We all know when our children are sick, our sleep is affected. Children's sleep is affected too, especially if their illness brings them to the hospital.

Children face a lot of stress when they are hospitalized and it can affect their sleep, according to a recent study.

The study examined data from 26 children and measured the influence of playing on their sleep levels and stress while in hospital.

The preliminary data showed that playing seems to be a good tool for lowering stress and improving sleep in hospitalized children.

When a child is hospitalized, it ruptures the child's daily routine and activities. Hospitalization can also cause young children eating and sleeping disorders. According to the researchers, hospitalized children need to play, and being able to do so may have an important role.

Sleeping in the Hospital: Preliminary Data by C. Potasz, MJ Varela, M. Varela, PG Ferraz, L. Modenesi, R. Feliciano, L. Carvalho, L. Prado and G. Prado was presented at Sleep 2007, the 21st annual meeting of the Association Professional Sleep Professionals Societies, LLC.