The child does not sleep well - how to overcome insomnia? What to do if your child has insomnia

Insomniac children infancy is often a reaction to teething: salivation increases, saliva accumulates in the throat, causing the child to worry and wake up. In addition, babies experience pain when growing teeth erupt, expanding the gum. Babies are also very sensitive to irritants in the air. The most common respiratory irritant is cigarette smoke. That is why it is not recommended to smoke in the room where the child sleeps, as well as leave open baby powders, paints, perfumes, use hairspray.

The reason for the night awakenings of babies is often food allergies. The kid is worried about a segment of pain and a feeling of tension in a tummy full of gas. The most common culprit for these symptoms is cow's milk. Other possible allergens include eggs, wheat, corn, citrus fruits, onions, fish, nuts, cabbage, chocolate.

Sometimes insomnia is caused by the gastroesophageal reflex (GPR) - regurgitation of gastric juice. For children, this is the same painful sensation as heartburn for adults. It is much easier to carry when the child is in an upright position. Other symptoms of GERD include frequent bouts of crying, regurgitation after eating, and frequent respiratory infections.

There is another reason for insomnia - helminthic infestations, in particular pinworms. Female pinworms move down the intestines to the anus, where they lay their eggs. This causes severe itching, which causes the child to wake up.

One of the most difficult diseases to recognize in infancy is ear infections. Often the only symptom indicating a disease is a sleep disorder. The fact is that in the supine position, the fluid that forms due to infection presses on the eardrum. When the baby moves to a vertical position, the fluid recedes, pressure and pain decrease.

Light and sound

Often, all that is needed to ensure that the baby’s sleep improves is the formation of a well-established sleep-wake cycle. Try to create a contrast between these two states. It is good when the day is filled with loud sounds, laughter, games. The closer to the evening, the quieter you speak, dim the lighting. Soon this will be the signal to go to sleep.
The light regime is also important for normal sleep. In the daytime, it is recommended to be in bright light, which has a positive effect on subsequent sleep. The fact is that the thyroid hormone melatonin is produced in the dark. In the morning, when the brain is saturated with melatonin, sunlight allows you to quickly get rid of this hormone, which has a positive effect on your emotional state. This effect underlies phototherapy - the use of a special lamp for the treatment of sleep disorders.
About a third of all cases of insomnia are associated with the inconvenience of a bed: too soft or too hard mattress, high pillow, narrow bed.
Another potential problem is the sounds in the bedroom. One of the ways to solve it is the creation of the so-called white noise, the generators of which can be a fan or a recording with the sounds of the surf, wind, rain.
Before going to bed, you should avoid showdowns, scandals, and even pleasant surprises. The state of emotional stress slows down the process of falling asleep and worsens the quality of sleep.

Treatment

To medication treatment of insomnia in children, of course, should be treated with extreme caution. Sleeping pills, so loved by adults, of course, should not be given to babies. It is also impossible to resort to the help of sedative herbal remedies without the prescription of an experienced specialist. Among the methods of treating insomnia, psychotherapy is the leader, which involves working not only with the child, but also with the parents. Various methods of self-regulation are very widespread in the treatment of sleep disorders:

muscle relaxation techniques;
soothing exercises (sipping, self-massage);
breathing exercises;
imagination exercises (fingers, head, nose of the baby can become game characters, and wishing good night to various parts of the body facilitates the process of falling asleep);
good effect gives acupressure.

Average duration of night and daytime sleep in children under one year, hours

Age Sleep duration

1 week8, 258, 25

1 month8.57.0

3 months9.5 5.5

6 months10,53,75

Sound and healthy sleep is simply necessary for children of any age. During a night's rest, the entire body is restored, the development of organs and systems occurs. Insomnia in a child can disrupt this process, in scientific circles it is called insomnia. In no case should this disorder be ignored, since the lack of proper rest will certainly lead to the development of complications. Doctors and parents themselves can help the baby, they must join forces to stabilize the condition of the crumbs.

