Childhood sleep problem: determining the cause and solution

Babies are beautiful little bundles of joy who are constantly experiencing new things. When they are grumpy or irritable, it can be hard to know why. They can’t talk or show you what’s going on, but they can yell and cry to let you know there’s a problem. Mood swings are common among babies. Parents become familiar with these changes and know what their little one needs. If mood swings occur constantly throughout the night, it can be hard to know exactly what’s going on. Babies need deep sleep to make sure they grow and develop properly. Disturbed sleep night after night can be very hard on your ability to learn and affect your mood every day. A childhood sleep problem or other factors could be causing these nighttime mood swings. Evaluate your child and make sure the items below are not the cause and get treatment if a child sleep problem exists.

When does your child need to be evaluated by a sleep apnea clinic?

There can be many other causes for your nighttime awakenings and irritability. Overfeeding a baby is very common and can cause the baby to wake up hungry. Discuss the amount of food given to your pediatrician to ensure overfeeding does not occur. Not feeding your child enough can have the same result. The discomfort can cause a child to wake up crying at night. Perhaps his diaper is full or the room temperature is too cold. Noises can wake them up like most uncomfortable clothes. Try to change his diaper just before bedtime and limit the amount of fluids he drinks at bedtime. Any baby who is sick will have trouble sleeping. Administer all appropriate medications and do what you can to help them sleep. Once the illness has passed, sleep should return to normal. Anything that overstimulates them can change their sleep pattern. Include a period of time before bed that is relaxing and not too stimulating. This will help them relax and prepare for sleep. If these items don’t work, it’s time to discuss the issues with your pediatrician and determine if an evaluation by a specialist at a sleep apnea clinic is necessary. Apnea is actually very common among children, and other sleep problems can be detected with tests.

Determine if your child needs treatment for sleep apnea

Many disorders can be present in children. Some go away naturally and others require treatment. Sleep apnea is a condition where your child may have difficulty breathing and can be detected in adults by waking up, gasping for breath, or persistent snoring. For children, the most common signs are mouth breathing and waking up many times each night. Your pediatrician can help you determine if a disorder exists and direct you to a sleep apnea clinic. A specialist can further evaluate your child and help determine if sleep apnea treatment is needed. If sleep apnea treatment is recommended, it’s in your child’s best interest to do what the specialist suggests. The result will be sound sleep for you and your little one.