I Can’t Sleep: 4 Common Child Sleep Disorders

Are you wondering if your child is suffering from a sleep disorder? You’re not alone, as up to 50% of children may suffer from sleep issues at a young age.

There are certain sleep disorders that are common in children that you should learn about to find out if your child may be suffering from one. Poor sleep quality and/or quantity could negatively affect your child in many ways, from academic issues to health problems.

Keep reading to learn more about common child sleep disorders so that you can help your child get the sleep they need.

1. Arousal Disorders

Does your child transition from deep to light sleep or partial wakefulness? If so, they may be suffering from an arousal disorder. If your child has this disorder, they may not fully wake up and may often enter a confusional state.

During this episode, the child may appear to be simultaneously awake and asleep. The child may be unresponsive, appearing disoriented and confused. Entering this state may also cause them to sleepwalk.

Typically, a child will only have this episode once a night within the first few hours of falling asleep. This issue may be health-related, so it’s a good idea to seek help from medical professionals.

2. Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS)

A disorder similar to sleep apnea, UARS reduces the size of the airways as the soft tissue in the throat relaxes. This results in disturbed sleep which may cause impairment and sleepiness during the day. This increase in breathing effort may cause the child to wake up several times in the night.

There are plenty of treatment options for UARS, from restoring functional development patterns to orthodontic treatment. To learn more about these options, read this helpful post.

3. Insomnia

This common sleep disorder causes both daytime and nighttime symptoms. At night, the child may have difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep once they do. Daytime issues may include anxiety over sleep as well as difficulties with concentration and memory.

The diagnosis is made when symptoms persist for a month, and the condition is considered chronic for cases that last up to 6 months. There are some habitual solutions that may help your child overcome insomnia, as well as behavioural treatment options.

4. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)

This sleep-related respiratory condition occurs when one repeatedly stops breathing during sleep. This is caused because the brain does not cue the body to breathe. This causes instability of the breathing control system as the child transitions from being awake to being asleep.

This may be a result of a decreased response to low oxygen or high carbon dioxide which could cause frequent episodes of shallow breathing. If your child is having issues breathing while sleeping, seek medical assistance as soon as possible.

Common Child Sleep Disorders

If your child is having difficulty sleeping, it could be due to one of the above child sleep disorders. If you’re concerned about your child’s health due to their irregular sleeping habits, talk to their doctor to discuss possible treatment options. Work with your child to ensure that they get the sleep they need to be happy and healthy by learning more about sleeping problems in children.

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