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Questions for Dr. Lundien People seem to be more aware today of sleep problems with adults. But what about sleep problems in children? Sleep problems in children are quite common, and awareness is increasing. There have been studies completed showing that sleep problems in children impact all aspects of their lives: school work, social interaction, and general happiness and well-being. Are there any visual warning signs for sleep problems in children that parents should be aware of? Yes, snoring is a common indicator that a child may have obstructive sleep apnea. In addition, a sleep-deprived child will have difficulty focusing during the day. He/she may be easily upset, irritable or overly emotional. It seems like many children now have sleep problems or are identified as having sleep problems. Is it as common as it seems or are we just hearing more about it? About one in five children has a sleep disorder of some type. There are 88 types of sleep disorders, and 50 of them can occur in children. They can range from nightmares and night terrors to snoring, obstructive sleep apnea or sleep walking. Should I tell my child's primary care doctor if my child isn't sleeping well? What can they do about it? Your child's primary care physician needs to know about any trouble your child has sleeping. He/she will examine your child with this problem in mind and may refer your child to the Children's Sleep Medicine Center for further evaluation. There is probably a reason for the child's difficulty sleeping; ff the cause can be identified and corrected, the result may be a happier, more productive child. How does lack of sleep impact a child's ability to do their schoolwork/pay attention in class? Is there any correlation between sleep deprivation and doing poorly I school? All of us gather information during the day while we are awake; then, we consolidate that information into memories at night while we sleep. Therefore, children who do not "get a good night's sleep" have trouble remembering what they learned during the day, and their schoolwork suffers. I've heard that a child who is sleep deprived might exhibit the same "symptoms" or behave similarly to a child with ADHD. Can you tell us more about that? Yes, it is true. If you take 50 children who are sleep deprived, and place them in a room with 50 children who have been diagnosed with AD/HD, you cannot tell them apart by their behavior. They will have difficulty focusing and impulsiveness, and many will be unable to sit still. What can you teach your children about why it's important to get enough sleep? How do you make sleep a priority? The best way is often the most difficult for parents: lead by example. If it is important for not only your child, but also for you, to get enough sleep, your child sees that you value sleep for yourself. How important is a "routine" bedtime? What should those bedtime routines be? A routine time to go to bed is very important and is part of a bedtime routine, which helps the child prepare to go to sleep each evening. The routine might begin by bathing, brushing teeth and putting on night clothes, then end with the parent reading a story and having that special "one-on-one" time with the child – which is valuable in so many ways. How long should it take/how long should you give to establish a "new" sleep routine with your child? In as little as one week, an expectation can be established. Rules, limits and boundaries for a sleep routine should be set for children, and they should be expected to operate within those limits. As the child learns that you are serious about these expectations, the routine is established. A good pattern of routine can usually be set in about a month. Could sleep deprivation make my toddler a more "terrible two"? Absolutely. Lack of sleep can create a "terrible two" at any age, including during the teenage years. Adults also can be irritable when they are sleep deprived. Growing children, and even teenagers, have no inhibitions about letting others know when they are unhappy! So, they become "terrible twos" and difficult teenagers. |
