4 Questions to Ask a Pediatric Sleep Team

Some children, especially those with developmental disorders, have long-term sleep issues that can affect their functioning, as well as their parents’ quality of life. There are many signs that indicate a child should see a sleep specialist, including:

– Struggling to fall asleep
– Struggling to stay asleep
– Feeling tired during the day
– Finding it harder to do regular activities
– Snoring very loudly
– Falling asleep at abnormal times
– Struggling to stay awake when inactive
– Having difficulty paying attention or concentrating
– Having performance problems at school
– Often look tired
– Having difficulty remembering things
– Having slowed responses
– Having difficulty controlling emotions
– Feeling the need to take naps daily

There are several potential causes of sleep problems in toddlers, such as underlying health or psychological problems. Other common causes include:

– Separation Anxiety — Toddlers are attached to their parents and may become anxious when left alone in a dark room; they might want to spend time with a parent to help them fall asleep.
– Sugar — If children consume too much sugar (or caffeine) before bed, it can prevent them from falling asleep. To ameliorate this, try limiting their sugar intake two to three hours before bedtime.
– Nightmares — Children have very active imaginations which often translate into their nightly experience as vivid dreams. Occasionally, all children experience nightmares, but having regular nightmares or even night terrors can cause children to lose sleep.
– Excitement — Many times a child might be overstimulated by something that happened or overly excited for something to come, such as Christmas, their birthday, or a special event.
– Tonsils and Adenoids — Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are one of the main causes of sleep apnea in children; as many as 10 percent of all children may have sleep disturbances as a result of large tonsils and adenoids.

Sleep disorders may also be hereditary, so if either one of the child’s parents has a sleep disorder, such as insomnia, the child may also be at risk of developing the same condition.

Children can exhibit several signs of a sleep disorder that parents should keep a close watch over, including:

– Getting less than 9 hours of sleep
– Pauses in breathing during sleep
– Trouble falling asleep
– Trouble sleeping through the night
– Trouble staying awake during daytime
– Snoring
– Sleepwalking, nightmares, or bedwetting
– Noticeable mood or behavioral problems
– Problems with memory, concentration, learning, and performance
– Slower reaction times
– Overeating

If your child is exhibiting any of the aforementioned signs of sleep disorder, it is imperative to have them evaluated by a sleep specialist to ensure they can return to normal functioning levels.

If your child is having trouble sleeping, come to Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders today. Our pediatric sleep specialist is experienced at diagnosing sleep disorders in children and can help your little one get a good night’s rest. Call us today to book an appointment with our pediatric sleep specialist.