Reasons why children don't sleep well

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was consulted professionally with Master, Doctor Phan Thi Cam Van - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

1. How often do children sleep?

* From 0-3 months: sleep in this period is especially necessary for the growth and development of babies. At this age, babies only wake up to eat or see activities around them, then go back to sleep.
*From 3-12 months old: at 6 months old, babies will sleep through the night, and stay awake longer during the day. As babies near their first birthday, they usually sleep more steadily at night with a nap or two during the day.
*From 12 months and up: as toddlers, babies often take one longer nap instead of two daytime naps. By the time they reach preschool age, children will be completely weaned.

2. Causes of sleep disruption in children

At almost every stage of development, physical and cognitive changes can cause difficulty falling asleep, or staying asleep, in young children.
Your baby may have separation anxiety disorder and wants to be cuddled and cuddled in the middle of the night. This condition usually occurs in babies 8-12 months old, and goes away by the time the child is 2 years old. Children who are learning words can wake up when their mind prompts them to read the names of objects around them. Even the act of stretching arms and legs can wake your baby up at night.
Sleep disruptions can also be caused by an exciting or tiring day that leaves a child feeling too restless to get a good night's sleep. In addition, foods and beverages containing caffeine are also the main factors leading to difficulty falling asleep, or not sleeping deeply in children.
In addition, new surroundings, or changes in the child's habits also contribute to sleep disruption. Several other possible causes of this problem include illness, sleep apnea, allergies, sleepwalking, nightmares, or restless legs syndrome.
*Sleep apnea: this is an extremely dangerous condition because babies can stop breathing for a period of 10 seconds or more during sleep. In most cases, the child will not know this is happening. With sleep apnea, children often have symptoms such as loud snoring, sleeping with their mouth open, and excessive sleepiness during the day. Furthermore, the condition can also lead to learning and behavioral problems, and even affect heart health in children.
*Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): Although this is considered a common problem in adults, some studies have shown that it can start in childhood. When children have this syndrome, children will feel their legs are swaying, shaking or crawling, causing them to frequently change positions in bed.

Nightmares: Nightmares are more common in children than in adults, causing children to wake up suddenly in a state of fear, agitation, screaming, crying, and sometimes sleepwalking. When children wake up, they are often not really awake, or even remember how the nightmare happened. Most nightmares will occur during NREM sleep - about 90 minutes after the child falls asleep.
*Allergies and Asthma: A stuffy nose caused by allergies, colds or asthma can make it hard for a child to breathe. In infants, conditions such as colic, earache, teething pain, or acid reflux can interfere with a baby's sleep.
*Medications: Some cold and allergy medications can adversely affect a child's sleep quality. Ideally, you should see your doctor for advice on changing medications and dosages for children.

3. How to make children sleep better?

Baby will fall asleep more easily if you follow some of the following methods:
Put your baby to sleep on his back: putting your baby to sleep in this position will greatly reduce the risk of sudden infant death (SIDS) SIDS syndrome). Turn off light devices in the room: babies between 3-6 months old have begun to respond to light, so blue light from phone, TV or computer screens can make it difficult for babies to sleep. Use stuffed animals: the softness of stuffed animals will help your baby feel safe, warm and comfortable while sleeping. Reduce stress before bed: High levels of the hormone cortisol in the body will cause stress for children and make it difficult for them to fall asleep. Parents should try to keep their children calm and comfortable before going to bed, this will help reduce excess cortisol in the child's body.

As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. upon reaching adulthood. Advanced techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - craniofacial surgery, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

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Source: webmd.com & healthline.coma