Having a child fall asleep in your arms is the most beautiful feeling in the world. As parents, we want to give the world to our children and right all wrongs. If your child is experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, excess movement during sleep or irregular breathing, they are likely experiencing a sleep disorder. A quick remedy for problems in sleep in children is a dose of melatonin gummies for kids. It is a commonly suggested supplement, which is safe and effective.

How much sleep does your child need?

To perform efficiently, children like adults need sleep. However, the minimum requirement is much more than that of the adults. The recommended sleep time for children below 12 years of age is 14 to 16 hours. As the child grows, the minimum nap time decreases to 11 to 14 hours. Eventually, when a child reaches the period between 6 years to 12 years, necessary sleep hours fall to 9 to 12 years which continues throughout their teenage. However, your child might have a unique pattern and if he or she is sleeping more or less than the recommended hours, but their sleep is peaceful and disruptive, it is probably not a sleep disorder but their natural sleep-wake cycle.

How to determine if your child has a sleep disorder?

A deficiency of sleep adversely affects a child’s behaviour and mood. A child suffering from a sleep disorder is unable to control their mood swings. In some rare cases, insufficient sleep impersonates the conditions of ADHD in children.

To determine if a child is suffering from a sleep disorder, look for the following conditions:

• The child is facing problems in focusing or concentrating.
• The child is frequently irritable or cranky.
• The child struggles in catching up with conversations.
• The child often blanks out or spaces out.
• The child has a disrupted sleep and wakes up frequently during the night.
• The child seems tired when you wake him/her up.

If the above symptoms are present in a child, they are likely to suffer from sleep disorders. In this case, you should consult a child sleep consultant who focuses on building a healthy sleep foundation using developmental strategies. 

Common sleep disorders in children

Children experiencing sleep disorders don’t just have difficulty staying asleep all night; they cannot keep awake all day. Commonly there are two types of sleep disorders found in children. Fortunately, they are curable and the treatment in uncomplicated. These sleep disorders are discussed below:

Insomnia

One of the most significant sleep issues among kids is insomnia. Insomnia left children unable to fall asleep quickly, and once they manage to fall asleep, it doesn’t allow them to sleep for long. Children who have insomnia keep waking up at night, resulting in disruptive, non-restorative sleep.

Many times the condition cures itself; however, if your child experiences insomnia more than thrice a week for a prolonged period of several months, he or she need help to get over the condition.

Causes of insomnia in youngsters

Children are susceptible, and their habits have a more significant effect on their bodies than adults. If a child watches television or uses a cell phone or tablet right before his/her bedtime, it could disrupt their sleeping patterns.

Similarly, the diet of a child plays a critical role in his/her sleep cycle. A child consuming excess sugary foods may find himself to alert to sleep, even the quality of their sleep is diminished, and they cannot get a deep restorative sleep.

Other causes of insomnia may include stress at home or school caused by either bullying or marital problems between parents. Changes in the sleeping environment, for instance, the arrival of a new baby can also indulge small kids in stress which induces insomnia.

Excessive intake of energy drinks and sodas also triggers insomnia. Keep kids away from them as much as possible. 

• Sleep Apnea

When a kid stops breathing for a short time during sleep, this condition is called Sleep Apnea. It’s leading cause is airway blockage, caused by large tonsils. It could be identified by loud and noisy breathing or snoring during sleep.

Other symptoms include restless sleep, vivid dreams, sleepwalking, etc. The initial treatment of obstructive sleep apnea is diet and surgery. Make your child sleep sideways as this sleep position helps in sleep apnea by calming the snores and encourage the flow of blood.

Other sleeping disorders are not very common. These include narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, and REM sleep behaviour disorder.

Ways to overcome sleep disorders

Healthy changes in lifestyle have helped many kids cope with their sleeping disorders. Following are the home remedies you could adopt to relieve your child’s sleep disorder:

• Encouraging uniform sleeping patterns help children fall asleep and wake up naturally. It sets their biological clock on schedule. Try to maintain the same sleep schedule even on weekends.
• Ensure that the child’s bedroom is a comfortable zone with a cosy bed and pillow. Avoid overabundance of toys on your kid’s bed.
• A light snack and a glass of warm milk are ideal for a child before bedtime. Make sure your child does not overeat or goes hungry to bed.
• Make sure your child is physically active throughout the day. This would trigger deep restorative sleep and could do wonders for a kid.
• Limit the child’s screen time. Gadgets emit light which hurts a child’s melatonin productions at night, thus hampering their sleep.

The tips mentioned above could assist you in improving the sleep quality of your kid, consequently improving the overall well being.