| Sleep disorders are common in childhood and can | | | | repetitive confused behavior resulting in walking or |
| include Para insomnias, sleep-related breathing | | | | the child could run or bolt from a perceived threat |
| disorders, insomnia, hyper insomnia such as | | | | upon waking. Children usually have loud vocalizations |
| narcolepsy and circadian rhythm disorder. | | | | with this type of waking and it may only last a few |
| Para insomnia is the objectionable experiences or | | | | moments. |
| physical events, at arousal from sleep or within sleep | | | | Children experience sleepwalking more than night |
| and will include behaviors, perceptions, sleep-related | | | | terrors and it is often difficult to hand on the parents' |
| movements, emotions, dreaming and involvement of | | | | part. Anticipatory waking may be used if there is a |
| the autonomic nervous system. | | | | pattern of waking. Wake the sleepwalking child for 15 |
| Para insomnia is categorized into three separate | | | | nights in a row, approximately 15 minutes before the |
| stages: NREM - non-rapid eye movement; REM - rapid | | | | episode usually occurs. For more details Medications |
| eye movement and occurring clinically through the | | | | should be avoided unless prescribed by a doctor and |
| night interrupted by brief periods of awakens. | | | | this is only in rare cases where the sleepwalking is |
| Sleep-related rhythmic movement disorder often | | | | continual and uncontrollable. |
| sees the child seeking out a hard surface to | | | | The most common sleep Para insomnia in children for |
| rhythmically bang his or her head against upon | | | | REM sleep is nightmares. Nightmares usually begin in |
| waking, head rolling or rhythmically rolling their entire | | | | children around the age of three and six years but |
| body. For more details These movements are more | | | | can start at any age. They tend to occur later in the |
| common in infants and toddlers. Parent's main | | | | night because they are affecting the REM cycle and |
| concern is the child's ability to hurt them. This can be | | | | may happen more than once as there are several |
| avoided by placing padding around the sleeping area | | | | REM cycles per night. |
| and listening carefully for the onset of the rhythmic | | | | Other problems that might disturb your child's sleep is |
| banging or rolling to begin in order to prevent it from | | | | RLS - restless leg syndrome or PLS - periodic leg |
| escalating. | | | | syndrome which are both characterized as the urge |
| Night terrors are something like bad dreams your child | | | | to move their legs and could keep them awake at |
| can not wake up from, even though they seem like | | | | night causing insomnia and tiredness during the |
| they are awake. Many don't even remember the | | | | daytime hours. Both of these syndromes had once |
| incident the next morning. Night terrors are | | | | been thought to only be prevalent in adults, but in |
| characterized by a loud and often piercing scream | | | | the past several years, researchers have found many |
| associated with intense fear, they may seem as if | | | | children who suffer from both RLS and PLS. |
| they are in a trance and not really awake which is | | | | Children naturally have more NREM sleep in stages 3 |
| often the case. They do not recognize their parents | | | | and 4. Most disturbances are self-limiting and some |
| and will resist consoling or comfort. These night terror | | | | reassurances are all they need. However, if the |
| episodes usually last up to 15 minutes. | | | | disorders continue into adolescence, intervention from |
| Sleepwalking behavior could be preceded by | | | | a professional would be needed. |