Insomnia in children is more common than you think. Many children go through a phase of sleeping poorly. This could be for several reasons. They might be having nightmares, wetting the bed, or some other unknown reason that might be stopping them from getting the sleep they need.
Sleep is essential for children. It helps their brains to develop, their behavior and attention be regulated, and even their blood pressure.
Kids getting sleep is also essential for parents—without it, you barely get a break at all!
Typically, children of ages 6-12 should be getting 9-12 hours of sleep, children aged 3-5 should get 10-13 hours, toddlers of 1-2 years should get 11-14 hours, and infants under 12 months should get 12-16 hours. All these times include naps, don’t worry!
The best way to deal with a child who isn’t sleeping is to work out the cause and then take specified steps to tackle this reason. In today’s post, you’ll find a list of common reasons for poor sleep in children and how to combat them.
Caffeine
You might not have realized caffeine can be so impactful that it can cause sleeplessness, but it is. Sugary, caffeinated drinks can have a massive impact on children. If you think your morning coffee changes you, imagine how impactful caffeine can be on a body five times smaller.
Solution: Try to limit caffeinated drinks to before midday. This should give your child’s body enough time to remove the caffeine from their system. Even better would be to cut caffeinated drinks out entirely, but this isn’t always possible.
Medical Issues
Sleeplessness can sometimes be a symptom of a more significant health issue. For example, those with restless leg syndrome, autism, and ADHD often struggle with their sleeping patterns. Sometimes, children have specific sleep-related problems, like sleep apnea.
Solution: Go to see a doctor who might be able to root out the problem. If your child is diagnosed with an issue, look out for products that can help—such as a CPAP machine for sleep apnea. However, be very careful when you look for these kinds of machines, as several lawsuits have been brought against the Phillips CPAP sleep apnea machine; go now and check it out if you are considering getting one for your child.
Stress
Probably the most common reason for sleeplessness, stress can affect all children. Though you may think they are too young, many children find themselves stressed about things, whether due to tests at school, friendship issues, or even issues at home. When children are kept up worrying, their sleep suffers—which in turn can make them stressed. It’s a vicious cycle.
Solution: The best thing for your child when they are stressed is talking. If your child can tell you about their worries, they may find their burden lifted. Once you know what is stressing them, you can make a plan of action together to tackle the stressful issue.
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