Causes of the disorder

The sleep of infants and older children is somewhat different, since they have differences in the functioning of the central nervous system. Babies do not have a well-functioning biorhythm; due to the imperfection of their development, they can confuse day with night. There is nothing surprising in the fact that the baby sleeps soundly during the day and is awake in the middle of the night, no. But if he cannot sleep well, constantly tossing and turning, often waking up and acting up, it makes sense to see a doctor.

In infants, the following problems can cause a violation of rest:

dysbacteriosis;
hunger;
gastric reflex (regurgitation);
teething;
diaper rash;
ear infections;
the presence of allergens or dust in the air;
too high air temperature and its dryness;
unfavorable emotional background (constant swearing, loud and harsh sounds in the house, etc.).

When children get older, they begin to discover new abilities in themselves: they learn to walk, get acquainted with the world around them, learn something new every day. These events cause a great emotional outburst, due to which the nervous system cannot be reorganized in time for a night's rest.

At preschool age, children can develop childhood fears. Being afraid of a monster or worrying about not having your mom around can cause insomnia.

At school, there are additional reasons for an inadequate night's rest. The child begins to interact closely with other people, he becomes a full-fledged part of society. Worries about relationships with friends and teachers, studies and other aspects can lead to disrupted nightly sleep.

Also, the disorder can be the result of fidget hyperactivity, disruption of the daily routine, lack of physical activity, malnutrition, severe stress, change of residence, excessive mental stress. All these factors affect the functioning of the central nervous system.

Why you need to take action

Some parents think that insomnia in children is a trifling matter and take no action to treat it. In no case should the problem be ignored, as it can lead to serious irreversible consequences.

During sleep, the child's body produces somatropin, a growth hormone. If the baby does not sleep, then a slowdown in his growth and development begins, it is especially scary when this happens in infants.

Inadequate rest also leads to such violations:

lethargy during the day;
irritability, tearfulness;
lack of appetite;
problems with memory and thinking;
drop in immunity;
headaches and migraines;
slow development;
obesity;
diabetes.

Help from a specialist

Only a specialist can help a child with insomnia. It is worth contacting a neurologist, pediatrician or somnologist. These doctors will help to find the true cause of the violation and select the most optimal ways to eliminate it.

Medications for children are prescribed extremely rarely, up to 3 years they are completely contraindicated.

Treatment is reduced to the use of such drugs:

If the problem lies in the destabilization of the psycho-emotional background, you will need the help of a psychotherapist. Sessions can only be attended by children, but most often they are held together with their parents.

You can also fight insomnia with acupressure, breathing exercises or light therapy. The specialist chooses a technique for each child individually.

homeopathic remedies

Drug therapy almost always has a negative effect on the body, especially when it comes to children. To avoid the use of drugs, which include chemicals, you can use homeopathy. Natural, 100% natural and safe to use products have no contraindications. They do not include components that can disrupt the functioning of organs or systems. Consider what will help kids get rid of insomnia.

gaba ashan - a healing plant component that normalizes sleep, speeds up falling asleep, improves blood circulation, fights melancholy and other disorders of the nervous system;
beaver stream - an effective remedy that is used to treat nervous and cardiovascular diseases, it calms the nervous system, relieves spasm and helps get rid of migraines, improves tone and improves mood;
plant lofant - an effective natural antiseptic, immunostimulant, stabilizes blood pressure and strengthens the nervous system;
a collection of 32 medicinal herbs - eliminates anxiety and neurosis, stabilizes heart rate and pressure, relaxes the entire body, promotes easy and quick falling asleep, gives a good sound sleep.

DreamZzz will help your child cope not only with insomnia, but also with the high excitability of the nervous system. It will be useful for very impressionable and hyperactive children who cannot rest normally.

Also, the remedy is suitable for small patients who suffer from sleep disorders due to excessive mental activity.

"Sonylux". An innovative development of Russian scientists, a completely natural drug that can be used from 2 years. In 2015, clinical studies of Sonilux were conducted, during which it was proved that it has the following effect:

A full course of taking the remedy will help your child get rid of sleep problems. It is very convenient to dose the medicine, there is a measuring spoon in the package. You will notice the first positive results after a few days of using Sonilyuks, and at the end of the treatment, problems with night rest and increased excitability of the nervous system will completely disappear.

