Child spending sleepless nights? Here's what you do!
Sleep problems in children are one of the most common issues families face today. In a changing world with limited social support, children as well as parents find managing the day very difficult after a disrupted night's sleep. This in turn affects the child's school/exam performance and family life considerably. So, how does a parent recognize difficulties and when do they seek help for their child?
All of us have an internal body clock that regulates our 24-hour sleep-wake cycle. Sleep problems occur when this internal clock does not work properly – difficulties with sleeping become sleep difficulties over a period of time.
What's causing the sleep problems?
Common sleep problems in children and adolescents can broadly be divided into problems with falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up too early or late, or a combination of the above. The causes for these vary greatly with the age and developmental stage of the child or adolescent.
A younger child may be in discomfort. The surroundings may be too hot or cold or the child may be in pain due to an underlying condition such as colic. Either may be difficult for a very young child to verbalize.
The child could also be experiencing what psychiatrists refer to as ‘sleep terrors’ or disturbed sleep due to dreams that are not easily recalled the next day.
