Insomnia in Toddlers and Children
Coping With This Sleep Disorder and Tips for Improvement
Nov 8, 2008
Insomnia means that a child either has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. He may cry throughout the night, needing to be held, or he may stare at the ceiling and tell himself stories until the wee hours.
Diagnosing Insomnia in Toddlers and Children
First, parents will want to bring their child to a pediatrician for a complete evaluation to ensure that there are no physical reasons that are interfering with sleep. Some physical causes of sleep interference would be:
- Teething
- Sleep apnea or snoring due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids
- Asthma
- Rashes
- Side effects of certain medications
- Caffeine
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Neurological disorders
If the doctor has adequately ruled out these causes, then the child most likely suffers from insomnia. It should be noted that some children suffer from insomnia because they go to bed too late and are too "wired" to fall asleep, or because they are overscheduled during the day and feel stressed and anxious. Other children may have trouble sleeping due to significant life changes such as a move, divorce, new sibling, or a death in the family.
Consequences of Childhood Insomnia
A toddler or child with insomnia may feel irritable, hyperactive, lethargic, depressed, or aggressive due to lack of sleep. Additionally, he may have mood swings, memory problems, and a decreased attention span. He may have difficulty in school and at home. In addition, the insomnia may also affect his parents immensely. Exhaustion and frustration often escalate until parents become forgetful, argumentative, temperamental, and desperate.
Treating Childhood Insomnia
Parents need to be very cautious about medicating a child with insomnia. Most prescription medications advertised on television are for adults only. In some instances, a doctor may prescribe Amitriptyline, Remeron, Melatonin, or an antihistamine. However, it is usually recommended that parents try one of the following before resorting to prescription medication:
- Use the bed only for bedtime. Do not put the child in his bed at any other time, so that he knows this is his "sleeping place."
- Keep a very consistent bedtime routine consisting of snack, bath, story time, and hugs and kisses.
- Make sure the schedule stays the same each night.
- If age appropriate, keep a consistent nap routine in the middle of the day. Surprisingly, sometimes a good nap can be conducive to restful sleep at night.
- Provide a relaxing environment to sleep in, including dim lights, climate control, and soft, soothing music.
- Make sure the child has a familiar pillow, blanket, or stuffed animal that brings him comfort.
- For an older child, teach him Relaxation Techniques to help him quiet his mind prior to sleeping.
- Do not allow stimulating activities before bedtime, such as video games, television, or exercise.
- Never give a toddler or child a beverage with caffeine in it.
- Make sure the child exercises daily.
- Use a white noise machine to block out excess outside noise.
- Consult a counselor for children who need extra help venting their fears and frustrations.
Unfortunately, some parents will find that no amount of medical or emotional treatment lulls their child to sleep. It can be extremely frustrating to never fully understand why a toddler or child has difficulty sleeping. It may seem as though the rest of the population has a "normal" sleeping baby in their arms.
There is one hope, however – toddlers and children usually do grow out of their insomnia. It is not necessarily a lifetime disorder. It would be wise for parents to occasionally switch duties or find a babysitter for an evening to get some much-needed rest.
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