It is normal for all children to get enough sleep because it is very important in the process of their healthy development, but some children suffer from various sleep disorders, including insomnia and lack of sleep, if your child is one of them, learn about the reasons Insomnia in children Symptoms and methods of treatment.

Insomnia in children

Insomnia is a type of sleep disorder that can happen to infants, young children, and teens. It causes difficulty sleeping, waking up too early, or interrupted sleep during the night. Insomnia in children may be short-term for a few days or weeks due to another medical condition that the child suffers from. And it goes away with the disappearance of the disease, or it may be long-term and occur 3 times a week for a month or more due to another problem with which you should consult a doctor.

Table of hours of sleep for children

Here is a table of the number of hours a child should sleep according to his age:

Symptoms of insomnia in children

It is possible that parents do not realize that their child suffers from insomnia for one reason or another, but there are several symptoms that you should notice and that may appear on your child indicating that he may be suffering from lack of sleep, such as:

• Refusing to sleep and struggling with making him go to sleep.
• His many requests as soon as he gets to bed, such as asking him to drink water, go to the bathroom, or read a story.
• Frequent getting out of bed during the night and difficulty getting back to sleep on his own.
• Baby waking up very early in the morning.
• Resisting your regular bedtime and always trying to stay up late.
• He doesn’t want to take a nap in the middle of the day even though he gets up early.
• Difficulty getting up in the morning to go to school.

As a result, he also shows signs during the day that he is having difficulty sleeping during the night, and this is it Results of insomnia in children:

• Feeling tired, exhausted and lethargic during the day.
• A defect in attention, concentration and memory appears in the child.
• A decline in the child’s academic achievement and performance in social activities.
• Mood disturbances and always feeling disturbed from the slightest cause.
• Behavioral problems manifested in the form of violence, aggression, hyperactivity, and constant opposition at school or parents.
• His lack of enthusiasm for any suggestion or activity.
• His surrender to frustration from anything he encounters.

Causes of insomnia in children

There are several reasons may be behind Lack of sleep in childrenOf which:

Stress and tension

Children may also suffer from nervous pressure like adults, as your child may feel pathological anxiety about things that he does not tell you about, so you should encourage your child to tell you what he is worried about and what causes him stress, and you should also notice that there is Symptoms of anxiety for your child There may be real problems behind that that you must deal with.

Intake of caffeine and other stimulants

You should be careful of what your child is drinking, as soft drinks contain caffeine in a large percentage, not only tea and coffee, and his presence in a place with smokers exposes him to passive smoking, which causes him sleep problems as well.

Take some medications

Some medications may have side effects such as insomnia and sleep problems. If your child is taking medications for ADHD, antidepressants, corticosteroids, or anti-seizure medications, he may have insomnia.

Other diseases suffered by the child

chronic diseases

The child may suffer from other diseases that affect his sleep due to symptoms he suffers from, for which a physical examination should be done if your child suffers from insomnia because of them, such as:

Sleep disorders

It is very likely and natural that other sleep disorders are a cause of insomnia in children, such as sleep apnea associated with snoring, restless leg syndrome, nightmares and paranoia in children at bedtime, and bedwetting during sleep.

Neurological disorders

Children with autism, mental retardation and Asperger’s syndrome may also suffer from sleep problems and insomnia.

psychiatric disturbances

Children with mental disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder may also suffer from poor sleep and insomnia.

environmental factors

Noise, lack of calm, high or cold weather, and lighting in the bedroom may all be factors that affect the child’s sleepiness, causing him insomnia, and the presence of electronic devices in the room such as tablets, computers, and televisions may distract the child at bedtime, so it must be an environment The room is perfectly prepared for a good night’s sleep.

Treatment of insomnia in children

Fortunately, insomnia can be treated in children, especially if it is due to sleeping habits only, and there are several methods that can be followed to organize the sleep routine for your child in order to get rid of his sleep problems, which are:

• Sleep mode even on weekends and holidays.
• Set aside 20-45 minutes before bedtime to do certain rituals such as taking a warm bath, brushing your teeth, or reading a bedtime story.
• During the bedtime ritual time, make sure your child does not watch TV, hold a mobile phone or play electronic games.
• Make sure that your child does not go to sleep immediately after eating or vice versa when he is very hungry.
• Your child should not drink caffeinated beverages in the afternoon and evening.
• Ensure that the room environment is suitable for a quiet sleep, such as adjusting the room temperature so that it is not too hot or too cold, and putting on light lighting or turning off the lamps if he does not suffer from fear of the dark.
• If your baby is used to naps, don’t make him sleep too long and don’t fall asleep close to bedtime at least four hours before bedtime.

Can insomnia in children be treated with medication?

If the child suffers from organic diseases or psychological or neurological disorders such as those mentioned above, the child may need medications to relieve the symptoms that cause him insomnia or other medications for the treatment of mental disorders or other medications that assist the daily routine, which must be prescribed by the doctor after consulting him according to the case Your child.

Treating insomnia in children with herbs and drinks

There are several herbs that can help your child sleep, but there are not enough studies to prove their safety for the child, so you should consult a doctor before giving them to your child:

• catnip;
• chamomile or chamomile.
• Cherry juice.
• warm milk.

Finally, get rid of Insomnia in children It is not difficult, finding the cause of his problem and treating it helps a lot in getting your child to get the sleep he needs for his proper development, and if you have any questions, you can consult one of our doctors from here.