| Many children experience sleep disorders. They | | | | The most common sleep disorders include |
| vary from night terrors and sleep walking to | | | | nightmares/night terrors, sleepwalking/talking, |
| serious breathing disorders. The most common | | | | bruxism, head banging or rolling and bedwetting |
| causes of daytime sleep are insufficient sleep at | | | | (enuresis.) A child's fear of the dark can worsen |
| night and abnormal or other unhygienic sleep | | | | sleep disorders. This often results in nightmares. |
| practices. | | | | Sleepwalking, also called somnambulism) is a |
| About 30% of children have sleep disorders in | | | | harmless disorder if the parents can make the |
| their childhood. The sleep-environment history of a | | | | environment safe. Talking while asleep is also |
| person is a very important factor when | | | | harmless. Bruxism (grinding and gnashing the teeth |
| diagnosing sleep disorders. A child cycles between | | | | during sleep) is an annoying sleep disturber. It can |
| light and deep sleep phases during sleep. During | | | | even lead to dental problems. Most children are |
| each light sleep, there is more chance for the child | | | | head rollers or head bangers during their sleep. It |
| to wake up. Normally, school aged children need 9 | | | | is another harmless disorder that would normally |
| to 12 hours of sleep at night. If a child can go to | | | | disappear before adolescence. It is advisable to |
| bed, fall asleep, wake up easily and not felt tired | | | | consult a doctor in case of prolonged occurrence |
| during the day, then he is getting enough sleep. | | | | of bedwetting. |
| The symptoms of children's sleep disorders are | | | | The most common breathing disorder derived |
| often different than the symptoms of an adult. | | | | from sleep disorders is apnea (OSA). It is very |
| So it is important that for parents and caregivers | | | | common in preschool-age children. Its symptoms |
| give special attention when treating a child?s sleep | | | | are snoring, restless sleep, breathing interruption, |
| disorders. The common symptoms include falling | | | | chronic mouth breathing, difficulty awakening, |
| asleep in the classroom, during conversations, | | | | bedwetting and problems with school |
| during a journey, or while watching the television | | | | performance. Pediatric sleep disorders are mostly |
| or reading a book. Carelessness and mood swings | | | | treatable diseases. |
| are often symptoms of sleep disorders. | | | | |