Sleep Disorders play a significant role in children’s biological and psychological development. Getting plenty of sleep is crucial for children’s health and development and greatly reduces the incidence of sleep disorders. However, more than half of all children experience sleep problems at some point during their childhood. Children’s sleep needs vary depending on their age and environment. Children up to age 2 need an average of 14 hours of sleep. As they get older, this decreases to 10–11 hours. In addition to the amount of sleep children need, their sleep schedule is also very important.
Sleep problems and common sleep disorders in children include sleep apnea and insomnia, as well as sleep-related disruptive behaviors and emotions such as sleepwalking and night terrors.
Difficulty Falling Asleep
Children should have a set bedtime. In particular, they should not be allowed to stay up past 9:00 p.m. Efforts should be made to establish this sleep routine for the child. At this point, there are certain responsibilities that fall to parents before bedtime. In this context, habits such as holding the child in one’s arms or trying to rock them while standing before bedtime can negatively affect the child’s ability to fall asleep. In addition, if a child is accustomed to having their mother present before falling asleep, they may have difficulty falling asleep on their own when this routine cannot be maintained. Children who have trouble falling asleep often experience problems related to anxiety and stress.
Sleep Apnea in Children
Sleep apnea is a condition in which air cannot be drawn in through the nose or mouth, and it is one of the sleep disorders. It has been observed that tissues in the throat block the passage of air during sleep. This condition can cause frequent, brief pauses in breathing that significantly disrupt nighttime sleep and interfere with rest. Common causes in children include enlarged tonsils, obesity, or congenital abnormalities. Depending on the severity of symptoms and other risk factors—such as obesity—it is essential to seek expert advice from a pediatrician.
Night Terrors in Children
This condition, known as night terrors, is when a sleeping child suddenly wakes up from sleep, feeling frightened, screaming, or in a state of panic. The child usually does not remember the situation that frightened them. Although rare in adults, this condition is observed in approximately 30% of children and typically occurs between the ages of 3 and 7. Although no genetic predisposition has been observed, experts do not know the exact cause of night terrors.
The Problem of Nightmares in Children
If this occurs in children, it is important to distinguish between night terrors and nightmares. While night terrors occur during the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) stage of sleep, nightmares typically occur during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage—the sleep phase most commonly associated with dreaming. They are triggered by stress or major life events. Experiencing nightmares can have a significant psychological impact on a child.
Sleepwalking Problems in Children
Problems such as sleepwalking are common in children. For example, sleepwalking is observed in approximately 30% of children between the ages of 3 and 7. Most children who sleepwalk do so only rarely and usually outgrow this behavior by adolescence. Children may be prone to sleepwalking within one or two hours of falling asleep, and an episode can last anywhere from a few seconds to thirty minutes. It is difficult to wake someone who is sleepwalking. Upon waking, the child may act disoriented or confused.
Sleep disorders are much more common in children than in adults. They can occur within families, and in such cases, the child may also be affected. Conditions that can cause sleepwalking:
- Uyku eksikliği veya yorgun olma
- Uyku düzensizliği
- Hastalık veya yüksek ateş
- Bazı ilaçlar
- Stres
Getting out of bed and wandering around the house while still asleep is the most distinctive feature of sleepwalking. Some sleepwalkers may occasionally talk in their sleep, have difficulty waking up, appear dazed, become clumsy, sit up in bed and rub their eyes, or perform repetitive movements while fiddling with their pajamas.
The necessary referrals are made to identify any physical issues that may be causing sleep problems. If there is no physical cause, emotional issues that may be contributing to the sleep disorder are identified. Play therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy are used to address emotional issues causing sleep disorders in children. For problems related to sleep routines, guidance is provided on adjustments the family can make in the home environment.
What Causes Sleep Disorders?
It is known that the onset and persistence of sleep disorders in children involve the interaction of many factors related to the child, parents, family, and environment. There are many causes of insomnia.
Sleep disorders in children can be caused by physical ailments, genetic issues, emotional problems, anxiety disorders, stress, insecurity, fear and trauma, developmental issues, parental attitudes, parent-child communication and interaction, and irregular sleep schedules.
What Happens If Children Don’t Get Enough Sleep?
Sleep is as important and fundamental a need for everyone as eating and drinking water. Sleep and a regular sleep schedule—which are especially crucial for children—can pose a major threat to their health when disrupted. Children who experience sleep deprivation or irregular sleep patterns may face a range of physical, emotional, and mental problems. Some of these include:
- Gündüz uykusuzluğu ve huzursuzluğu
- Ruh halinde sorunlar
- Duygu kontrolsüzlüğü
- Bağışıklık sistemindeki zayıflık
- Hafıza zayıflığı
- Problem çözme becerilerinde eksiklik
- Sağlık durumunda problemler
- Sinirli ve öfkeli duygu durum bozuklukları
- Depresif duygular
- Olumsuz düşünceler
- Gerginlik halleri
- Huzursuzluk
Treatment of Sleep Disorders in Children
Sleep disorders in children and adolescents can lead to a number of problems that affect daily life. The most important factor for children is a regular sleep schedule. If a child experiences a sleep disorder, their physical development may also be negatively affected. Behavioral methods—which you may have heard a lot about these days and which offer many benefits—can be applied to children and adolescents. Some of these methods include the following:
- Uyku düzeni için hazırlık aşaması ve bunu alışkanlık haline getirmek. Örneğin; pijama giyme hazırlığı, diş fırçalama zamanı, masal okuma veya sohbet ederek uykuya dalma gibi.
- Uyku saatine dikkat etmek. Bunu düzenli hale getirmek yatma ve kalkma saati düzenli olmalı.
- Işık terapisi uygulaması yapılabilir.
- Uyumadan önce rahat kıyafet seçimleri, odanın sessiz ve sakin olması önemli.
- Uyku başlangıcı ertelenebilir.
- Yatağa gitme anlarını geciktirmek gerekebilir.
- Ebeveynlerin çocuğun uyku vaktinde ortaya çıkardığı olumsuz tepkilere karşı net bir tavır sergilemesi çok önemlidir.
If sleep problems persist despite all these behavioral interventions, you should definitely seek help from a doctor who specializes in this field and, if necessary, begin medication treatment.
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