Common Sleep Problems In Kids
October 24, 2008 by Mary
Filed under Mom's Health & Wellness
My 7 year old daughter is always sleepy and her night time sleep habits are less than ideal. It’s not unusual for her to visit me in the middle of the night when I’m feeding the baby or to hop in bed with me when my husband leaves for work at 4:00 a.m. This has always been her pattern. But now I’m beginning to worry a bit because she’s been increasingly cranky during the day and is prone to emotional upset. This situation has led me to do some research, which I’d like to share with you.
There are various reasons for sleep disturbance in children. According to WebMD, some common causes may be trouble falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, sleep walking, restless legs syndrome, nightmares, or night terrors. There may be a number of reasons for these sleep issues such as lack of nighttime routine or stress and anxiety about daily events. It’s also possible the cause could be a medical condition.
The average recommended amount of sleep for elementary-aged children is between 10 and 11 hours a night. Pre-schoolers should get between 11 and 13 hours of sleep each night. My darling daughter rarely sleeps 10 hours straight.
If you are concerned about your child’s sleep routine, talk to your pediatrician. He or she may suggest that you observe your child’s sleep patterns for signs of breathing issues or sleep disturbance. If you suspect that your child’s lack of sleep could be caused by an emotional issue, find a quiet time to talk about the problem and to work together to brainstorm solutions. You may also need to begin a regular bedtime routine, including a regular bedtime and nightly rituals such as story time, snack, or quiet time. Finally, your physician may request that your child undergo a sleep study to diagnose or rule out physical causes such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome. I know I will be calling my children’s doctor first thing Monday morning to schedule an appointment.
More From Mary
Our young child went through some troubles sleeping and consequently so did we. We’re feeding her warm milk before bedtime and she’s getting a little older and we’re also implementing the ignore her factor so that she does fall asleep. seems to be working. got some of this good advice from a live forever site here:
http://letslivelonger.blogspot.com/2009/04/sleep-better-you-can-do-it.html
things are working out a little better, thanks!
Thanks for the tips. These symptoms to watch out for in children are really helpful. Great article.
One of our sons had terrible sleep patterns. We finally took him to a sleep specialist, and he had us keep a sleep log for a month. After the log, an overnight sleep analysis, and a pretty thorough exam, the doctor surprised us with his diagnosis. Believe it or not, we were trying to get our son to sleep too much. Looking back, he didn’t sleep as much as most kids even as a baby, although he was never fussy – just awake.