There are many types of sleep problems, and if your child experiences any of them, it can affect him in a variety of ways. For his overall health, well being and happiness, as well as your own, figuring out the cause and helping your child...
Insomnia and other sleep disorders, such as sleepwalking, nightmares, night terrors, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy and even wetting the bed, affect children as well as adults. When kids have sleep disturbances, the daytime effects are...
Newborns have notoriously short sleep spans, but by the time your baby turns five-months-old, she should have started sleeping for longer stretches of time, ranging from five to eight hours a night. Learning how to put a five-month-old baby to...
In her 2004 article, “Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Children and Adolescents,” Peg Dawson, EdD, indicates that health professionals estimate 30 percent of children suffer acute or chronic sleep disturbances. While the necessary amount...
Some parents are blessed with a child that sleeps well most of the night. Others may have a nightly struggle with trying to put their child to sleep. They may have spent months or even years finding a method that helps, and, as a result, manage...
Toddlers need 12 to 14 hours of sleep every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, as any parent knows, getting a toddler to sleep can present serious problems. In some cases, toddlers may even have sleep...
The pineal gland in your brain secretes melatonin, which is a hormone that helps regulate your sleep/wake cycle. When you are in the dark, your body produces more melatonin, causing you to sleep better. When you are in the light, the production of...
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, may be twice as likely as children without the condition to have trouble sleeping. Teasing apart the cause and effect can be difficult because medical theories differ. Not only does...
If your child complains he is still tired when you wake him up after a full night's sleep, or he appears sluggish all day, he may be a restless sleeper. Children between the ages of 5 to 12 need 10 to 11 hours of quality sleep each night,...
Melatonin plus Theanine is an over-the-counter sleep product used to combat insomnia, mild sleep disturbances and to combat jet lag. RxList.com posits that melatonin plus theanine has a high safety profile, however, caution should be exercised for...
According to a 2007 review published in the journal Sleep, almost 20 million US children received medical attention for sleep difficulties between the years 1993 and 2004. This treatment often included prescriptions for hypnotic medications like...
Good sleep is important to your child's overall health, affecting his physical and emotional development. The amount of sleep your child needs may astound you; the National Sleep Foundation indicates a child spends 40 percent of childhood asleep....
Attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder is characterized by impaired concentration and focus as well as inappropriate activity that is uncontrolled . Studies have found that children characterized with ADHD have lower levels of certain...
Most babies and young children don't exhibit the type of regular sleeping patterns that their parents want to enjoy. They may resist going to bed, beg to sleep with their parents or refuse to sleep alone. Some children awaken during the night and...
Sleep problems in children often involve anxiety associated with bedtime. Getting adequate rest plays an integral role in the emotional, intellectual and physical development of a child. Several issues can contribute to sleep anxiety as well as to...
According to the National Association of School Psychologists, about 30 percent of children will have a sleeping disorder. Sleep disturbances can cause children to be irritable, have difficulty concentrating in school, be hyperactive and have mood...
Children who have difficulty sleeping may exhibit behavioral difficulties and moodiness that affects the entire family, says the American Sleep Association. As your child progresses from toddler to adolescent, a good night's sleep can be impaired...
A child needs between 10 and 14 hours of sleep every night, depending on age. However, your child may wake during the night, interrupting his sleep and making him irritable in the mornings. This is nothing unusual and generally nothing to worry...
Bed time can be a trying time for parents and children when tantrums, crying or fear enter into the routine. Children need sleep to help their growth cycle and, just as adults do, to recharge and be in top condition for the next day. When children...
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland. It is used by the body to regulate sleep patterns. Low levels of the hormone can lead to sleep disturbances, and melatonin supplements can help improve quality of sleep. Studies have shown that...
Each night after sunset, a tiny conical structure in the brain releases the hormone melatonin. This hormone regulates circadian sleeping and wakefulness patterns, and modulates other hormones. A synthetic version of melatonin is sold over the...
Melatonin is a popular natural sleep aid for both adults and children. This naturally occurring hormone is available over the counter in the United States in liquid, sublingual and pill forms. As with any supplement or medication, parents and...
Serotonin, a derivative of an amino acid called tryptophan, is a chemical that interacts with nerve receptors in the brain to influence physical and mental functions such as mood, appetite, sleep cycles and pain regulation. Throughout the body,...
The use of melatonin supplements by children is in a bit of a gray area, especially as there are so few studies regarding its effectiveness and safety. While it can be a useful short-term treatment for sleep disorders in children, including those...
Sleep training is one of the first important steps a parent faces. After weeks of sleepless nights, you may be ready to try anything. There are many different methods for teaching your baby to sleep through the night. The cry-it-out method is one...
Most parents are anxious to get their babies to sleep through the night; several theories are reported to be the best way to achieve that goal. One popular method is the Ferber Sleep Method, named for Dr. Richard Ferber. Dr. Ferber is the director...
Many parents have noticed that their children are difficult to wake up when wetting the bed, leading to a popular notion that bed-wetting, or enuresis, occurs only in the deepest stage of sleep. However, most sleep research indicates that...
Iron deficiency, also called iron deficiency anemia, is a condition that occurs in circumstances that include insufficient iron intake, poor iron absorption and unmet increases in daily iron requirements. Children with iron deficiencies can...
Sleeping well is not just a matter of rest and relaxation; it is vital to your overall health. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression are all associated with insufficient sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and...
