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Overcoming Tiredness and Fatigue
Does my child have a sleep disorder? When your baby or young child has trouble sleeping you may wonder if it’s just a boogie man under the bed or if it’s a sign of a more serious, medical problem. Well, the first thing you should know is that fewer than 10 percent of young children have a true sleeping disorder—a serious sleep problem rooted in a physiological condition. Also, trouble sleeping might be caused by inconsistent bedtime routines, colic, ear infection, teething pain, or other, normal childhood complaints.If, however, you think your child might have an actual sleep disorder, you should discuss the problem with your pediatrician. Here are a few guidelines for you to consider. If your child exhibits any of the following symptoms, make sure to let your pediatrician know:
What might these symptoms indicate?Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which the upper airway passages are blocked repeatedly during the night. It's most often caused by enlarged adenoids (glands in your throat just behind your nose) and tonsils; when your child's muscles relax at night, these oversized glands can temporarily block air from getting to his lungs. Other causes of airway blockages include frequent illness, allergies, being overweight, a receding chin, and a cleft palate —anything that could make it harder for your child to get enough air into his lungs. Sleep apnea tends to run in families, so if either you or your partner has it, you should have your child evaluated sooner rather than later.Sleepwalking / sleep crawling can start any time after your child begins walking or crawling, and at least 15 percent of all young children will have an episode at some point. It usually occurs within an hour or two of falling asleep, when your child is in the deepest part of nondreaming, or non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Sleeping in strange places, a lack of sleep, or a high fever can trigger a sleepwalking episode. A sleepwalking child appears to be wide awake, though he's actually not. His eyes will be open, and he may even have a conversation, although it probably won't make much sense. He may wander aimlessly around the house; common behaviors include falling asleep in a closet or thinking he is in the bathroom. Narcolepsy is often presents itself in early adolescence. Children with Narcolepsy are excessively sleepy during the day even after getting adequate sleep at night. Nightmares often occur at times of transition, stress, or a change in routine. They usually occur later at night and are remembered in the morning. Strategies to alleviate nightmares include a comforting bedtime routine and avoid television right before bed. Night terrors are mysterious sleep disturbances that preschoolers and older children are occasionally subject to, always during the deepest part of non-dreaming sleep, usually within one to four hours of falling asleep. During a night terror — which can last anywhere from ten to 40 minutes — your child may bolt out of bed, thrash around and scream, or run wildly through the house. While his eyes may or may not be open, he is not awake and will not be aware of you. Unlike with a nightmare, he will fall right back to sleep after the episode and have no memory of the incident the next morning. About 5 percent of all children will have an episode of night terrors. Night terrors can be a symptom of sleep apnea, mentioned earlier. Head banging and Rocking Head banging and body rocking are normal behaviors in children under the age of 3, who seem to find the rhythmic back-and-forth movements a soothing way to fall asleep. Head banging can start as early as 4 months or as late as two years and can last for several months. Head banging can also soothe a child in pain. Infants and toddlers are more likely to bang their head when they're teething or suffering from an ear infection. Head banging apparently helps them feel better, perhaps by distracting them from the discomfort in their mouth or ear. If your child is having problems sleeping, neither of you is getting the rest you need. The Sleep Specialists at LVH can help you both find the solutions you need to sleep better. 37 percent of children, kindergarten through 4th grade suffer from at least one sleep-related problem. Dr. Jay Kaufman of PUlmonary Associates is a board certified sleep specialist who specializes in pediatric sleep disorders.
For more information about sleep disorders or the Sleep Disorder Centers of Lehigh Valley Hospital,
call 610-402-CARE. This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
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