Sleep Issues That Affect Your Child
Figuring out what are considered sleep issues is difficult because of the differences in sleep patterns that occur at different developmental stages. While it is not considered unusual for a two-month-old infant to wake frequently in the night, it is considered unusual toddler behavior. Parents vary greatly in their tolerance of their children’s sleeping habits. What one family feels is a problem, another family doesn’t see as being wrong, which makes defining what is or is not a sleep problem even more difficult. Let us take a look at some common sleep problems.
Night terrors usually occur in children who are three to eight years old and happen approximately 90 minutes after falling to sleep. Your child may suddenly sit upright and scream, and be inconsolable. As frightening as they might be, rest assured that they usually go away on their own. Alleviating stress and ensuring that your child is getting enough rest is all that can be done to combat night terrors.
Sleepwalking and sleep talking can be another concern for parents and they should take steps to make balconies or stairs safe, since sleepwalkers can experience physical harm. Their bedroom should be on the first floor of the home, with the windows and doors firmly secured. Parents should keep interventions to a minimum as these sleep behaviors generally do not require any interference, except for safety. This disorder is usually outgrown by adolescence.
Bed wetting is considered one of the most prevalent and persistent sleep issues a family can face. A family history of bed wetting tends to be a mitigating factor. Kids who lag developmentally at one and three years of age are more likely to still be bed wetting at age six. It is a more serious issue than being uncooperative in toddlers potty training attempts or dismissed as unpleasant behavior. It is thought that kids who wet the bed have a lower bladder capacity.
While colic is not a sleep problem on the surface, colicky infants appear to have a shorter duration of sleep. Colic is often the bane of a new parent’s existence in that sleep problems may sometimes persist after the child has outgrown the colic. Strategies that parents developed to cope with the crying spells, like frequently holding the infant or car rides can interfere with the adaptation of normal sleep patterns.
Like most parents of small children, you are probably eager to know when you can expect your child to sleep through the night. By making sure you put your child to bed when he or she is still awake, you create a situation where your child has a chance to self-soothe and get to sleep on their own. This type of conditioning helps avoid sleep issues before they start. Remember that small things, like when they start potty learning, may affect sleep patterns for a short time.
Tags: sleep issues, start potty training, toddler behavior, toilet train