Pediatric

Nightmares often occur at times of transition, stress, or change in a child’s routine. They usually occur later in the night and are remembered the next day. Fortunately, nightmares tend to go away naturally.

Encouraging your child to talk about the nightmare, avoiding television immediately before bedtime, and discussing comforting images before bedtime are strategies that assist in alleviating nightmares.

Sleep Terrors/Sleep Walking occur most frequently from 4 to 8 years old. These sleep disruptions occur during the early part of the night. The child is both asleep and awake at the same time and often has no memory of the event the next day. Waking or comforting the child is usually not helpful as it prolongs the event. Be sure your child’s room and your house are safe. Most importantly, encourage him or her to get enough sleep.

Sleep Apnea is a serious disorder in which there are pauses in breathing during sleep. Children with sleep apnea may snore loudly, experience restless sleep, and be sleepy during the day. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids, allergies, weight problems, and other medical problems may be associated with sleep apnea. There are many different ways to treat apnea, so it is important to see your doctor or visit a sleep center for diagnosis and treatment.

Narcolepsy is often first noticed in puberty, but may occur as early as 10 years of age. Children with narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness and uncontrollable "sleep attacks" even when they get enough sleep. Children with narcolepsy should be diagnosed by a doctor.

Encourage your child to fall asleep alone. Have your child form positive associations with sleeping. A child should not need a parent to help him or her fall asleep. The child who falls asleep on his or her own will be better able to return to sleep during normal nighttime awakenings and sleep throughout the night.

Discourage nighttime awakenings. When you go to your child’s room every time he or she wakes during the night you are strengthening the connection between you and the sleep for your child. Even babies who are held and cuddled when they wake in the middle of the night soon learn to expect this and do not learn to go back to sleep on their own. Except during conditions when the child is sick, has been injured, or clearly requires your assistance, it is important to give your child a consistent message that he or she is expected to fall asleep on his or her own.

Follow a nightly routine. A bedtime ritual makes it easier for your child to relax, fall asleep, and sleep through the night.