Toddler Sleep Disorder: is your toddler a problem sleeper?

June 20th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

You know the situation—it’s the middle of the night, and you’ve been sound asleep for several hours. Suddenly, you hear a little voice say, “Mommy, can I come into bed with you?” You sigh, roll over, and make space for your toddler to climb into the bed in between you and your spouse. Normal toddler behavior, right? Perhaps so.

But maybe your toddler could be suffering from a toddler sleep disorder-one of many sleep disorders that most commonly afflicts toddlers and young children. Oh, great, you may be thinking. I’ve just stopped worrying about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and now I have to worry about a toddler sleep disorder? Well, the good news is that you shouldn’t worry too much. Only about 10 per cent of toddlers are actually afflicted by a toddler sleep disorder.

In fact, it is common for toddlers to have trouble sleeping during the night, especially if they are plagued by frequent ear infections. Boys are generally more likely than girls to have trouble sleeping, because they are more susceptible to other disorders like hyperactivity and Attention Deficit Disorder that can affect sleeping habits. However, despite the low risk factor that your toddler could have a toddler sleep disorder, it is important to be aware of the possibilities and seek treatment if necessary.

Common Sleep Disorders Found in Toddlers

There are some sleep disorders that, while they can affect anyone, are most commonly found in toddlers. These toddler sleep disorders include: sleep apnea, sleepwalking, night terrors, head banging, and rocking. Common symptoms of a toddler sleep disorder are: snoring, breathing noisily, breathing through the mouth, coughing or choking throughout the night, excessive sweating, confusion when waking up during the night, rocking or head banging when falling asleep, looking scared when waking up in the middle of the night, kicking, or sleepwalking.

One of the main ways that you can help your child get the right amount of sleep is by establishing a stable bedtime routine and sleep schedule. Also, if you suspect that your child has a toddler sleep disorder, you should contact your child’s doctor immediately. Remember, it is not uncommon for toddlers to have trouble sleeping. However, many sleep disorders are genetic and can be passed down to toddlers and children from their parents. If this is the case, it is important to diagnose the sleep disorder as early as possible in order to begin treatment as soon as possible.


Sleep Disorders in Babies

June 5th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Sleep disorders in babies are common, especially in the first year.

However, sleep disorders can persist, and if your baby isn’t sleeping through the night, and your doctor feels that he’s fine, you may want to investigate further at a sleep center. As sleep disorders become better known, they’re becoming available in many areas, and you may want to check whether you have one in your city.

Sometimes medicine is recommended to help your baby to sleep, but this is only a temporary measure, which will train the baby to sleep through the night. Sleep is so important to children that it’s worth trying this.