Clear Mind Systems 508-746-6600
Phone 781-767-5373
Children and Sleep
Clear Mind Systems
Children and Sleep
Sleep Habits
Beginning in infancy children learn how to eat, sleep and think. And though these are natural skills children learn to form either healthy or unhealthy habits in these areas.
Creating Healthy Sleep Habits
For all the protests and resistance children genuinely want and thrive on routines. Healthy routines create a safe rhythm and normalcy for many of life’s needs.
It helps a child to have a regular and predictable bed time. The internal rhythms and timing are established more easily when the sleep/wake schedule is more or less regular.
Guidelines:
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Infants can begin to learn that there are special places for sleep.
Infants can begin to learn that there are special places for sleep.•Infants can begin to learn how to fall asleep themselves.
Infants can begin to learn how to fall asleep themselves.•By six months many babies can sleep through the night.
By six months many babies can sleep through the night.•Establish a regular schedule of sleep, naps and eating.
Establish a regular schedule of sleep, naps and eating.•Use reading, rocking and soothing behaviors to help a child get ready for sleep but not to put them to sleep. We don’t want a child to become dependent on rocking etc. to actually fall asleep.
Use reading, rocking and soothing behaviors to help a child get ready for sleep but not to put them to sleep. We don’t want a child to become dependent on rocking etc. to actually fall asleep.•Make bed time a special time but keep it brief and allow children to fall asleep on their own.
Make bed time a special time but keep it brief and allow children to fall asleep on their own.•As children grow try your best to resist the temptation to be impatient and angry when trying to maintain the bed time schedule. Try not to let sleep-time become a battle ground.
As children grow try your best to resist the temptation to be impatient and angry when trying to maintain the bed time schedule. Try not to let sleep-time become a battle ground.Children’s Sleep Problems
From infancy through the teenage years children and adolescents are developing physically, cognitively and emotionally. Sleep provides an essential ingredient in this complicated process.
At the same time children are in the process of establishing habits and attitudes around sleep. As these dynamic aspects of development progress children often exhibit various and sometimes alarming sleep-related symptoms.
The following symptoms are common, often normal and benign but also potentially serious. Only your doctor and preferably a sleep doctor can know for certain.
•Trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep
Trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep•Colic
Colic•Rhythmic movements
Rhythmic movements•Early Awakenings
Early Awakenings•Nightmares
Nightmares•Sleep terrors
Sleep terrors•Sleep walking
Sleep walking•Bed wetting
Bed wetting•Restless legs
Restless legs•Snoring
Snoring•Excessive daytime sleepiness
Excessive daytime sleepiness•Bedtimes that seem either too late or too early
Bedtimes that seem either too late or too earlySleep Requirements
•Infants: need 16 hours
Infants: need 16 hours•Ages 3 to 6: need 10 to 12 hours
Ages 3 to 6: need 10 to 12 hours•Ages 6 to 9: need 10 hours
Ages 6 to 9: need 10 hours•Ages 9 to 12: need 9 hours
Ages 9 to 12: need 9 hours•Teenagers: need 9 to 10 hours
Teenagers: need 9 to 10 hours•Adults need 7 to 9 hours
Adults need 7 to 9 hours•Older adults: need 7 to 8 hours
Older adults: need 7 to 8 hours•Pregnant women: need a few additional hours beyond their ordinary need
Pregnant women: need a few additional hours beyond their ordinary needThe Mystery of Children’s Sleep
A child’s sleep often seems mysterious because of the dynamic and changing nature of growth and development.
If you have any questions about your child’s sleep seek out answers immediately.
There are sleep doctors that specialize in pediatric sleep.
It is as important to feel reassured when a symptom is harmless as it is to find and address a genuine problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it normal for a child to have difficulties with sleeping?
A: Yes. Recent polls indicate that more than two thirds of children experience one or more sleep problems a few nights per week.
Q: Are children’s sleeping difficulties always sleep-disorders?
A: No, in fact the task of helping a child to establish healthy sleep-routines often takes planning, time and patience. Most of the sleep issues arise out of this process of establishing and reinforcing routines.
Q: My child snores. Is it possible for a child to have obstructive sleep apnea?
A: It is very common for children age 2 to 6 years to have sleep apnea due to enlarged tonsils. A child who snores should be seen by a sleep specialist.
Q: Is it possible for a child to have insomnia?
A: Yes a child can have insomnia. Like adults, children can also have insomnia associated with another sleep disorder or with stresses, environmental causes or medication influences.
Q: Can children have restless leg syndrome?
A: Yes. A sleep specialist can diagnose and treat childhood restless leg syndrome.
Q: Are behaviors like sleep walking and nightmares a normal occurrence in children?
A: It is thought that most but not all of these parasomnias arise as part of the normal development of a child’s brain.
A sleep specialist can make a proper diagnosis. Hypnosis is an effective treatment for many childhood parasomnias.
Q: How many teenagers are getting the recommended amount of sleep?
A: The latest national survey says 20%.
The Counting Cats and Kittens sleep recording is a children's sleep CD created by Rick Clerici and narrated by Louisa Clerici. This CD helps a child wind down and relax in those minutes leading towards sleep and helps a child to look forward to that time and the experience of sleep.
Price: $20 plus $3 shipping and handling. Check or money order
59 Samoset Street, Plymouth, MA 02360
Clear Mind Systems
598-746-6600
www.clearmindsystems.net