How parents can help

The successful disposal of childhood insomnia primarily depends on the parents. It is important to properly organize the rhythm and lifestyle of the child so that he can fully relax at night. It is also worth observing sleep hygiene and providing the baby with maximum physical and psychological comfort.

To restore normal sleep will help such measures:

Summing up

Insomnia in babies develops for three main reasons: problems of a physiological and psychological nature, and an unfavorable environment. Medicines to eliminate the problem are prescribed extremely rarely, as they have a negative effect on the baby's body. Psychotherapeutic sessions, special exercises and massages are highly effective.

However, parental support is the most important aspect in the treatment of sleep disorders. If you provide the child with psychological and physical comfort, his nightly rest will be complete.

10-year-old Lena spent the whole day walking on the street and riding a bike. Her parents thought that after such a busy day, she would quickly fall asleep. But the time is already well past midnight, and she is still tossing and turning in bed and cannot sleep. The girl tried all the methods known to her to relax, only all the methods turned out to be completely useless.

Every day Lena falls asleep with great difficulty, and the reason for this is insomnia. This disorder occurs infrequently in children and has a significant impact on the quality of life of the child. Let's take a look at everything you need to know about insomnia, its causes, and treatments.

What is insomnia

From time to time, each of us is faced with the problem of falling asleep. If this is an isolated case, this is not yet insomnia. But when sleep difficulties recur over a long period of time, this may indicate some problems.

The process of falling asleep consists of five stages:

Stage 1 or superficial sleep. A person falls asleep and wakes up, reacting to the environment.
Stage 2. Eye movements stop, brain rhythm and heart rate decrease. At this stage, the body prepares for deep sleep.
Stage 3 or deep sleep. Short delta waves are intertwined with faster but shorter waves. This is one of the restorative stages of dreaming. At this stage, the person may talk or sleepwalk.
Stage 4- deep sleep, when delta waves predominate. Waking up in this stage of sleep, the child cannot understand where he is for several seconds or even minutes.
Stage 5 or REM sleep. Accompanied by rapid eye movements. The body is preparing to wake up. The brain goes into active mode. The baby is still sleeping, but thanks to the active work of the brain, he can roll over from side to side.

Insomnia is associated with a lack of restorative (deep and REM) sleep. You can talk about insomnia in a child when:

He doesn't sleep well.
Often wakes up in the middle of the night.
Wakes up very early (about 3 am) and cannot go back to sleep.

All this greatly affects the state of the body during the day. Insomnia can last from a few days to 3 weeks or longer.

Causes of insomnia in children

Insomnia can occur on its own, or it can be the result of other disorders. Consider the main causes of insomnia in children.

Stress

Stress is one of the main causes of insomnia in children, especially teenagers. Children are just as stressed as adults. The reasons for their stress may be problems at school, fears, conflicts with peers, etc. If a child complains of poor sleep, talk to him and try to find out what is happening in his life.

Talk to the teachers at the school about whether the child is doing well. Make sure your child is not stressed at home. Children are extremely sensitive to family quarrels, and from this they may develop insomnia.

Taking medications

Certain classes of medications, such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or corticosteroids, may cause eating disorders or insomnia as side effects.

Psychological and physiological problems

Children suffering from psychological or psychiatric disorders, such as depression or anxiety, may suffer from insomnia. It can also be caused by physiological disorders such as muscle cramps, fibromyalgia (chronic muscle pain), and obstructive sleep apnea (short-term pauses in breathing).

Influenza, chronic asthma and other respiratory diseases also affect the quality of sleep. Finally, behavioral disorders can cause insomnia in children. For example, attention deficit disorder.

Consumption of caffeinated products

Drinking drinks containing caffeine can cause sleep disturbances in a child. Teenagers who consume carbonated drinks are especially prone to this. Nicotine also causes sleep disturbances.

home furnishings

For normal sleep, the child needs a calm, quiet environment. Even a child who is usually a sound sleeper finds it difficult to fall asleep during noise. A child with sensitive sleep is even more difficult to fall asleep in an uncomfortable environment.

