Children's Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders are not uncommon in children, and many children will experience at least one of these disorders at some point during childhood. In most cases, sleep disorders are just a temporary, and normal, part of growth, but in some cases, these disorders can be a symptom of an underlying problem that should be evaluated by a doctor.
Other People Are Reading
-
Restless Legs Syndrome
-
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that affects children and adults. The primary symptom of RLS is an irresistible need to move the legs, particularly when trying to sleep. The urge to move the legs is often accompanied by a creeping or pulling sensation in the legs. Children with RLS have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep and may also suffer from periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS). PLMS causes the body to jerk awake and can affect sleep if it occurs frequently.
A hot bath before bed can help reduce the symptoms of RLS, as can using an ice pack or heating pad. Some children benefit from taking over-the-counter pain relievers and vitamins. If home remedies don't work, there are a number of prescription drugs, including Mirapex and Requip, that may help ease symptoms.
Bruxism
-
Bruxism, or teeth grinding, occurs during the night due to stress, earaches, teething or misaligned teeth. If the grinding continues long enough, it can damage the teeth and cause temporomandidublar joint disease (TMJ). Many children outgrow bruxism by adolescence without any lasting problems, but some children may need to wear night guards if bruxism is damaging the teeth. Talking about your child's worries or fears can help if bruxism is caused by stress.
-
Nightmares and Night Terrors
-
Nightmares are frightening dreams that wake children from a sound sleep. Nightmares usually happen late in the sleep cycle and are more common in children ages 3 to 6. Doctors think that this is because children in these age groups have particularly active imaginations that affect their dreams. Children are aware of their surroundings when they awake from nightmares, can explain what happened in the dreams and want to be comforted before falling asleep again.
If your child suffers from night terrors, she will probably wake up screaming, be extremely agitated, and despite your attempts to comfort her, won't notice that you are there. Her pupils may appear dilated, and even though her eyes are open, she will still be asleep. She won't remember anything that happened when you talk to her the next morning. Your role when night terrors occur is to gently guide her back to bed and make sure that she does not accidentally harm herself if she starts walking around the room. Doctors think that night terrors may occur if children are overly tired, but in some cases, the cause is not known. Night terrors usually start to diminish by the time the child reaches adolescence.
Sleepwalking
-
Sleepwalking occurs when a child gets up in the middle of the night and begins to walk around the house while still asleep. If you ask your child what he is doing, he probably won't respond to you or will answer you in gibberish. If your child sleepwalks, doctors recommend that you guide him back to bed without waking him. Keep doors and windows locked to prevent him from going outside and keep objects off the floor to prevent a fall. If your child sleepwalks frequently, you may want to note the times he sleepwalks in a sleep diary and wake him about 15 minutes before he normally begins sleepwalking to break the cycle.
Sleep Apnea
-
Sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder in adults, can also affect children. Sleep apnea is a pause in breathing while sleeping. While short pauses are normal, apnea occurs when breathing stops for at least 20 seconds. Obstructive apnea is the most common form of the disorder in children and occurs when the airway is obstructed, usually due to enlarged adenoids or tonsils. Symptoms include gasping for breath, snoring, labored breathing, restless movements during sleep and change in skin color while sleeping. Children with obstructive apnea are often tired during the day. Treatment involves removal of adenoids or tonsils or the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
-
Resources
- Photo Credit Valdas Zajanckauskas
