As parents, who hasn't undergone the trauma of bringing home their new born son or daughter from the hospital and stood over them as they slept? Or waking up in the middle of the night to check that they are still breathing. A healthy baby sleeping perfectly well can sometimes be as nerve wrecking as a problematic one. When problems to children's sleeping patterns occur, however, more action is needed.
Parents need to learn the symptoms of each particular sleep disorder to learn what the best course of action is. Here follows the main problems your children could face at one time or another:
Nightmares and night terrors
If nightmares can abruptly wake an adult in the middle of the night drenched in sweat and absolutely certain what they have dream is true, what do you imagine a child goes through? Nightmares and their even worse cousin night terrors, are the most common form of interrupting your child's sleep. Although they are not a serious threat to the health of your children they can sometimes cause other problems like bed-wetting, mood swings, or the child refusing to go to bed when told. Try to resist the temptation of allowing them to sleep in your bed, as this can cause a negative routine that will be very difficult to crack later on.
Sleepwalking/talking
It can be quite disconcerting (and sometimes downright scary) to see your child sleepwalking. It happens to more children than you would have thought possible but is quite harmless if precautions are taken to ensure the child's environment is safe. This means picking up their toys before bedtime (or even better teaching them to pick up their toys before bedtime) and locking and bolting all windows and doors. Installing a security gate at the top of the stairs is another good idea. A child talking in their sleep or sleeping with their eyes open is a pretty strange thing to see but like sleepwalking is completely harmless and usually disappears when the child gets older.
Bruxism
Bruxism is a problem children have with their teeth while they are asleep. They grind and gnash their teeth sometimes very loudly. The sufferer is not usually awoken by it although they could bite the side of their tongue once in a while. Parents are the ones usually kept awake by this disorder and the child may develop dental problems if it continues for an extended period of time. That said, it is just one more disorder in children that they will eventually grow out of.
Bed-wetting
Perhaps the most common sleep disorder found in children. Many experts believe that answer to bed-wetting is to get the child into the routine of going to the toilet and not allowing them to drink too much before bedtime. Some parents get up in the middle of the night and take the sleeping child to the bathroom (I do), while others opt for the use of diapers. On no account should the child be punished for wetting their bed as this just leads to anxiety and the problem could get worse. If the problem persists then parents should go to see their doctor.
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea can effect people of all ages, including children. The victim actually stops breathing during sleep and as many as fifty times a night. Although it is quite common, for a parent there is nothing more terrifying than seeing this happen to their child. Loud snoring is usually the first sign of sleep apnea. If you suspect your child to be suffering from sleep apnea you are wise to go to the doctor as soon as possible to begin treatment.
Sudden infant death syndrome or cot death
By far the most dangerous sleep related ailment among children. Despite the vast amount of research being done in the United Sates and Europe, very little is known about it. Hundreds of babies die each year from SIDS and is without doubt the number cause for concern among parents today.
A lot of attention has been focused on diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults, and rightly so. But in all this excitement and interest, we have lost sight of our children. Children are also affected by sleep disorders, including those commonly found in adults, such as snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, and restless legs syndrome. According to the National Sleep Foundation, more than two-thirds of children in America experience sleep problems at least a few nights a week. Unfortunately, children do not usually complain of sleep problems.
Did you know that snoring is not considered to be a normal condition in children? In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recognized the importance of screening for snoring in kids, and they recommend evaluating all children who snore for underlying sleep apnea. That's because sleep apnea in children has been linked to several significant problems. Some of these problems include growth and developmental effects, mood and learning disorders (i.e., irritability, depression, ADHD), and social dysfunction (e.g., difficulty interacting with friends or family members). Interestingly, children with OSA do not present with symptoms similar to adults with OSA. In children with OSA, symptoms of hyperactivity, irritability, or the inability to focus and concentrate may be more common than fatigue, excessive daytime sleepiness, or unintentional dozing. However, one symptom that is often shared by both children and adults with sleep apnea is waking up feeling unrefreshed from sleep. Therefore, it's important for adults to pay special attention to their child's sleep habits and to look out for any overt problem signs.
Another common sleep issue is insomnia. Frequently, parents will complain that their child is not sleeping through the night, thereby affecting everyone else's sleep. Insomnia itself is not a distinctive diagnosis in children. On the contrary, it is almost always a symptom of another underlying condition. Some examples of causes of insomnia are environmental factors, social stress (e.g., family conflicts), obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and movement disorders. Once the underlying cause of insomnia is determined, effective treatment can be initiated. The keys are for parents or caregivers first to recognize the signs and symptoms, and then to seek the medical help of a sleep disorders specialist. Without medical attention, some sleep disorders can go on for years, being unrecognized and untreated, ultimately resulting in more severe problems in adulthood.
Finally, restless legs syndrome (RLS) has received a lot of attention recently. This attention is well deserved, because RLS is a common medical problem for both children and adults. Often people misunderstand RLS. RLS is an uncomfortable or unpleasant sensation that occurs primarily in the legs, usually in the evening or at night. It is characterized by the urge to move the legs to relieve discomfort, and movement of the legs is associated with a temporary relief of the symptoms. RLS may be due to reduced iron stores. Therefore, a medical work-up with laboratory testing is necessary to rule out any potentially treatable underlying causes, such as iron deficiency or anemia. RLS usually prevents or delays the onset of sleep, and it may cause sleep disturbance during the night. Children with RLS may complain of uncomfortable or unpleasant sensations in their legs. In some cases, children may complain of soreness in their legs. If these symptoms persist for more than a few days, then it is advisable to seek medical attention. RLS has also been associated with ADHD.
Unfortunately, sleep problems are highly prevalent among children but seldom discussed, recognized, or treated at regular office visits with the doctor. It is especially important that parents and caregivers give special attention to recognizing the signs and symptoms of potential sleep disorders. Parents and caregivers should seek the advice of a sleep disorders specialist when these problems occur. Furthermore, increasing evidence suggests that a variety of childhood sleep disorders are associated with inattention, hyperactivity, and underlying cognitive impairment that may have significant adverse effects on development and school performance. We do know that poor or inadequate sleep results in slowed metabolism, weight gain, and a generalized decline in health. The complete impact of sleep disorders on the growth and development of children is still not entirely known, but the current evidence and the growing obesity epidemic suggest that this may be a very substantial problem, indeed.
Both Keith Londrie & Bharat Bista are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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