Symptoms of insomnia in children

In addition to sleep disturbances and lack of sleep, a child can develop real insomnia. The following symptoms indicate it:

The child wakes up early in the morning and is sleepy during the day.
The child cannot concentrate on tasks at home and at school.
He makes elementary mistakes due to inattention.
The manifestation of aggression on the part of the child.
Severe hyperactivity.
Difficulty remembering new information.
Discipline problems at home and at school.
The child is irritable and subject to frequent mood swings.

Children with insomnia may feel sleepy and tired throughout the day. This symptom often indicates a cold or autoimmune disease, anemia or diabetes.

How to Diagnose Insomnia in a Child

There are no effective tests or methods for diagnosing insomnia in children. If you suspect your child has any sleep disorder, be alert for the symptoms described above. If any of the symptoms persist for a long time, you should consult your doctor.

Treatment of insomnia in children

The treatment of insomnia consists mainly of home care and the creation of a favorable environment for healthy sleep at home. Children and adolescents suffering from insomnia are prescribed medication only in selected cases, when medical intervention is the only way to alleviate the child's condition. Many insomnia medications are not suitable for children. Therefore, before giving a child this or that medicine, talk to the pediatrician.

Treatment without the use of drugs includes the following methods:

behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy and other methods are used to treat the psychological causes of insomnia in children. Sometimes a psychotherapist works with a child or with the whole family to identify the cause of insomnia. Sleep disorders in a child and parents can be interrelated. Behavioral therapy is effective for treating behavioral insomnia. Insomnia can occur because the child lacks the presence of parents, a comfortable environment, or a calming activity before bedtime. Sometimes you need to set limits for a child. For example, in cases where he falls into hysterics because he does not want to go to bed, or demands something (food, a glass of water, or that his mother read another fairy tale before bedtime).
Changes in lifestyle. In most cases, family lifestyle changes are effective in treating insomnia. The situation in the children's bedroom should be as comfortable as possible. Make sure the bedroom is not too brightly lit and the temperature and humidity are optimal for sleeping. The clock in the bedroom should not make a lot of noise and thereby interfere with the normal sleep of the child. It is not recommended to put a TV and a computer in the children's room.
Stick to a clear daily routine. Insomnia can go away quickly, but some people suffer from it for years. To prevent this, normalize the daily routine: put the child to bed and wake up at the same time, regardless of the day of the week.
Do quiet activities before bed(for example, bathe the baby and read fairy tales). This will help the muscles relax and the baby will fall asleep faster.

Do not give your baby any drinks or foods containing caffeine 4-6 hours before bedtime. If the child does wake up in the middle of the night, let him do something that calms him (for example, reading or looking at pictures) instead of just tossing and turning in bed.

Folk remedies for insomnia

Folk remedies allow you to avoid dependence on drugs. If you teach your child to fall asleep without medication, it will ensure that he has a healthy sleep even in adulthood. Quick sleep can provide such folk remedies:

sleeping bag- An effective remedy for calming and quickly falling asleep. Fill a cloth bag with dried chamomile, lavender, rose, and lemon extract flowers and place near the baby's bed.
A glass of warm milk before bed has a calming effect.
A cup of sugar-free chamomile tea relaxes and promotes sound sleep.
warm bath with a few drops of lavender or chamomile oil relaxes muscles and helps you fall asleep quickly.

If the child has not been physically active during the day, he will be helped by physical exercises. Lack of magnesium in the body prevents the brain from relaxing and recovering. Therefore, in the evenings, you should eat foods rich in magnesium: almonds, pumpkin seeds, leafy vegetables, etc. Valerian root is another natural sedative that ensures sound sleep. The child should take it in limited doses. When used correctly, folk remedies can provide a child with healthy sleep.

