Good sleep is important for children’s physical, emotional and cognitive development. The challenge? Getting good, consistent sleep isn’t always easy for growing kids. Haviva Veler, MD, Division Head of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine & Sleep Center at Connecticut Children’s, addresses the most common sleep problems by age.
Newborn and infants (up to a year old)
New baby? Congratulations! Don’t worry—you’ll sleep again—eventually. As for your infant, you’ll want to look out for:
- A hard time falling asleep—who has time for sleep when there’s a whole new outside world to explore? Infants do often struggle to fall asleep for many reasons. A consistent bedtime routine and a soothing sleep environment can help.
- A hard time staying asleep—check with your pediatrician, but a likely explanation is your baby is hungry. Newborns need to eat every few hours, which means less sleep for you. This, too, shall pass.
- Confusing day and night—yes, this is often a reality which can lead to your baby being awake for longer periods at night. Try to expose them to natural light during the day, even for naps, and keep it quiet, dark and calm as possible at night.
- Sleep regressions—you’ve just gotten your baby into a good sleep routine, then “bam!” The jury’s out on whether regressions actually happen at certain months, but try your best to consider it a sleep “progression” instead. Your baby’s going through a huge developmental leap and taking it all in.
>Related: Calm Newborn Colic, and Yourself
Toddlers (1 to 3 years old)
Loveable toddlers—some love sleep; others don’t. You can expect:
- Resisting bedtime, even if once a good sleeper—easier said than done, but think of this as a good thing. Your toddler is exercising their independence and wants to spend time with you! Again, consistency, routine and comfort are key.
- Nightmares – your child has a creative and developing mind with endless imagination, so little events during the day can turn into scary dreams at night. This is a normal developmental stage and eventually will resolve. Make sure you are clear that the house is safe, and that there are no witches, dinosaurs or monsters. Nightmares can come from scary movies or a book, so check on your kid’s activities during the day, and try to eliminate the ones that cause the nightmares.
- Night terrors—they happen at the beginning of the night when some children wake up screaming, maybe kicking, and can’t be comforted. That’s because they were in the deepest part of sleep and aren’t aware of their surroundings. This happens when the motor parts of the brain awake, but not the cognitive part, and therefore kids are “in their own world” and look like they are asleep. Professionals don't recommend waking them up, and don't go overboard on comforting them. Just make sure they are safe and allow the episode to run its course. Night terrors are not dangerous, nor are they a sign of stress. It's normal and this, too, shall pass.
>Related: When to Move from Crib to Bed
Kids (preschoolers and school-aged)
Here’s where sleep issues can get a little deeper. Look out for:
- Sleep apnea—when the upper airway becomes blocked during sleep because of large tonsils or adenoids. This is the most common problem in this age group. Look for loud snoring three nights or more per week, difficulty breathing or even choking, waking up frequently, hyperactivity during the day, learning problems and bedwetting. If you’re concerned, ask your doctor for a referral to Connecticut Children’s Sleep Apnea Clinic.
- Not getting enough sleep—there’s a world of causes for this: social obligations, increased schoolwork and pressure to succeed, anxiety, irregular sleep/wake schedule and even too much screen time.
>Related: My Child Snores. Should I Be Worried?
Teenagers and beyond
Teenagers and beyond
In addition to not getting enough sleep because of the reasons above and possibly consuming caffeine, smoking and drinking, your teenager can develop:
- Narcolepsy—excessive sleepiness and falling asleep during the day.
- Restless leg syndrome (RLS)—a very strong urge to move the legs, which causes discomfort.
Please call your child’s doctor if you think your child might have narcolepsy or RLS.
>Related: Is Your Teen Asking their Doctor These 24 Questions?