Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Insomnia (Cathryn Harper)

Nothing contributes more to a good day than a good night's sleep. Sometimes, however, you just cannot fall asleep. Worse yet, sometimes your children just cannot fall asleep. And when mom and dad don't get rested, the rest of the crew usually pays for it as well.

When children have difficulty falling asleep, sometimes parents are aware, sometimes they are not. Symptoms are not always conclusive, but take a variety of forms. The most common symptoms include:

Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep
Waking too early
Sleepy during the day
Anxiety
Error or accident prone
Trouble at school (academic or social)
Mood swings
Depression
Hyperactivity
Difficulty remembering things
Aggression

Children sometimes work to avoid bedtime any way they can, including asking for things to eat or drink, asking for another story, or to play one more video game. If a particularly entertaining environment, such as a parent's party or a good movie, is beckoning from another room, that may further aggravate the situation.

It is hard to diagnose whether a child has insomnia since the symptoms are so general and could be caused by so many things. Keeping a sleep diary for a few weeks may help decide whether this is just a temporary problem or turning into a permanent one.

Talking with your pediatrician may also shed light on the situation, helping to eliminate other issues and isolating the true problem. A physical exam to rule out other possibilities is also a good idea, helping to identify whether a child has primary or secondary insomnia. Secondary insomnia is due to a distinct cause such as an underlying disease or condition, where primary is not.

Insomnia may be either of the short-lived acute variety, or the long-term chronic type. The acute type lasts only a few nights or a few weeks and may not require treatment. Chronic insomnia, however, rears its ugly head three or more nights a week for a month or more.

Some patients are referred to a sleep center, where they spend the night with observers and electrodes attached at vital points to set some baselines and provide some insight for doctors in assessing the condition.

Causes are many, from stress, to medication side effects, ADHD, asthma, allergy and muscle cramps. More serious causes running from autism and Asperger's, to neurodevelopmental and bipolar disorders, may also be the culprits. Simpler causes may be too many caffeinated drinks, colas, or energy drinks.

Treatment ranges from initiating a good sleep regimen and some options when sleep is hard to come by, to behavioral therapy and indirect hypnotic suggestions, such as guided fantasy stories embedding a personal fairy tale that helps to put the child in control, giving a feeling of security and relaxation. Other solutions include teaching children how to relax, and providing quiet things for them to do when they wake, like reading, that may, in turn, send them back to their pillow, happily snoozing till dawn.

Cathryn is a working mother of three. A self-professed health and fitness nut, Cathryn loves to research and write about health and wellness related topics. For further inquiries please visit at http://www.cathrynharperpress.com/

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When Sleep is a Monster: 7 Tips to Help with Childhood Insomnia (Cathryn Harper)

Nobody likes a cranky kid, especially parents, but when kids do not get the sleep they need to function well, it is not a pretty picture. Tired, accident prone, moody and depressed, insomniac kids go sleepwalking through their days, which can affect them both academically and socially.

Treating insomnia in children requires an overall assessment. The symptoms could be primary, without an unidentified additional cause; or secondary, due to an underlying disease or condition. Symptoms may also be acute, e.g. short-lived, from a few days to a few weeks; or chronic, showing up three or more nights each week for months on end.

Causes can be many and varied, but finding the cause is a giant step toward finding a solution. If the cause is something critical, such as autism, Asperger's, or a neurodevelopmental or bipolar disorder, treating the disorder should help. If such conditions are ruled out, the likely causes include stress, medication side effects, asthma, allergy, or eczema, which require some treatment to bring relief to both the condition as well as the sleep patterns.

Regardless of the underlying cause, there are steps that parents can take to help get their children, and themselves, some much needed rest:

Have your child evaluated. Parents should start with their child's pediatrician. He or she may in turn recommend following up with specialists to help diagnose an underlying condition, or a sleep specialist who can undertake a sleep study of your child .

Monitor your child's diet. Cola, or energy drinks, contain large amounts of caffeine and sugar, which may affect a child's ability to relax and fall asleep. Bedtime snacks should be light and healthy. Water should be the drink of choice, but warm milk or herbal tea with honey work well, too.

Keep them in regular sleeping schedules. Try to keep their sleep routine consistent and simple. Have them prepare for bed at the same time each evening and begin relaxing activities like reading, prior to falling asleep.

Darken the room. Many children want to leave the lights on when they go to sleep. But studies show that a lighted room contributes to sleep issues. Get them a night-light or put their lights on a dimmer switch, so that they don't have to be in pitch darkness.

Turn off and tune out. Finding a relaxing evening activity that everyone can join in at night prior to snooze time. Activities that stimulate the senses, like video games and TV should be shut down a few hours before bed. White noise machines are available on the market that can supply a consistent soothing background noise.

Minimize stress. Many parents almost laugh when asked whether their children might be experiencing stress, but kids take a large number of cues from parents, and if parents are worried, it is a sure bet that many kids are as well. Look around for sources of stress in your child's life, and try to imagine things from his or her point of view. Things that seem inconsequential to you might be overwhelming to a child . Talking with your child about things like an upcoming test or a bully at school can go along way to calm their fears.

Make them feel secure. For younger children choose a trusted stuffed animal as the "worry dog." Have your child whisper his concerns to the dog while you listen, and keep the stuffed animal by their side during the night. Some psychiatrists have found that writing a personal fairy tale for the child, including familiar toys, friends, family, and places, using warm, heavy, relaxed and secure imagery, is helpful. Reading such fantasy tales before bedtime for a week or more is sometimes all that is needed.

