Signs Your Child Might Have a Sleep Disorder

Children need at least 9 hours of sleep to develop and grow and to have enough energy. Lack of sleep can negatively affect a child’s personality and their participation in day-to-day activities. 

So, how do you make sure that your child is getting enough sleep?

At Tots N Teens Pediatrics, we always strive to find the best solutions to better a child’s physical, mental, and emotional growth. That’s why, in this blog, we’ve compiled a list that will help you identify the signs of sleep disorders in children.

Signs of Sleep Disorders in Children

You should schedule a consultation with our specialists if your child exhibits any of the following signs:

• They snore or take breathing pauses while they sleep
• They have trouble falling asleep at night
• They are not able to concentrate or stay awake during the day
• They suddenly have performance problems
• They experience nightmares, sleepwalking, bedwetting, or night terrors

Common Sleep Disorders in Children

The most commonly diagnosed sleep disorders in children are:

Parasomnia

At least 50% of children suffer from parasomnias such as sleepwalking (somnambulism), sleep talking (somniloquy), nightmares, and night terrors. These unpleasant incidents occur during the first part of their sleep cycle. Children usually have no recollection of these events and fall back asleep soon after. 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

OSA is when the upper airway is obstructed or blocked. During an OSA episode, a child stops breathing properly during sleep and snoring is one of the main symptoms.

Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder

Sleep and sleep cycles are controlled and reset every 24 hours by the master circadian clock located within the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Sometimes this clock is reversed in children and needs to be reset. Some external cues that help reset the clock are light, meals, melatonin, and physical activities. This disorder delays sleep-wake time by at least 2 hours.

Behavioral Insomnia 

Behavioral insomnia is the inability of a child to fall or stay asleep. If a child cannot fall asleep in the absence of specific conditions like a parent rocking them to sleep, this is called sleep-onset insomnia. Limit-setting insomnia is when the parents don’t set appropriate limits and sleeping habits. 

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome in children causes them to move their legs when trying to sleep. It leads to the children having trouble falling asleep.

At Tots N Teens Pediatrics, we offer parents comprehensive treatment plans to help them deal with sleep disorders in children. To learn more, contact one of our three locations in Mesquite, Plano, and Forney to schedule a consultation with our experts.