Children need at least 10 hours of sleep each night for proper growth and development. When they do not get the recommended duration of sleep, they are more prone to behavioural issues and a few health conditions as well. Hence, if your deep sleeper suddenly wakes up in the middle of the night or refuses to go to sleep for days together, you will need to seek medical help for the same.
Insomnia is a sleeping disorder which prevents that child from falling asleep at night or staying asleep. A child with insomnia may also wake up unusually early and may not be able to go back to sleep.
Insomnia is commonly an adult issue but may be found in children too. The causes of adult insomnia are primarily different from that of children. Kids usually have the problem of behavioural insomnia and as many of 25% of the children can experience this at some point in their childhood.
In children, insomnia is usually related to behaviour. The three major types of insomnia in children are:
In older children, insomnia caused by sleep onset association is usually due to the presence of a certain item in the room like a phone, computer or TV. Children may not be able to sleep as the content presented on these devices may be very appealing and also the light emitted can prevent the release of melatonin, which is the sleep hormone.
There may be several reasons for insomnia in children. Some of the common causes of insomnia in children are:
Stress can be one of the major reasons for insomnia in kids. Children are impacted largely by the incidences around them. A stress environment at home, being bullied at school, relocation to a different city or any other fears may be the core cause of lack of sleep in many children. It is essential for parents to identify the cause of stress and provide the mental and emotional support necessary to alleviate stress and anxiety in children.
Children, mostly teenagers may have the habit of consuming a large amount of soda on a daily basis. Soda, like coffee, contains caffeine that prevents them from sleeping at night. Products with nicotine can also disrupt sleep.
If your child is on medication for depression or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), he may have trouble falling asleep. These drugs are known to alter and affect sleeping pattern in children. Corticosteroids used for allergies and asthma and anticonvulsants used for seizures can also cause insomnia in children.
Children with medical conditions like depression and anxiety tend to have a problem falling asleep. Other medical conditions like asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, muscle cramps, etc., may also disturb sleep in children.
Neurodevelopment conditions like ADHD, autism and Asperger’s syndrome are also known to cause insomnia.
5. Environmental Factors
Children tend to get affected significantly by a change in the sleep conditions like temperature, lighting, and noise. Uncomfortable mattresses may also contribute to the problem. Phones, video games, and computers can also be a major cause of distraction for children in the process of falling asleep.
Symptoms of insomnia in children include:
Diagnosis of insomnia in children can be done by collecting the sleep history of your child. The doctor may even inquire about the prevalence of any sleep disorders in your family. A physical examination may be conducted to rule out the possibility of any underlying medical conditions that may have caused insomnia.
The doctor may also recommend a polysomnogram or a sleep study to find out about any sleep disorders that your child may have. This study is conducted overnight in a sleep lab where your child’s blood oxygen level, eye movements, heart rate, blood pressure and brain activity are measured.
Children are often not articulate enough to communicate to the doctors about the symptoms they are facing. The observation and the communication are left to the parent. Also, since insomnia can often be a symptom of a different condition, the process of diagnosis may be long and tedious. As opposed to adults, children cannot provide first-hand information about their insomnia to the doctor.
Treatment for insomnia is given based on the diagnosis. Some of the standard treatment procedures or cures for insomnia in children include:
If your child is suffering from insomnia, it is best to first try out some of the home remedies for insomnia in kids, before you opt for medications. Most short-term insomnia can be treated with the help of home remedies.
Lack of sleep can have severe ramifications for the development of your child. If you little one does not get enough sleep in his growing years, his cognitive development may slow down due to lack of rest. It is essential to identify the cause of sleeplessness and discuss with your doctor about how to help a child with insomnia. Timely intervention and help can help your child overcome this problem.