Sleep Apnea

Reasons - Keeping Children up at Night

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Topics: Sleep Apnea, Insomnia

Sleep is something that is essential for the well-being of an individual. If you don’t rest well at night, you will likely feel cranky, unfocused, and exhausted after getting up the following day. Moreover, in the long run, going on with little rest can also affect your physical and mental well-being and lead to chronic health conditions. And this is true for people of all ages, whether children or adults. In fact, the side effects are more troublesome in the case of the young ones.

It is so because when kids wake up in the middle of the night or refuse to fall asleep at all, they keep their parents awake. So, along with the kid, the mother and father also suffer from sleep deprivation. Also, a cranky and annoyed child is difficult to deal with. Thus, in order to help parents figure out the cause behind the sleeplessness of the young ones, we are enlisting some possible reasons. By solving these issues, you can help your kid achieve a peaceful night of sleep. Here you go!

How much sleep do children need?

Experts recommend that for adults resting for seven to eight hours is necessary. And, for kids, this duration is even longer. While toddlers younger than two years need to doze off for around twelve to sixteen hours to feel refreshed and well-rested, children between three and twelve should rest for ten to thirteen hours. For teenagers, the duration is eight to twelve hours a day. If your child fails to get the recommended hours of rest, he may keep you from sleeping at night and create trouble by behaving fussy the next day.

Signs your child is not sleeping well

If your child is not resting well at night, he is likely to show the following signs:

  • He will act annoyed, cranky, and overtly emotional
  • Won’t wake up on time in the morning
  • He will likely not follow conversations or ‘space out’ in the middle of the talk
  • Likely to experience trouble concentrating.
  • Toddlers cry a lot if they are sleep deprived
  • They feel drowsy and fall asleep much earlier than regular bedtime

Reasons your kid can’t sleep at night

1. Over-tired

It happens with adults too. On days when you are over-tired and have a lot on your mind, you cannot fall asleep. Your body may beg you to rest, but your eyes won’t shut off. Similar is the case with kids. They can't sleep despite trying when they have played a lot or have been too active during the day.

2. Sleep problems

Children might fail to fall asleep at night because of sleep disorders. They might have insomnia or sleep apnea, which results in non-restorative rest. While sleep apnea is a breathing-related sleep disorder caused by airway blockage due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids, insomnia stems from eating too many sugary foods or watching TV before bed.

3. Separation anxiety

Around six months of age, it is normal for kids to feel separation anxiety. It can be a little hard to overcome this feeling, but parents should not try to make it comfortable by talking, rocking, or extra feedings. At best, rubbing the back or speaking softly is recommended. Comforting your baby is fine but make sure that he gets back to sleep on his own. If your kid is afraid of the dark, you can get a nightlight to ease his fear.

4. You are his sleep aide

If you have been rocking your baby to sleep every night, they become unable to fall asleep on their own. As a result, they stay wide awake and cry to get your attention. Thus, you should put your baby down when they are sleepy but not sound asleep. It will aid them in becoming a night soother.

5. Loud snoring

Some children snore while resting. In some cases, it might result from sleep apnea, a disorder where obstruction in breathing leads to poor sleep. You should take your kid to see a pediatrist if snoring hinders his sleep.

6. Poor bedtime routine

Setting up a bedtime routine helps adults realise that it is time to sleep. Similar is the case with kids. When they undergo the same routine like eating, taking a bath, and listening to a bedtime story each night before bed, they start associating sleep with these routines. However, if there is no schedule, dozing off can become difficult.

7. Long nap time

Children get tired during the day because of classes and playtime. Due to this, they may fall asleep during the day. Daytime naps are okay as long as they are 15-30 minutes long. However, if your child stays asleep for long and the nap stretches to a few hours, it might affect his bedtime at night.

 

Conclusion

Children ought to get a good night’s sleep, or they might fall sick. This is not good as it may mean poor sleep and ill-health for parents. To prevent this from happening, first, you need to figure out the cause behind your kid’s disrupted rest. Once you have done that, you can fix this problem to ensure the better health of your children.

 

Disclaimer: The facts and information contained in this article are obtained from reputed medical research organisations and do not necessarily reflect the opinions & beliefs of ResMed. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content is for informational purposes only, and because each person is unique, please consult a healthcare professional for any medical queries.

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