There is a belief that insomnia bothers mostly adults. Involuntarily replaying the events of the past day in our heads, suffering from a string of worries and problems, strong feelings, during periods of mental overwork, we often cannot fall asleep for a long time. A soft pillow and a cozy blanket become our enemy, and after an hour or two of spinning in bed, we get up to drink tea in the kitchen, read a book, or watch TV. The main causes of insomnia are nervous and mental strain. But children no less often suffer from problems with the nervous system and psyche. Toddlers face difficulties in understanding the world - in communicating with relatives and friends, in school and in relationships with classmates and teachers. The psyche and nervous system of a child are often even more sensitive than those of an adult. Modern animation, computer games and an abundance of entertainment technology only exacerbate the situation. Therefore, insomnia in children is a frequent phenomenon, disturbing both children and their parents.

Causes of sleep disorders in children

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is expressed in a long process of falling asleep and can have different causes. Satisfactory quality of sleep suggests falling asleep within 5-10 minutes after a person lies down. It is not uncommon for children toss and turn in bed for an hour before going to bed. What are the causes of childhood insomnia?

Babies do not sleep for a long time due to dysbacteriosis and diaper rash, hunger and during teething.
Also, the smallest ones can often be disturbed by the unstable psycho-emotional atmosphere in the house, especially if the parents are emotionally arguing, or the mother often and loudly talks on the phone next to the child.

Older children suffer from their own nervous and mental imbalance, especially hyperactive and emotionally labile kids.
Problems of the child in relations with peers, with the teacher - in kindergarten, with the teacher - at school. Disagreements with parents.
Common causes are periods of change in a child's life, when he needs to adapt to new conditions. For example, when moving, when entering a kindergarten, circle or school, during hospitalization.
Serious stressful situations - death of a relative, divorce of parents, being in a military conflict zone, violence or being present during violent actions.
Frequent and long sitting in front of the TV screen, at the game console or computer.
Strong mental and physical stress.
Children's fears, especially if the child is of kindergarten age. Fairy tales and cartoons, new acquaintances, aggression from peers often result in nightmares.
Uncomfortable sleeping place and uncomfortable air temperature in the room.
Violation of the child's day regimen and inactive wakefulness, when the child simply does not get tired physically and really does not want to sleep at night.

Treatment of childhood insomnia

Treating a baby's sleep disorders is a complex and lengthy business. Adults often immediately resort to medical methods - preparations containing bromine or phenobarbital, magnesium B6 or phenibut are no less popular than herbal complexes for insomnia in the form of tablets or drops. If the causes of insomnia are depression or a more serious nervous or mental illness, then heavy artillery is used. Treatment of children with medicines is undesirable, especially when it comes to children of kindergarten or primary school age.

The treatment of a child should be based on the normalization of the psycho-emotional background, the tightening or simplification of the daily regimen, a thorough analysis of the mental and physical stress of the child, and the clarification of possible problems in your child's relationship with others.

Treatment of insomnia in a child with homeopathic remedies

If the causes of your child's sleep problems are related to the internal tension and emotional lability of the baby, his hyperactivity and peculiarities of the nervous system, help him cope with insomnia. What can I do to help my child's sleep problems?

Medical treatment for insomnia

If folk methods do not help, and the child suffers from insomnia for a long time, neuropathologists prescribe medication treatment in accordance with age. More often, preparations containing phenibut, magnesium and vitamin B6 are prescribed. "Glycine" and "Glicised" are also popular, and children under three years of age can also take them.

Treat insomnia with care!

Whatever the root causes of childhood insomnia, try to ensure that the baby's daily routine is harmonious. 3 hours before going to bed, do not play noisily, turn off the TV. Before going to bed, read a book for your child and sing a lullaby, you can turn on calm instrumental music. It is a safe and effective insomnia treatment that is up to you. Many babies fall asleep perfectly to the sounds of nature - the sound of rain or the rustle of leaves interspersed with the quiet trills of birds. Do not turn on the TV loudly in the next room. Let the child fall asleep with a night light if complete darkness causes anxiety in him. Do not discuss family problems with the baby and work issues, try not to bring negative emotions home, especially do not take it out on the child. You will provide him with a good mood and healthy sleep.

