What are the symptoms and causes of difficulty falling asleep in children?
What Is Insomnia in Children?
Insomniarefers to any difficulty falling or staying asleep, as well as sleep that simply is not refreshing.
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Children may suffer from insomnia for various reasons, including difficulties related to theirsleep environmentor poor sleep habits.
The Symptoms of Insomnia in Children
In general, children need more sleep than adults.
This varies somewhat based on age.
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When sleep is needed, a child will simply fall asleep and get it.
It is best to optimize the amount of time in bed overnight to meet these sleep needs.
Younger children may take 1-2 naps during the day to get adequate rest.
By the age of 4 or 5, however, most children will stop taking daytime naps.
Beyond simply being unable to fall asleep, other aspects of behavior and evengrowthspiral out of control.
What Causes Insomnia in Children?
There are a variety of potential causes of insomnia in children.
It can sometimes relate to improper expectations by guardians.
For example, as children get older, they may need less sleep.
If the bedtime is not delayed later, the child will have trouble falling asleep.
Infants should be put down when they are falling asleep, and preferably before they fall asleep.
It can sometimes be helpful to transition the bed to a crib prior to the onset of sleep.
can be used to delay bedtime effectively.
Older children may wake in the night and go to their guardians' bedroom.
If guardians are able to enforce strict rules and boundaries, these behaviors will gradually cease.
Rarely, children may have insomnia that requires additional evaluation and treatment.
The two types of behavioral insomnia can improve quickly with education and observation of consistent rules.
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In some cases, further assistance may be needed.
Children with disabilities may require additional support.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
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