Excessive Sleeping in Children

The body's natural reaction to being tired is falling asleep, but when a child falls asleep too much or at times when he/she is typically awake, that is not normal.

Description

• Excessive sleeping in children usually occurs during the day as a result of inadequate sleep at night. According to childrentoday.com, excessive daytime sleepiness presents itself when a child has problems staying awake and alert in class, on the playground or at the dinner table.

Causes

• Fear, stress, sleep apnea, snoring and bedwetting are among the causes of excessive sleeping disorders in children. Medical problems and medications also can dramatically affect sleep in children and result in excessive daytime sleeping.

Treatment

• Establishing a bedtime routine that includes a bath and bedtime story gets children in the routine of calming down and preparing for sleep. However, if a child snores or tosses and turns during the night, this could be a sign of sleep apnea, which is a medical condition that should be diagnosed by a pediatrician.

Warning Signs

• In addition to obvious signs like sleeping during unusual or unexpected times, disinterest in interacting with other children and declining grades are warning signs that a child may have a sleeping problem.

Conclusion

• Each child has a different reason for developing an excessive sleeping disorder. So, too, will the treatment be different for each child.