“I can definitely be the dad that my daughter deserves.”– Scott

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Parenting With Narcolepsy

Navigating parenting while living with narcolepsy can be challenging.

Parenting presents unique challenges to people living with narcolepsy. In addition to sticking to healthy habits for living with narcolepsy, here are some tips that may help.

Parents living with narcolepsy may find it helpful to make certain lifestyle changes based on their childcare needs.

  • Number 1 iconBe prepared for your symptoms to change with changes to your sleep schedule or stress level
  • Number 2 iconPrioritize scheduled naps
  • Number 3 iconHave a plan to keep your child(ren) safe and cared for if your symptoms worsen unexpectedly
  • Number 4 iconRequest help from family, friends, or paid professionals to assist with household chores or childcare
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Hear how others navigate parenting while living with narcolepsy.

  • Checkmark iconDon't judge yourself by impossible standards. – Leah
  • Checkmark icon Love your kids and you can work through everything else. – Matt
  • Checkmark icon Get creative with what you decide to take on. – Andre
  • Checkmark icon Have age-appropriate conversations with your kids about narcolepsy. – Matt
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A Parent’s Perspective: Being a Parent With Narcolepsy

Scott
Living with narcolepsy

Scott, a stay-at-home dad, shares his journey navigating fatherhood while living with narcolepsy.

Scott, a stay-at-home dad, shares his journey navigating fatherhood while living with narcolepsy.

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I learned ways to balance being the mom I wanted to be and managing my symptoms.

Leah, living with narcolepsy

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What has helped other people living with narcolepsy manage day to day?

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Hear perspectives on parenting on In the Know: A Narcolepsy Mini-Podcast.

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Vivid dream-like experiences that occur while falling asleep or while waking up.

Occurs at night and includes dreams; muscles are not active to prevent people from acting out dreams.

People with type 1 narcolepsy can be diagnosed by their cataplexy or low levels of hypocretin (also known as orexin).

The cause of type 2 narcolepsy is unknown.

Restorative sleep state with decreased muscle tone.

Daytime and evening habits to improve sleep.

Brief total loss of voluntary muscle control when falling asleep or while waking up.

Also known as orexin, hypocretin is a naturally occurring chemical in the brain that helps maintain wakefulness and prevent non-REM sleep and REM sleep from occurring at the wrong time.

Unintentionally falling asleep due to excessive daytime sleepiness; “sleep attacks.”

The inability to stay awake and alert during the day; a constant need for sleep or unintentionally falling asleep.

A naturally occurring chemical in the brain that helps maintain wakefulness.

Vivid dream-like experiences that occur while falling asleep or while waking up.

Frequent shifts between different states of sleep and wakefulness at night.

Difficulty focusing or concentrating.

Brief loss of muscle tone with retained awareness, often triggered by strong emotions.

Performance of routine tasks without awareness or memory.