How to Help Children with Sleep Problems

Sleep problems in children are often very different from the sleep troubles that beset grownups. Reports have shown that minors who do not receive enough sleep at night will oftentimes fall asleep in class, will not have the get-up-and-go to exercise and will experience feelings of depression. Nightmares, bed wetting and sleepwalking are familiar symptoms of sleep problems in children, so parents should know how to tackle these issues. If you are concerned about your kids sleeping habits, then read on for some valuable advice on getting them into a sleep schedule that will better their quality of life.

New parents are oftentimes really concerned about how much sleep their baby is having. Newborn infants have irregular sleep cycles and sleep an average of sixteen to seventeen hours per day. However, they may only sleep a couple of hours at one time. As babies progress, the total number of hours they need for sleep decreases. A pre-school toddler may still need to sleep ten to twelve hours each day, whereas a school age youngster sleeps about ten hours each day. It is important to remember that every child’s sleeping pattern will be different.

It is well known that a child who has a sleep problem will additionally develop behavioral and attention issues in school. Various studies have reported that some 37% of all school aged youngsters experience profound, nighttime sleeping issues. Problems might include a reluctance to go to bed, disrupted sleep, nightmares and sleepwalking. In older children, bed wetting can also become a challenge. Sleep problems are also common in kids with attention deficit hyperactive disorder or ADHD. It is essential to try to work out if these issues, particularly if your youngster has difficulty dropping off, are a side effect of any ADHD medication they may be taking.

Kids can protest their bedtime for several reasons. However, establishing consistent bedtime rituals can serve to avoid sleep problems in children. This can include bathing, cleaning teeth, reading stories or saying prayers. This down time should be restful. If your child suffers from nightmares or nighttime terrors, then lay down with them in their bed until they drop off. Never take them to your own bed, since doing so will not encourage them to feel safe and cozy in their own bedroom. It also helps if you talk with your youngster about why sleep is important. Tell them that sleep will help them to have more energy to play and grow up strong. This gives them an incentive to sleep more.

Visiting a physician can treat sleep problems in children. In more serious cases, you can be referred to sleep disorder centers in your area. It is by and large, not a good idea to treat children with sleep medication, but there are cognitive therapy techniques that can help your child sleep more soundly and live healthier.

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