Insomnia

Although adults often think that children "sleep like a baby," studies suggest that many youngsters do suffer from insomnia. In one survey of children in pediatricians' waiting rooms, more than 40% were reported by their parents to experience some form of insomnia: unrefreshing sleep, difficulty falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, or early morning awakenings.

Sometimes even sooner than a child can talk and walk independently, poor sleep habits and certain interactions with parents can get in the way of falling asleep.

Changing bedtime behaviors by creating a bedtime routine and setting limits sometimes helps children with insomnia. Most sleep experts agree it is important to allow children to fall asleep on their own. Children can become used to your presence in the room at bedtime and expect it even if they wake during the night.

Sleep Disordered Breathing

Almost one in five preschoolers and school age children snore, according to NSF's 2004 Sleep in America poll. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids can cause blockages that make the snoring sound. Snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnea,

a more severe sleep disorder. If your child snores regularly or loudly, stops breathing, gasps for breath, or works particularly hard to breathe while sleeping, he may have sleep apnea. Children with sleep apnea can stop breathing several times or more an hour.

The children (and adults) with sleep apnea are not able to sleep well with all these disruptions. The lack of good sleep, or perhaps the lack of enough oxygen during sleep, are suspected to increase risk for daytime learning problems, poor school performance, daytime sleepiness and hyperactivity.

Restless Legs Syndrome

"Growing pains", "tingling", "creepy crawlies": no matter how it is described, the strange feelings in a child's legs keep her up at night. Uncomfortable feelings in the legs may be a symptom of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). This disorder creates discomfort and can compel the sufferer to move 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) and are twice as likely to wake up during the night (40% vs. 21%) as children with no RLS symptoms, according to NSF's 2004 Sleep in America poll.

Though the cause of restless legs syndrome is unknown, it may run in the family or be due to iron deficiency. Treatment in children is not well established, but deserves discussion with a pediatrician or sleep specialist.

Nightmares and Sleep Terrors

Your child wakes up crying in the early morning hours. She is anxious and scared as she tells you about the terrible dream she just had. Occasional nightmares are usually a normal part of development. The nightmare maybe a reaction to change, stress or a scary event. It may be helpful to talk about the dream and make sure your child is getting sufficient sleep.

Sleep terrors often occur earlier in the night than nightmares and do not fully awaken the child. Unlike nightmares, sleep terrors lead to uncontrollable screaming that may continue for some minutes even as you try to comfort your child. After the terror, she will just drift back to sleep, and wake up in the morning with no memory of the entire event. 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 schoolage children talk in their sleep at least a few nights a week (11% and 12% respectively), according to NSF's 2004 Sleep in America poll.

Talking, laughing or crying during sleep is not usually considered a problem. Sleepwalking, often occurring very early in he night, is most common for children

between the ages of three and seven. Make sure your house is safe for your child’s wanderings. Gently guide the sleepwalker back to bed; you may not be able to wake him up fully. Sleepwalking can run in the family, but sometimes suggests the presence of other problems, such as sleep apnea.

Bed Wetting

According to NSF's 2004 Sleep in America poll, 14% of preschoolers and 4% 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 usually considered abnormal during preschool ages, but late 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 bed. Parents can reward dry nights, rather than punish for wet nights. Your child may need you to help lessen, rather than worsen, any embarrassment he may already have about a problem he can't control. By adolescence, your child should be free of the problem.

This article was published in the Spring 2004, Volume 6, Issue 2 of sleepmatters.