evaluations and treatment plans.

Address: 2018 W Clinch Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916

  • Vanderbilt Children’s Sleep Medicine Franklin: This center offers comprehensive evaluations and treatments for pediatric sleep disorders, using state-of-the-art diagnostic tools in child-friendly sleep labs. Part of the highly ranked Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, their board-certified sleep specialists—who are also pediatricians—focus on airway-related sleep problems in children and teens.

Address: 2105 Edward Curd Lane, Franklin, TN 37067

  • Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital Sleep Disorders Center: The only pediatric and adolescent sleep lab in the region accredited by the AASM, specializing in sleep-disordered breathing and other conditions in children with complex medical needs. Their expert team helps families manage sleep issues affecting cognition, behavior, and quality of life.

Address: 848 Adams Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103

  • Essential Sleep Consultants: Led by Dr. Roxanne Valentino, this practice provides patient-focused care for adults and children with sleep problems, aiming to improve sleep quality for the whole family. They treat a variety of sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, and parasomnias. Virtual appointments and online bill payment options are available.

Address: 113B Maple Row Blvd. Hendersonville, TN 37075

  • Serenity Sleepers: Serenity Sleepers offers certified sleep coaching services for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, helping families establish peaceful sleep routines through customized sleep plans. Their website includes guides and blogs for parents, along with a free 15-minute consultation call.

Address: 504 Meade Point, Lebanon, TN 37087