Unfortunately, insufficient sleep can adversely affect a child's mood and behavior during the day, which in turn can lead to problems at school.

Children's insomnia

As with adults, childhood insomnia usually manifests as the child being unable to fall asleep or stay up all night without waking up. As a result, in the morning the child does not feel rested despite the fact that he spent a sufficient amount of time in bed. In addition to drowsiness, symptoms of childhood insomnia include:

- Irritability;
- mood swings;
- Hyperactivity;
- depression;
- Aggressiveness;
- Decreased attention;
- Memory problems.

Causes of childhood insomnia

One of the reasons kids don't get enough sleep is because they stay up too late. Often this happens because their parents do not have a good idea of how much time a child needs to get enough sleep. Or because the child is too busy during the day and does not have time to cope with all the things before. Or maybe the child just talks on the phone for hours, plays video games or watches TV.
Remember: Children aged 6 to 12 need 10-11 hours of sleep each night. From the age of 13, the norm of sleep is about 9 hours.

If the child goes to bed at the right time, spends a sufficient number of hours in bed and still does not get enough sleep, the reason may be in:

- Not being able to organize your own sleep;
- caffeine;
- stress;
- Syndrome of obstructive sleep apnea (snoring);
- Side effects of drugs (including stimulants used in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, antidepressants, corticosteroids and anticonvulsants);
- Asthma (cough);
- Eczema (itching);
- Depression;
- Overexcitation;
- Restless legs syndrome;
- Problems associated with mental retardation.

Treatment of childhood insomnia

Although many parents tend to overlook insomnia, it is important to first find out what the real cause is.
For example, if your child has sleep apnea and snores frequently and loudly at night, your tonsils and adenoids may need to be removed. If your child coughs frequently at night, you may not be paying enough attention to treating his asthma. In a word, if insomnia is caused by apnea, asthma or depression, then no sleeping pills will help here.
By the way, do not forget that children are forbidden to give sleeping pills. In extreme cases, for serious sleep disorders, only a doctor can prescribe any medications for the child, such as antidepressants.

Remember that in most cases, the treatment of insomnia does not require any medication. For example, try:

- Limit the time your child spends in bed to just sleep. That is, he should not read in bed, do homework or watch TV.
- Organize a very strict and consistent schedule for when the child should go to bed and get up both on weekdays and on weekends.
- Teach your child relaxation techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing, gradual muscle relaxation, visualization, etc.
- Stop stimulating activities 30-60 minutes before bedtime (video games, watching TV, talking on the phone).
- If the child cannot fall asleep within 10-20 minutes after going to bed, have him get up and do something quiet and calm.
- Do not give your child caffeine.
- Give your child regular exercise.

If you do not see a particular effect from the above, contact a child psychologist.

Insomnia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

It can be difficult to distinguish between the symptoms of insomnia and the symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) because they overlap in many ways. In addition, often insomnia is provoked by drugs that are used in the treatment of this syndrome.
If your child's sleep has worsened or even started insomnia for the first time after taking the medicine or after increasing the dose, the medicine may be the problem. On the other hand, in children whose insomnia is caused by the syndrome, sleep problems go away if they are given a small dose of medication in the afternoon or evening.
In this case, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician. Don't procrastinate: not enough sleep can make ADHD symptoms worsen.

Adapted from: "Insomnia in Children", J.A. Owens and "Non-Drug Treatment of Insomnia in Children", L. J. Meltzer.

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Causes of the disorder

In infants, the following problems can cause a violation of rest:

dysbacteriosis;
hunger;
gastric reflex (regurgitation);
teething;
diaper rash;
ear infections;
the presence of allergens or dust in the air;
too high air temperature and its dryness;
unfavorable emotional background (constant swearing, loud and harsh sounds in the house, etc.).

Why you need to take action

Some parents think that insomnia in children is a trifling matter and take no action to treat it. In no case should the problem be ignored, as it can lead to serious irreversible consequences.

During sleep, the body produces growth hormone somatropin. If the baby does not sleep, then a slowdown in his growth and development begins, it is especially scary when this happens in infants.

