Since the abduction of Elizabeth Smart in the summer of 2002, pediatric pulmonologist Kathleen Pfeffer has seen a sharp increase in sleep anxiety among girls age 7 to 10.

"These kids are scared to death they're going to be abducted from their bedrooms," Pfeffer said.

Some small children fear monsters hiding under the bed or in closet.

For that, Pfeffer recommends what she calls "Monster Spray," which is a concoction the child mixes under parental supervision and then sprays around the room to keep the monsters away.

Other, more realistic situations such as fighting parents and school stress also can cause anxiety.

In such situations, Claudia Fruin, a pediatrician in Centerville, will prescribe a sleep aid. She also sees an increase in insomnia in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. She recommends medications from prescription sleep aids to over-the-counter melatonin.

- Sheena McFarland

Informational Web sites about sleep

5 National Sleep Foundation: http://www.sleepfoundation.org

4 American Academy of Family Physicians: http://familydoctor.org/110.xml

3 Sleep and Aging: http://nih seniorhealth.gov/sleepandaging /toc.html

2 National Center on Sleep Disorders Research: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/ncsdr/

1 Garfield Star Sleeper: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/starslp/index.htm

NUMBERS

40 million: The approximate number of Americans who suffer from chronic sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome.

100 billion: The dollar amount that sleep deprivation costs U.S. businesses annually in lost productivity, medical expenses, sick leave and property and environmental damage.

63: The percentage of U.S. adults who do not get the recommended eight hours of sleep needed for good health, safety and optimum performance.

56,000: The estimated number of reported accidents each year caused by drowsy drivers. These same accidents claimed more than 1,500 lives.

- National Sleep Foundation