Kids With Sleeping Disorders

Sleep is an important part of a child's ability to develop and grow properly. According to the National Sleep Foundation, a child will spend 40 percent of his childhood asleep. When kids suffer from sleep disorders it can interfere with the quality of their sleep and have an adverse affect on their overall health.

Types

• Some common sleep disorders in kids include insomnia, sleep walking, sleep apnea, nightmares, night terrors and bedwetting.

Signs

• Signs that kids may be suffering from sleep disorders include trouble falling asleep, frequent waking, excessive snoring, walking while asleep, screaming during the night, waking up groggy and tired, bedwetting, hyperactivity, behavioral problems, poor grades, depression and anxiety.

Prevention/Solution

• To help your child get a better night's rest, stick to a bedtime schedule. Use white noise. Remove electronics from the bedroom. Eliminate caffeine from your child's diet. Ensure your child uses the restroom before bed. Keep the temperature comfortable. Keep the bedroom dark. And avoid high energy activities before bedtime.

Considerations

• Medical intervention is not usually necessary for most common sleep disorders. They tend to subside as children reach adolescence.

Warning

• Severe cases of sleep apnea may require children to have their tonsils and adenoids removed.