Prepare for Your Child's Sleep Study

The following information will help you and your child prepare for overnight, inpatient, and multiple sleep latency tests.

Before the study

Check with your child's physician about medications

Let the physician who is ordering the sleep study know the type of medication and dose before ordering the study. Your child’s physician will decide whether to continue or discontinue a medication, since some drugs may interfere with the quality of your child's sleep or make it more difficult for our staff to interpret study results.

If your child has asthma you should also bring along his medications as well as his nebulizer, spacer, etc. If your child is using BiPAP/CPAP, bring your child’s mask to use during the study.

Referrals

If you require a referral for office visits or other outpatient studies, you will also require one for the sleep study.

If your child is sick

If your child develops a fever, vomiting, congestion or cough that is more than usual, or is not feeling well, the study should be postponed. If you're unsure, call us to discuss your child's illness at 215-590-9176.

Cancellations

If you are unable to keep your appointment, please call 215-590-9176 as soon as possible so we can offer your spot to another patient.

On the day of the study

You and your child should arrive by 6:30 p.m. and go to the Sleep Lab.

Philadelphia Main Campus
3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104
1st Floor Main Building – Suite M190

Specialty Care, King of Prussia
550 S Goddard Blvd North Entrance
King of Prussia, PA 19406 – 2nd floor

Virtua in Partnership with CHOP
200 Bowman Drive Voorhees, NJ 08043
Health and Wellness Center
2nd floor – Suite E255

The sleep technical staff will discuss your child's bedtime routine with you to make sure your child goes to bed at the usual time. They will begin the set-up for your child's sleep study about 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. This set-up includes the following equipment: 

• A bandage-like sensor that measures your child's oxygen will be placed on the toe or finger.
• A cannula at the nose will measure your child's exhaled air (carbon dioxide).
• Elastic or cloth belts will be placed on your child's chest and stomach, usually over their pajamas.
• Stick-on electrodes will be placed on your child's face and chest to measure eye movements, heart rate and muscle tone during sleep. A few additional electrodes are applied with a washable paste on your child's scalp to measure stages of sleep.

The set-up process is painless but does involve about an hour of cooperation on the part of your child. To best prepare your child, keep napping to a minimum on the day of the study.

Meals

No meals are provided in the Sleep Lab so plan accordingly. When you and your child arrive, you will be given ample time to get something to eat or you can bring food from home.

Cafeteria Hours

Philadelphia Main Campus

• Breakfast - 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Grab & Go - 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Lunch - 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Grab & Go - 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Dinner - 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Overnight - 1 a.m. to 4 a.m.

Specialty Care, King of Prussia

• Breakfast - 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Lunch/Dinner - 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Grab & Go - 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Virtua in Partnership with CHOP

• Full-Service Menu - 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Late Fare Menu - 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Plan on staying with your child

We request that a parent or legal guardian be with each child at all times. This will help your child feel less anxious, more comforted, and more likely to cooperate.

Our rooms are small and can only comfortably accommodate one parent. A chair that folds out to a bed is available in each bedroom. We encourage only one parent to stay overnight.  If both parents need to stay overnight, let us know 48 hours in advance and we will try to accommodate as best as possible.

What should you bring on the day of the study?

• Your child needs to wear or bring comfortable loose-fitting clothing. A button-down shirt or loose-fitting nightshirt is fine. A thinner material will allow our belts to provide a better signal.
• Snacks and special treats can help your child through the equipment set-up and make the overnight stay seem more like a special occasion.
• Each bedroom is equipped with a TV. Feel free to bring along other electronics such as an iPad, Kindle, etc.
• Bring a favorite stuffed animal, blanket, pillow or anything that may alleviate any fears.
• You may want to bring food or take time to have dinner. Upon your arrival, we allow for ample time to have dinner before beginning the equipment set-up on your child.
• You must bring all of your child's medications, formula, special foods and medical equipment for the overnight sleep study.

What time will the study end?

Typically, the study ends by 5:30 a.m. There are occasions where it can end earlier or later, depending on how well your child slept through the night. Requests to end the study earlier because of work or school commitments can also be made. Occasionally a daytime study, called a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), is required after an overnight sleep study. Our sleep technical staff will discuss this with you in advance.

You and your child should arrive by 4 p.m. on the scheduled day and go to admissions on the 1st floor of the Main building. You will then be assigned a room where equipment will be brought to your child's bedside, or your child may be brought to the Sleep Lab.

The sleep technical staff will begin placing the equipment on your child for the sleep study. The various pieces of equipment we will monitor your child with include:

• A bandage-like sensor that measures your child's oxygen will be placed on the toe or finger.
• A cannula at the nose will measure your child's exhaled air (carbon dioxide).
• Elastic or cloth belts will be placed on your child's chest and stomach, usually over their pajamas.
• Stick-on electrodes will be placed on your child's face and chest to measure eye movements, heart rate and muscle tone during sleep. A few additional electrodes are applied with a washable paste on your child's scalp to measure stages of sleep.

The set-up process mentioned above is painless but does involve about an hour of cooperation on the part of your child. To best prepare your child, keep napping to a minimum on the day of the study.

Meals will be provided on your inpatient stay. When you and your child arrive, you will be given ample time to get something to eat or you can bring food from home. We encourage you to bring any toys, stuffed animals or other items that will help your child feel more comfortable.

The sleep study will end by 5:30 a.m.

Medications

Please remember to bring all medications that your child is presently taking, respiratory and G-tube equipment. If your child is using BiPAP/CPAP, bring your child’s mask to use during the study.

Overnight stay

One parent must stay overnight with your child if the sleep study is performed in the Sleep Lab. If you have any concerns regarding these recommendations, please call 215-590-9176.

Cancellations

If you are unable to keep your appointment, please call 215-590-9176 as soon as possible so we may offer your spot to another patient.

Referrals

Please bring this with you if you require a referral.

A multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) is always performed the day after an overnight sleep study. The purpose of this study is to assess the sleepiness of your child after an overnight study in which the quality of sleep has been monitored. Your child will be awakened by 7 a.m. so that the first nap can begin between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Some electrodes that were placed on your child for the overnight study will remain in the morning for daytime testing. The MSLT study is run at different intervals during the day, approximately every two hours from the first nap. You and your child should plan on being in the Sleep Lab until approximately 5 p.m.

Your child should plan to change into daytime clothing. Between nap times, you should have activities available, such as homework, reading materials or music to keep your child from getting bored. Your child will not be allowed to sleep between naps. Parents may bring electronics too, we just need them turned off during nap periods to keep the room quiet.

Two meal vouchers, each valued at $7, will be provided for your child during their stay in the Sleep Lab. These vouchers are only redeemable in the Hospital cafeteria.

Medications

If your child is on medications for neurological disorders or excessive daytime sleepiness, please notify us by calling the Sleep Lab at 215-590-9176. Please don't let your child consume foods or beverages containing caffeine on the day of the study.