| Sleep disorders in children are more common than | | | | very scary and stressful for everyone, including |
| is realized by most people, in fact around 42% of | | | | the child and parents, and needs medical |
| children in the US suffer from sleep disorders in | | | | treatment to get it under control. Also, sleep |
| one form or another. For instance sleep apnea is | | | | apnea can attack children, including premature |
| recognized as a common disorder amongst | | | | newborns and also, the elderly. |
| children of all age groups, with the most affected | | | | * Yet another problem is heartburn which can be |
| being the 3 to 6 years old. Figures show that in | | | | dangerous and although not seen as a sleep |
| the US there are between 1.4 to 2 million children | | | | disorder can often run along side some of the |
| who suffer from sleep apnea alone. | | | | common sleep disorders in children. The danger |
| Some different sleep disorders in children, including | | | | arises in the sleeping children when stomach acids |
| sleepwalking and bruxism: | | | | regurgitates into the throat, whilst this can be due |
| * One common sleep disorder in children is | | | | to an underlying medical problem it can also be |
| sleepwalking also known as somnambulism, this is | | | | eating food to close to bed time. |
| generally harmless if special care is taken to | | | | RLS, also known as restless leg syndrome is also |
| provide a safe sleeping environment. Sleeping | | | | a disorder that children can suffer from which is |
| children can some times be heard talking in their | | | | very stressful and irritating, this ailment can help |
| sleep or sleep with their eyes open, and strange | | | | to bring on nightmares, sleepwalking and insomnia. |
| as these disorders seem, will not harm the child | | | | A few of the sleep problems mentioned above |
| most of the time. | | | | can cause or lead to ALTE which is another name |
| * Sleep disorders in children may also take the | | | | for Apparent Life Threatening Event, which is |
| form of Bruxism which is a destructive habit of | | | | where a child looks lifeless, limp and pale in color. |
| grinding and gnashing the teeth while they are | | | | With this particular sleep problem it will be quite |
| asleep, this can be a very disturbing disorder that | | | | hard to wake the child and once awake they may |
| can also cause dental problems. Children also often | | | | be very listless, this is not a very nice experience |
| bang their heads or roll their heads, this usually | | | | for all involved. |
| happens when they are about to fall asleep. Again | | | | However, the most scary and probably the least |
| this is another sleep disorder that is usually | | | | understood of the sleep disorders in children is |
| harmless and they will soon outgrow it, before | | | | SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, |
| becoming teenagers. | | | | unfortunately there aren't many if any treatments |
| * Other sleep disorders in children include nocturnal | | | | available for this disorder. |
| asthma and nocturnal seizures that are often | | | | |