{"id":"b0a2b7a5f6450548a27880046b2beb0a","slug":"how-do-i-know-if-my-6-year-olds-sudden-return-to-waking-up-multiple-times-a-night-after-sleeping-through-is-caused-by-anxiety-about-starting-first-grade","question":"How do I know if my 6-year-old's sudden return to waking up multiple times a night after sleeping through is caused by anxiety about starting first grade?","answer":"You can't know for certain whether anxiety is the cause just by observing the sleep disruption itself—waking multiple times a night has many possible explanations, from ear infections and sleep apnea to developmental shifts or environmental changes. What matters more than guessing the cause is noticing whether your child shows signs of worry alongside the sleep trouble: restlessness at bedtime, reluctance to go to school, complaints about feeling scared or nervous, or mentions of worries about first grade.\n\nIf anxiety does seem to be part of the picture—especially after a stressful life transition like starting school—it's worth mentioning both the sleep changes and any anxiety signs to your pediatrician. They can help you figure out what's actually driving the waking and connect you with next steps, whether that's ruling out a physical cause, working on sleep routines, or addressing the worry itself. The research suggests that when sleep problems and anxiety go together, tackling both matters—not just the sleep alone.\n\nYour pediatrician is the right person to start this conversation with, and catching it early makes a real difference.","sources":"[]","thread_json":null,"topic":"night-wakings","view_count":0,"created_at":"2026-09-26T23:01:54.665Z"}