Childhood sleep disorders

In general a sleep disorder refers to difficulties associated with sleeping, these can include problems falling asleep, staying asleep, and even oversleeping. Although in adults it is very easy to identify when a sleep disorder is present, it is also common among young children. How do you tell the difference between a growth stage and a disorder? Especially during the first years of life.

As parents we often talk with other parents about how difficult it is to get the little ones to sleep, maybe it takes us more than an hour to get them to fall asleep, some of us can't get the child to stay in bed all night, for others establishing a routine has been simply a drama. However, the importance of the time children sleep is extremely high and directly influences their development.

Pediatric consultations reflect the frequency of sleep disorders in children, as 25% of consultations are related to sleep issues. It is necessary to take action when a sleep-related problem does not allow the child to develop fully or affects family dynamics.

What are the most common sleep disorders and how can they be treated?

There are more than 100 sleep-related conditions, but there are also a few that happen to be the most common. Working to solve them is not easy, but with the help of an expert and perseverance, a lot of progress can be made. Here are some of the most common ones.

Insomnia

It occurs when a child has trouble falling or staying asleep, the problem is usually recurrent, almost daily. Some of the most frequent causes have to do with behaviors that can be worked on at home, such as avoiding intense physical activity before bedtime, or the consumption of high-calorie foods close to bedtime. The inability to sleep without an adult present can cause anxiety and thus the inability to fall asleep early.

Night terrors

Characterized by episodes in the middle of the night in which the infant jerks up, screams, cries, becomes agitated and is impossible to comfort. It does not seem to respond to any external stimulus. The next morning the child will not remember what happened during the night.

Phase Delay Syndrome

A common disorder from the age of 10 years onwards, it is characterized by difficulty in falling asleep, prolonging the moment and presenting difficulty in waking up the following day. This syndrome affects school performance and causes tiredness during the day.

The best tool to deal with sleep disorders is to create a sleep routine, with consistent activities prior to bedtime. Include a suitable time to finish physical activities and have the last meal of the day. This can be followed by taking a relaxing bath, listening to quiet music and dimming the lights, reading a bedtime story with your little one and leaving the room. This will not work like magic, but with perseverance the day will come when the child will sleep peacefully.