Cathryn is a working mother of three. A self-professed health and fitness nut, Cathryn loves to research and write about health and wellness related topics. For more professional information you can visit at http://www.cathrynharperpress.com/

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Insomnia (Cathryn Harper)

Nothing contributes more to a good day than a good night's sleep. Sometimes, however, you just cannot fall asleep. Worse yet, sometimes your children just cannot fall asleep. And when mom and dad don't get rested, the rest of the crew usually pays for it as well.

When children have difficulty falling asleep, sometimes parents are aware, sometimes they are not. Symptoms are not always conclusive, but take a variety of forms. The most common symptoms include:

Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep
Waking too early
Sleepy during the day
Anxiety
Error or accident prone
Trouble at school (academic or social)
Mood swings
Depression
Hyperactivity
Difficulty remembering things
Aggression

Children sometimes work to avoid bedtime any way they can, including asking for things to eat or drink, asking for another story, or to play one more video game. If a particularly entertaining environment, such as a parent's party or a good movie, is beckoning from another room, that may further aggravate the situation.

It is hard to diagnose whether a child has insomnia since the symptoms are so general and could be caused by so many things. Keeping a sleep diary for a few weeks may help decide whether this is just a temporary problem or turning into a permanent one.

Talking with your pediatrician may also shed light on the situation, helping to eliminate other issues and isolating the true problem. A physical exam to rule out other possibilities is also a good idea, helping to identify whether a child has primary or secondary insomnia. Secondary insomnia is due to a distinct cause such as an underlying disease or condition, where primary is not.

Insomnia may be either of the short-lived acute variety, or the long-term chronic type. The acute type lasts only a few nights or a few weeks and may not require treatment. Chronic insomnia, however, rears its ugly head three or more nights a week for a month or more.

Some patients are referred to a sleep center, where they spend the night with observers and electrodes attached at vital points to set some baselines and provide some insight for doctors in assessing the condition.

Causes are many, from stress, to medication side effects, ADHD, asthma, allergy and muscle cramps. More serious causes running from autism and Asperger's, to neurodevelopmental and bipolar disorders, may also be the culprits. Simpler causes may be too many caffeinated drinks, colas, or energy drinks.

Treatment ranges from initiating a good sleep regimen and some options when sleep is hard to come by, to behavioral therapy and indirect hypnotic suggestions, such as guided fantasy stories embedding a personal fairy tale that helps to put the child in control, giving a feeling of security and relaxation. Other solutions include teaching children how to relax, and providing quiet things for them to do when they wake, like reading, that may, in turn, send them back to their pillow, happily snoozing till dawn.

Cathryn is a working mother of three. A self-professed health and fitness nut, Cathryn loves to research and write about health and wellness related topics. For further inquiries please visit at http://www.cathrynharperpress.com/

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

When Sleep is a Monster: 7 Tips to Help with Childhood Insomnia (Cathryn Harper)

Nobody likes a cranky kid, especially parents, but when kids do not get the sleep they need to function well, it is not a pretty picture. Tired, accident prone, moody and depressed, insomniac kids go sleepwalking through their days, which can affect them both academically and socially.

Treating insomnia in children requires an overall assessment. The symptoms could be primary, without an unidentified additional cause; or secondary, due to an underlying disease or condition. Symptoms may also be acute, e.g. short-lived, from a few days to a few weeks; or chronic, showing up three or more nights each week for months on end.

Causes can be many and varied, but finding the cause is a giant step toward finding a solution. If the cause is something critical, such as autism, Asperger's, or a neurodevelopmental or bipolar disorder, treating the disorder should help. If such conditions are ruled out, the likely causes include stress, medication side effects, asthma, allergy, or eczema, which require some treatment to bring relief to both the condition as well as the sleep patterns.

Regardless of the underlying cause, there are steps that parents can take to help get their children, and themselves, some much needed rest:

Have your child evaluated. Parents should start with their child's pediatrician. He or she may in turn recommend following up with specialists to help diagnose an underlying condition, or a sleep specialist who can undertake a sleep study of your child .

Monitor your child's diet. Cola, or energy drinks, contain large amounts of caffeine and sugar, which may affect a child's ability to relax and fall asleep. Bedtime snacks should be light and healthy. Water should be the drink of choice, but warm milk or herbal tea with honey work well, too.

Keep them in regular sleeping schedules. Try to keep their sleep routine consistent and simple. Have them prepare for bed at the same time each evening and begin relaxing activities like reading, prior to falling asleep.

Darken the room. Many children want to leave the lights on when they go to sleep. But studies show that a lighted room contributes to sleep issues. Get them a night-light or put their lights on a dimmer switch, so that they don't have to be in pitch darkness.

Turn off and tune out. Finding a relaxing evening activity that everyone can join in at night prior to snooze time. Activities that stimulate the senses, like video games and TV should be shut down a few hours before bed. White noise machines are available on the market that can supply a consistent soothing background noise.

Minimize stress. Many parents almost laugh when asked whether their children might be experiencing stress, but kids take a large number of cues from parents, and if parents are worried, it is a sure bet that many kids are as well. Look around for sources of stress in your child's life, and try to imagine things from his or her point of view. Things that seem inconsequential to you might be overwhelming to a child . Talking with your child about things like an upcoming test or a bully at school can go along way to calm their fears.

Make them feel secure. For younger children choose a trusted stuffed animal as the "worry dog." Have your child whisper his concerns to the dog while you listen, and keep the stuffed animal by their side during the night. Some psychiatrists have found that writing a personal fairy tale for the child, including familiar toys, friends, family, and places, using warm, heavy, relaxed and secure imagery, is helpful. Reading such fantasy tales before bedtime for a week or more is sometimes all that is needed.

Cathryn is a working mother of three. A self-professed health and fitness nut, Cathryn loves to research and write about health and wellness related topics. For more professional information you can visit at http://www.cathrynharperpress.com/

reade more... Résuméabuiyad