Families of children with epilepsy are celebrating promising new research that shows a simple, accessible solution can make bedtime significantly easier. A groundbreaking UK-wide clinical trial has demonstrated that a self-guided behavioral sleep program helps children with epilepsy fall asleep an average of 16.5 minutes earlier—a meaningful improvement that can make a real difference in young lives.

The innovative program, called COSI (CASTLE Online Sleep Intervention), was developed by researchers at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. This user-friendly web app provides parents with online videos and written guides based on proven clinical sleep intervention techniques, putting expert knowledge directly into families' hands.

The trial's success is particularly encouraging given the significant sleep challenges faced by families dealing with epilepsy. Professor Deb Pal, professor of pediatric epilepsy at King's IoPPN and senior author of the study, notes that sleep problems affect more than 80% of children with neurodevelopmental disorders including epilepsy. These issues consistently rank among the top concerns for both children and parents, yet often go unaddressed during healthcare visits.

The ambitious trial spanned 26 outpatient clinics across the UK and involved 85 children aged 4-12 years with epilepsy, along with their parents. Using smartwatches to objectively track sleep patterns through body movements, researchers gathered concrete data showing the meaningful improvement in sleep timing.

What makes this research especially heartening is the feedback from engaged families. Parents who actively used the program reported gaining valuable knowledge about child sleep and overwhelmingly said they would recommend the tool to others. This enthusiastic endorsement from families who have experienced the challenges firsthand speaks volumes about the program's potential impact.

The research team discovered an important insight: about half of the families given access to the app engaged with the content. This finding led to an exciting next step—a collaborative Policy Lab bringing together pediatricians, families with lived experience, epilepsy nurses, psychologists, and NHS representatives to refine the approach and make it even more effective.

Professor Pal captured the key learning beautifully: "Even in the digital world, you still need to hold someone's hand. You need human interaction." This wisdom is shaping the future of the program, with plans to provide additional support helping families get the most from these valuable resources.

The research represents a wonderful collaboration between multiple UK universities, including King's College London, University of Liverpool, Edge Hill University, Oxford Brookes University, Bangor University, and University of Exeter. This collective effort demonstrates the commitment of the scientific community to improving life for children with epilepsy and their families.

Looking ahead, the findings offer hope for better sleep support reaching more families. By combining accessible digital tools with human guidance and encouragement, researchers are paving the way for practical solutions that address a critical quality-of-life issue for thousands of families living with childhood epilepsy.

The study, published in Scientific Reports, marks an important step forward in supporting the wellbeing of children with epilepsy—proving that even small improvements in sleep can represent significant victories for families navigating the challenges of this condition together.