The difficulty children with some type of disorder have in developing sleep habits is directly related to learning, language, and emotions. Helping a family develop healthy sleep habits contributes to family harmony.
Sleep disorders are characterized by causing problems related to sleeping. These include difficulty falling or staying asleep, falling asleep at inappropriate times, excessive sleepiness, or abnormal sleep behaviors. In this article, we'll explain What are the main sleep disorders in childhood and what are the main recommendations? in order to find a solution.
When we talk about sleep disorders It is because:
- Your child's sleep problems (mood swings, difficulty concentrating, daytime sleepiness, physical and mental fatigue, general stress and anxiety) significantly affect their daily life.
- The sleep problem is affecting the parent-child relationship, the entire family's relationship, or their social and academic relationships.
The most important thing is to get Recognize that a sleep disorder is affecting your child so you can begin addressing it as soon as possible. For this reason, if you have any doubts, you should notify your pediatrician. This article is not intended to replace a visit to your pediatrician.
There are many types of sleep disorders that can affect children and adolescents. To make the information available to you easier, we've divided them into three categories:
- The child who has trouble falling asleep
- The boy who does strange things at night
- The child who falls asleep during the day
1. The child who has trouble falling asleep
Insomnia
Insomnia is characterized by difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, or the feeling of not having slept well, which lasts for at least a month. Insomnia disorder is one of the most common problems in children. and usually, with the help of healthcare professionals and their support, it can be treated and resolved.
- Behavioral insomnia: It is a child's inability to fall asleep alone, exhibiting resistance and anxiety at bedtime. They wake up very often.
- Insomnia due to inadequate sleep hygiene: It is associated with activities carried out during the day that prevent adequate sleep quality at night (consumption of chocolate or caffeine; intense physical activity or use of computers, consoles or mobile phones).
a. Restless legs syndrome:
This syndrome is characterized by urgent need to move the legs in resting situations, a fact that appears in many cases associated with an unpleasant sensation. It is a disorder that It has a great impact on the child's quality of life and can cause insomnia and tiredness during the day.It's a disorder whose causes are unknown, although there seems to be a family predisposition. It's essential to offer these children support during school, as many of them feel worse in the morning due to being forced to sit still in class.
b. Phase delay syndrome:
This syndrome is a sleep rhythm disturbance which normally begins to manifest itself from the age of 10; it is characterized by insomnia at bedtime and by difficulty waking up in the morning at the right time, which leads to daytime sleepiness. The child may experience daytime fatigue, poor academic performance, and/or decreased attention span.
2. The boy who does "strange things" at night
a. Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome:
This is a Sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by repeated episodes of complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway Because the soft tissues of the throat collapse and close during sleep. Some anatomical disorders, such as enlarged tonsils or cranial malformations, neurological diseases, and obesity or gastroesophageal reflux disease, contribute to this syndrome.
A hoarseness frequent, problems to breathe Sleepiness at night, sleepiness during the day, or difficulty paying attention might lead us to suspect this syndrome. Treatment usually involves removing the child's tonsils or adenoids or sleeping with a mask for comfortable breathing.
b. Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking It is a very common sleep disorder in school-aged children. It is usually benign and resolves with age without the need for treatment. The child does not respond to external stimuli and does not remember anything.
c. Night terrors
Night terrors are a type of sleep disorder that seems like a nightmare Although much more spectacular. The child, while sleeping, suddenly sits up in bed, screaming and crying, agitated and agitated. As with sleepwalking, the child doesn't respond to external stimuli and remembers nothing.
d. Nightmares
Nightmares are long, elaborate, complex dream states, with a progressive increase in the feeling of fear or anxiety. The boy wakes up very frightened and fully alert. He describes in detail how the dream he had was very distressing and terrifying. Often the child believes that what he has dreamed has really happened. Parents cannot prevent nightmares, but they can help them sleep more restfully, which in turn helps minimize nightmares.
e. Rhythmic movements related to sleep
These are repetitive movements that affect specific parts of the body, such as the head, trunk, limbs, or the entire body. They occur when the child is falling asleep. They begin when the child is not yet one year old and disappear as they grow older.
3. The child who falls asleep during the day
a. Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy It is a very rare disorder in childhood and usually sets in during adolescence and young adulthood. It is characterized by daytime sleepiness, loss of muscle tone triggered by an emotion, maintaining experiences as if they were real, and a feeling of immobility.
This is a chronic disorder and requires treatment. with which the child will be able to lead a practically normal life. The role of parents at this stage is especially important in establishing sleep hygiene habits.
General recommendations to try to avoid any type of sleep disorder
Below are the main tips to follow to facilitate proper sleep development in children, by age group. For more general advice, watch this video of the Dr. Oscar Sans, coordinator of the Pediatric Sleep Unit of the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, first pediatric unit accredited by the Spanish Sleep Society.
a. Children under 2 months old
- It is very important that the baby is awake when eating, so that he or she will begin to associate the meal with the previous day.
- After each feeding, hold the baby awake in your arms for a while to eliminate gas, very important!
- After changing diapers, leave the baby in the crib awake so he or she can learn to fall asleep alone.
- Try to develop a bedtime routine: bath – massage – dinner – lullaby or story – sleep. There are aromatherapy tricks to set the rhythms of the day, a cologne in the morning, and others.
b. Between 2 and 5 months
- Always do the same thing at bedtime.
- Do not wake the baby at night to feed him.
Between 5 and 12 months
- During this period, the baby no longer needs to eat at night, but every child is unique. If he wakes up, you should calm him with caresses and loving words and try to get him to sleep without eating.
- You can give him a transitional object: a doll, a stuffed animal… something to keep him company.
- You should continue with your bedtime routine and let your baby fall asleep on his own. Place him in his crib just before he's ready to fall asleep.
From 12 months
- The environment should be calm, dark and the pleasant temperature.
- Bedtime should be approximately the same as waking up time.
- Excess fluids cause waking up at night.
- Intense physical activity should be avoided 1-2 hours before bedtime.
- Avoid giving him chocolate and/or caffeinated soft drinks.
- Don't let him take naps that are too long.
From 2 years old
- If the child protests or cries during the night, we reflect on what happened during the day, but above all, don't shout; reassure them and continue with the routine.
- Prevent him from going to bed hungry, but don't let him drink too much liquid, which will cause him to wake up to pee.
Between 2 and 5 years old
- They only need to take a nap as a complement to their nighttime sleep, and often sleeping calls for more sleep. A daily rest at an early hour in the afternoon is highly recommended to reach the evening with serenity and face the night with peace of mind.
- Be very careful, at these ages, not to increase anxiety or fear.
- Avoid giving him stimulating drinks and foods.
- Limit strenuous physical activity 1–2 hours before bedtime.
- Never associate food or sleep with punishment or threat.
Adolescent stage
- It's important to be aware of the changes experienced during adolescence: you'll need to learn to recognize the signs of sleep deprivation: irritability, difficulty waking up, and sleep catching up on weekends.
- Avoid using cell phones, computers, tablets, etc. before going to sleep.
- Dialogue about sleep and its influence on health is essential.
- Parents need to set an example with good sleep habits.
Remember that if you have any questions, you should visit your pediatrician. Most sleep disorders are common and treatable. Access to reference sources:
Sleep disorders in childhood. Spanish Pediatric Association. [Consultation date: 03/18/2015]
Child and youth mental health issues. The son of the children. Orienta Foundation. [Consultation date: 03/16/2015]
Learning to recognize and manage sleep problems in childhood and adolescence. Health Guide. [Accessed: 03/16/2015]
Cristina Oroz Bajo