According to Peg Dawson, EdD, around 30 percent of children will suffer from a sleep disorder. Sleep disorders can affect children's academic and behavioral issues at school. Therefore, it is imperative that you are aware of diagnose and treat your child's sleep problems. Some children's sleep disorders are very common and easily treated right at home. Others may need to be treated by a physician or even a sleep specialist.
Instructions
1. Meet with your child's school social worker to discuss his normal sleep pattern and bedtime routines. Both of you will discuss and analyze his weekday and weekend routines, if he has a hard time staying alert in class and how long it takes him to fall asleep. Often if a child is struggling, poor sleep habits are the culprit.
2. Meet with your child's pediatrician as well to discuss your concerns. If your pediatrician is not well-versed in a particular sleep disorder, she will refer you to a sleep specialist.
3. Treat any sleep disorders you can at home by making minor adjustments. If your child suffers from night terrors, she may experience fearful, emotional outbursts--occurring while she is half asleep--along with jerky movements. According to Peg Dawson, EdD, you do not want to disturb your child during a night terror; you just want to keep him comfortable. If your child sleep walks throughout the house, you may want to take safety precautions and offer him a first-floor bedroom, but do not disturb him. If your child experiences night-time bed wetting and is between 6 and 12 years old, don't worry; this is very common. If your child has previously had problems with bed wetting, he could have a condition called primary enuresis, which can be treated with bladder control training. This can involve setting alarms to wake your child at night to the bathroom. If your child has previously not had problems and bed wetting starts suddenly, it could be because of secondary enuresis. This condition may be caused by stress, and you need to figure out what that stressor is to help your child.
4. Work with a physician in the case of more serious sleep disorders. If your child suffers from sleep apnea and has trouble breathing because of obstructed passages, she may snore heavily and be extremely tired during school. Children with sleep apnea often benefit from having their tonsils or adenoids removed. Narcolepsy may often start in adolescence and includes sudden sleep attacks and hallucinations. If you suspect your child has this disorder, get her to a sleep specialist. The specialist may recommend 12 hours of sleep a night, scheduled naps or sleep aids.
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