Sleep is a critical part of children’s health. It is more than just a restorative phase for growing children. Sleep is the fuel that powers and ensures their physical, mental, and emotional growth and well-being. Working on a healthy sleep routine with your child is important. This may look different for each child. However, consistency is key. Children impacted by poor quality sleep or not enough sleep will experience negative consequences. Most children can easily get the sleep they need. However, up to 30% of children experience insomnia. This may include issues falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. Below you will find the risk factors for insomnia in children.
Risk Factors for Insomnia in Children
Due to the importance of sleep, it is key to address any sleep issues your child experiences. Consider the following risk factors for insomnia in children. If your child is impacted by any of the following, contact a sleep specialist right away.
Stress:
Children can experience stress and anxiety just like adults do. This can stem from issues at school, with their friends, or even familial stress. Stress often disrupts children’s sleep patterns. This can be issues falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. Children who experience stress or anxiety are at a higher risk for insomnia. Focus on helping your child minimize their stress. In addition, build a healthy and consistent sleep routine.
Environmental Factors:
Sleep requires a quiet environment. If there is excessive noise, it can impact children’s sleep. In addition to noise levels, the temperature of the room can impact a child’s sleep. Colder temperatures are better for sleep, but it shouldn’t be too cold. If your child sleeps in the same room as their siblings who are noisy, this can also impact their sleep. Work on the environment in which your child sleeps to ensure it’s optimal for good rest. If that does not address the issue, insomnia treatment may be necessary.
Screens Before Bed:
It is well known that using screens before bedtime can impact one’s quality of sleep. Children are no exception to this rule. In fact, excessive screen time before bed is a risk factor for insomnia. This is because the blue light in smartphones and tablets interferes with the body’s sleep-wake cycle. Reduce the amount of screen time your child has in the evening. Start winding down a few hours before bed and provide them with alternative activities. Reading a book, playing card games, or listening to music are helpful alternatives that can reduce the amount of time your child spends on screens before bed.
Poor Sleep Schedule:
Children thrive on consistency, especially when it comes to their sleep schedule. Inconsistent sleep schedules can disrupt your child’s internal clock. This can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. Research has shown that irregular sleep schedules are a risk factor for insomnia. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is critical for your child. Try to avoid having them go to bed more than one hour later than their usual time. In addition, avoid letting them sleep in more than one hour past their regular wake time. Creating a consistent schedule is key for their overall health and well-being.
Insomnia Treatment
If your child struggles with sleep, contact a sleep specialist right away. The sooner the issue is addressed, the better. Common symptoms of sleep-related issues in children include daytime fatigue, issues in school, and moodiness. Treatment can help address the issue and get your child back on track. You can effectively implement changes to ensure that your child gets a restful sleep. The team at Sleep MD has helped countless patients address their sleep-related issues. Contact Sleep MD today to schedule an appointment!
