The Reality of AI + Childhood Sleep
In my work with families, I’m encountering more and more who have turned to AI for sleep help. And honestly, why not? It draws from the vast expanse of the world wide web, it’s pleasant to interact with, and it’s free. I totally get it.
But here’s what I’m also seeing: it’s not working. Let’s consider it.
What AI Does Do Well
Before you think that I’m just another voice dissing AI or refusing to accept an advance in technology, let’s look at the positives I see, because there are many!
AI can be a useful tool when learning how to structure healthy routines, like a soothing pre-nap or pre-bedtime routine, and can explain why certain parts of a routine are especially beneficial. For instance, when prompted about creating a bedtime routine, ChatGPT shared with me why incorporating bath time into a pre-bedtime rhythm can provide a unique sensory experience that strongly signals that bedtime is coming, while also lowering the body’s temperature in readiness for sleep. But it also cautions that, for some children, nightly baths can be drying to their skin and what to do if that happens.
AI can also provide information and guidelines around safe sleep practices. When I asked ChatGPT, “Is co-sleeping with infants considered safe?” it first defined that “co-sleeping” can include both room-sharing and bed-sharing, and then went on to explain that while room-sharing can be safe, bed-sharing is not considered a safe sleep practice (and cited its sources, like the American Academy of Pediatrics).
AI can also help to spot patterns in your child’s daily rhythm, if given enough accurate data. Say you’ve been tracking your child’s sleep in a note on your phone—upload it to an AI-powered search engine, and allow it to look for patterns or inconsistencies.
Overall, AI can be a great sorter and finder, searching though the entire breadth of the internet for information that might help you. For aspects of child sleep that are generally agreed upon by most experts and show up fairly commonly across the web, like healthy routines and safe sleep guidelines, AI usually hits the nail on the head and can provide great information and advice. Why? This information is likely sound, can be supported by reliable sources, and therefore has high potential to improve your child’s sleep in general.
Where AI Falls Short
Here’s where AI advice can miss, and it lies in its name, “artificial intelligence”: it’s not grounded in reality. It doesn’t know your unique child, their personality and quirks, or your family’s rhythms. It can’t read cues, behavior, or temperament. It doesn’t understand the nuances of childhood sleep that can only be learned from experience—specifically, experience with your child. In its bite-sized, calculated answers, it can only pull from what it already knows, which is typically generalized for majorities.
When it comes to childhood sleep, this can be especially problematic as desperate parents turn to AI for sleep advice. Again, I totally understand why—it’s fast, at their fingertips, and might work in a pinch. However, it’s limited.
For example, a mom shared that she had transitioned her baby to a 2-nap daily routine too early and believed her child was in a cycle of overtiredness. She turned to AI to help her fix it, and it suggested scaling back on her child’s awake time dramatically to help recoup the lost sleep. While it seemed to help for a couple days, the following days and nights were awful and chaotic, as her little one was refusing naps and waking frequently at night. She had no idea what to do. When she turned to a real person for help, we quickly discovered that he didn’t have solid independent sleep skills to start with, so combined with the unusual daily rhythm, he was struggling, and so was his mom! We were soon able to get her son back on track and on the road to gaining the independence he needed.
While AI can be so helpful in certain moments, and its use will inevitably continue to grow, we have to realize its limits. It’s a tool; it’s not a living, thinking person.
About AI + Childhood Sleep
When it comes to coaching parents through sleep struggles, the assurance of having a real, experienced person walking alongside you cannot be overstated.
ChatGPT can’t observe footage from a monitor of a child who has woken up mid-nap upset, evaluate what’s really happening, and advise caregivers on the next right move.
It can’t nail the right “currency” for a toddler who needs an incentive to conquer that last nighttime hurdle, nor can it provide personalized coaching in the moment when a kiddo does something very unexpected (and it does happen!).
It can’t encourage you like a friend when things get challenging, and it won’t hold you to a standard of consistency and effort—it will simply reflect your lack of assurance.
It has no hands-on, real experience to draw from, and that can leave parents feeling like they’ve tried everything and been defeated.
Because I’m a certified sleep consultant, I realized I’m biased in this particular area, but I have read so many “I asked ChatGPT but it didn’t help” stories that I think the results are beginning to speak for themselves. My heart is to serve families, and while turning to ChatGPT is always an option for them, it makes me sad to know that the fallout will likely extend sleep struggles even longer.
Professionals exist for a reason: they’re needed! AI can’t do it all, including sleep consulting. The same goes for any other professional that you may seek out for your child—a pediatrician, lactation specialist, nutritionist, allergist, speech therapist, teacher, etc. When it comes to your unique child, AI is no replacement for a real person.
The Bottom Line
Let’s let AI be exactly what it is: a tool. If you find success with it, I am thrilled for you! But if it doesn’t help like you need it to, know that there are real people who can.
If you’ve consulted the “robots” online about your child’s sleep and have also not made progress, I am happy to help you sort through it all. Schedule a free, 15-minute phone call with me to diagnose the issue and get a clear path forward. It’s my joy to serve families in this way!
Please note that I am not a medical professional, and this blog post is not meant to serve as medical advice, a diagnosis, or any form of treatment. If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with your child’s pediatrician.
