The Importance of Sleep and Routine for Young Children

Quality sleep can fill you with vigour, and no one requires more energy than a child does. Without adequate night-time sleep, kids can display behavioural issues, have trouble learning and experience wellness issues. Sleep problems in children are astonishingly frequent. Read on for more information on the symptoms of common sleep disorders in children, how they can impact their growth and the treatment choices available.

When they are first born, children have irregular sleep patterns and may only sleep for a couple of hours at any one time. Nevertheless, over the period of twenty-four hours, they will average around sixteen hours total sleep time. Once they start getting older, the amount of sleep young children require, will gradually lessen. While a pre school toddler may still require up to twelve hours sleep per day, once they begin school, that number will reduce to some ten hours. Nevertheless, no two youngsters are the same and each will have their own unique sleep pattern.

It is well known that a child who has a sleep problem will also develop behavioural and attention problems in school. Various studies have reported that approximately thirty-seven percent of all school aged children experience significant, nocturnal sleeping issues. Problems may include a reluctance to go to bed, interrupted sleep, nightmares and sleepwalking. In older children, bedwetting can also become a challenge. Sleep problems are also common in children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder or ADHD. It is essential to try to work out if these issues, particularly if your youngster has problems falling asleep, are a side effect of any ADHD medication they might be taking.

Sleep problems in children can without doubt be defeated if a natural sleep schedule is adopted to ensure that your youngster gets adequate rest. Start by establishing a quiet time before bedtime. This is a good time to take a bath and read a story. By unwinding and relaxing, your child will be able to fall asleep quicker. Once the body adjusts to a set schedule, he or she is more likely to be sleepy at the same time every night. If your child suffers from night-time terrors or nightmares, then make her more comfortable by turning on a night light in the bedroom and letting her to sleep with a favourite teddy bear or other cuddly toy. Physical comfort, such as a firm sleep system is also essential to a good night of sleep, as well as roomy and cosy pje's.

Seeing a physician can treat sleep problems in children. In more serious cases, you can be referred to sleep disorder centres in your area. It is broadly speaking, not a good idea to treat children with sleep medication, but there are cognitive therapy techniques that can help your child sleep sounder and live healthier.