Does a Child Really “Sleep Like a Baby?”
Children’s lives are full of distractions - television, video games, siblings, etc. From trouble falling asleep to terrors during the night, children can face many sleep problems, causing them to not get a good night’s sleep. If these sleep problems do not resolve themselves quickly, they definitely deserve discussion with the family doctor. Let’s take a look at some of the most common sleep problems children face.
Insomnia
Although many parents believe the common assumption that children “sleep like a baby,” studies suggest that children do suffer from insomnia. In one study of children in pediatricians’ waiting rooms, more than 40 percent were reported by their parents to suffer some form of insomnia: unrefreshing sleep, difficulty falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, or early morning awakenings.
Maintaining good sleep habits by creating a good bedtime routine and setting limits can help children with insomnia. Most experts agree that it is better to let children fall asleep on their own. Children can become used to your presence in the room at bedtime and expect it even when they wake during the night.
Sleep Disordered Breathing
Almost one in five preschoolers and school-age children snore, according to National Sleep Foundation’s (NSF) 2004 Sleep in America poll. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids can cause blockages with make the snoring sound. Snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnea, a more severe sleep disorder. Your child might suffer from sleep apnea if he or she snores regularly or loudly, stops breathing, gasps for breath, or works particularly hard to breathe while sleeping. Children with sleep apnea can stop breathing several times or more an hour.
Children who suffer from sleep apnea are not able to sleep well with all of the distractions. The lack of sleep, or the lack of oxygen during sleep, are suspected to increase risk for daytime learning problems, poor school performance, daytime sleepiness and hyperactivity.
Restless Legs Syndrome
The strange feelings children can have in their legs often called “growing pains,” “tingling,” or “creepy crawlers” can keep them up all night. The uncomfortable feeling in a child’s legs could be a symptom of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). This disorder causes discomfort and can compel the child to shift his or her legs, even while trying to fall asleep. Children with symptoms of RLS at least a few times a week sleep an hour less (8.9 hours vs. 9.9 hours) according to NSF’s 2004 Sleep in America poll. They are also twice as likely to wake up during the night (40 percent vs. 21 percent) as children with no RLS symptoms.
Restless Legs Syndrome may run in the family or be due to an iron deficiency, though the cause of the disorder is unknown. Treatment of the disorder is not well established, but it deserves a discussion with a pediatrician or sleep specialist.
Nightmares and Sleep Terrors
Occasional nightmares are usually a normal part of development and may be a reaction to change, stress, or a scary event. Talking about a dream with your child and making sure he or she is getting sufficient sleep can be helpful.
Sleep terrors usually occur earlier in the night than nightmares and do not fully awaken the child. Unlike nightmares, night terrors lead to uncontrollable screaming for several minutes even while you try to comfort them. After the terror, the child may fall back asleep and have no memory of the event when he or she wakes up in the morning. An irregular sleep schedule, lack of sleep, or stress may promote sleep terrors in some children.
Sleep Walking and Sleep Talking
More than one in ten preschool and school-age children talk in their sleep at least a few nights a week (11percent and 12 percent respectively), according to the same NSF poll. Talking, laughing, or crying during sleep is usually not considered a problem. Sleepwalking is most common with children between the ages of three and seven. It usually occurs very early in the night and requires a little help on the part of the parent(s). Make sure your house is safe for your child’s wanderings. Guide the sleepwalker back to his or her bed. During a sleepwalking episode you may not be able to wake him or her up fully. Sleepwalking can run in the family, but sometimes suggests the presence of other problems, such as sleep apnea.
Bed Wetting
Fourteen percent of preschoolers and four percent of school-aged children wet the bed at least a few nights a week. Bed wetting, also known as enuresis, is more prevalent in boys. It is not considered abnormal during preschool ages, but later on may suggest another sleep disorder or late development of the ability to wake-up when the bladder is full.
Children should avoid drinking a lot at night, particularly caffeinated beverages, and should go to the bathroom right before bedtime. Parents should reward dry nights, rather than punish wet nights. You should help your child by lessening the embarrassment he or she might already feel for something that cannot be controlled. By adolescence, your child should be free of the problem.
About the Expert:
Lee Loree is the inventor and developer of SLEEPTRACKER, an innovative watch device that monitors your sleep patterns throughout the night and continuously looks for the optimum moment to wake you up – waking you refreshed from a light sleep stage. www.sleeptracker.com