Causes and treatment of insomnia in children

Sleep disorders in children

Sleep is an essential building block for a child's mental and physical health. Sleep in children is a dynamic process that arises and changes as the child grows up. During their growth, children may learn sleeping habits that may be good or bad. Once these habits are established, they may continue for months or even years.
Understanding their sleep needs is the first step towards providing better sleep for your child, through a combination of good sleep techniques, age-appropriate routines and attention to any sleep disorders. It can also help the child get the rest he needs to grow strong and healthy.

Causes and treatment of insomnia in children

Sleep is important for children:

Sleep plays an important role in the development of the human mind, in addition to its direct impact on happiness. Research shows that sleep affects alertness, attention, cognitive performance, mood, flexibility, vocabulary acquisition, learning, and memory. Sleep also has important effects on growth, especially in early childhood. In young children, naps are necessary to strengthen memory and develop motor skills.

When kids don't get enough sleep:

A child who suffers from a lack of sleep can oscillate between being grumpy and hyperactive, with effects that can mimic ADHD. Sleepiness can also affect a child's ability to pay attention. Which affects his performance in school.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a quarter of children under the age of five are not getting enough sleep, and this is concerning. Because poor sleep in early childhood has been linked to nasal allergy and immune system problems as well as anxiety and depression, there is also emerging evidence that poor sleep in childhood may carry future cardiovascular risks in the form of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Some tips to help a child relax before bed:

Doing the same relaxing routine in the same order and at the same time each night helps prepare for bed and promotes good sleep in children:

• Take the child for a warm bath.
• keep the lights dimmed; This encourages the baby's body to produce the sleep hormone (melatonin).
• Once the child is in bed, encourage him to read quietly or read a story together.
• Find out how much sleep a child needs according to his age (as shown in the previous table).
• Avoid electronic devices at least an hour before bedtime. Electronic devices, smartphones and televisions can affect how easily babies fall asleep.
• The child's bedroom should be ideally dark and quiet for a comfortable and quiet sleep, and the room temperature should be appropriate.

Tips for promoting good sleep in teens:

• Limit the use of electronic devices, smartphones, and television at least 30 minutes before bedtime, taking into account the removal of all electronic devices from their bedrooms.
• Maintaining regular physical activity for at least an hour a day to help sleep well and improve overall health.
• Reducing the amount of caffeine found in many beverages (such as soft drinks, tea, and coffee), especially in the four hours before bedtime.
• Do not overeat before bed; This can be a cause of nighttime discomfort and may prevent sleep.
• Avoid staying up late on the weekends, and make sure to get the recommended amount of sleep.

When should you consult a doctor?

The child may suffer from sleep disorders, which need help, and therefore medical treatment. If the child suffers from one of the following complaints, this means that it is time to consult a specialist:

• snoring
• Inadequate daytime sleep (eg, falling asleep at school after a good night's sleep).
• Not being able to sleep at night.
• Frequent waking up at night.
• Frequent sleepwalking or nightmares.

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