What percentage of typically developing children experience sleep issues?

• A. At least 25%
• B. 5%
• C. 50%
• D. 75%

Answer: (A)

Sleep problems are fairly common in young children, even among those who are typically developing. Research consistently shows that about one in four children experience some sleep issue, such as trouble falling asleep, night awakenings, or bedtime resistance. Saying “at least a quarter” captures this reality and reflects a conservative benchmark many studies use when estimating prevalence in the general pediatric population.

The other numbers don’t fit as well. Five percent is too small a slice for how common sleep difficulties are in children, while half or three-quarters would overstate the typical prevalence in otherwise healthy kids. Remember, higher rates are more often seen in children with developmental or medical conditions, not in the general population.