Inadequate rest also leads to such violations:

lethargy during the day;
irritability, tearfulness;
lack of appetite;
problems with memory and thinking;
drop in immunity;
headaches and migraines;
slow development;
obesity;
diabetes.

Help from a specialist

Medications for children are prescribed extremely rarely, up to 3 years they are completely contraindicated.

Treatment is reduced to the use of such drugs:

You can also fight insomnia with acupressure, breathing exercises or light therapy. The specialist chooses a technique for each child individually.

homeopathic remedies

gaba ashan - a healing herbal component that normalizes sleep, speeds up falling asleep, improves blood circulation, fights melancholy and other disorders of the nervous system;
beaver stream is an effective remedy that is used to treat nervous and cardiovascular diseases, it calms the nervous system, relieves spasm and helps get rid of migraines, improves tone and improves mood;
lofant plant - an effective natural antiseptic, immunostimulant, stabilizes blood pressure and strengthens the nervous system;
a collection of 32 medicinal herbs - eliminates anxiety and neurosis, stabilizes heart rate and pressure, relaxes the entire body, promotes easy and quick falling asleep, gives a good sound sleep.

Also, the remedy is suitable for small patients who suffer from sleep disorders due to excessive mental activity.

"Sonylux". An innovative development of Russian scientists, a completely natural drug that can be used from 2 years. In 2015, clinical studies of Sonilux were conducted, during which it was proved that it has the following effect:

How parents can help

To restore normal sleep will help such measures:

sonsladok.com

Why do children need to sleep?

Sleep is a physiological state in which regenerative processes occur in the body. At night, children produce growth hormone. No wonder they say that children grow in their sleep. During sleep, the immune system is restored by producing immunoglobulins and activating protective T-lymphocyte cells. While children sleep, the short-term information accumulated by them during the day passes into long-term memory. In other words, at night there is a consolidation of knowledge gained during the day.

The duration of sleep in babies at 2–3 years old is 12 hours, of which 1.5–3 hours falls on daytime rest. As they grow older, daytime rest decreases and by the age of 4 years, the need for it in many children disappears.

Types of sleep disturbances and awakenings at night

Difficulty falling asleep or frequently waking up at night is considered a violation. There are more than 100 types of sleep disorders, which fit into 3 main types:

Insomnia - difficulty falling asleep and nocturnal awakenings.
Parasomnias - sleepwalking, night terrors, enuresis, sleep-talking, bruxism, startling.
Sleep apnea is short-term pauses in breathing.

Parasomnias are caused by the immaturity of the nervous system and resolve by adolescence. Long-term sleep disturbance for more than 3 months requires observation by neurologists. With a protracted problem, somnologists conduct a study using the polysomnography method.

Individual characteristics of children

As children get older, they need less time to sleep at night and more time to stay awake. Features of the physiology of children from 2 years old are that their sleep and wakefulness regimen is already well-established, and babies can sleep all night. Due to individual characteristics, some children sleep less than their peers, but at the same time feel normal. Such features of children are not associated with any diseases. The fact that, in your opinion, the child does not sleep enough for his age is a problem, it can be a reason to visit a doctor.

Reasons for falling asleep or waking up at night

Sleep disturbance in children 2 years of age is often associated with improper diet and nutrition, or caused by diseases.

The most common causes:

neurological causes;
emotional overload during the day and at bedtime;
malnutrition;
physiological features;
somatic diseases.

In children 2 years of age, the most common cause of poor sleep or interruption of night's rest is emotional overload, which can manifest itself in the form of night terrors.

What to do with disturbed sleep?

Most often, the cause of night fears is emotional overload before bedtime and the wrong mode. Sometimes the cause of fear is fear. Emotional overload can be caused by the late return of the father, who arranges noisy emotional communication with the child before going to bed. Excited children have difficulty falling asleep, often wake up and call their mother. These conditions happen several times a week. Night terrors go away by adolescence.

If the baby woke up at night from his own cry, take the baby in your arms, calm him down in a quiet voice and ask all the household members who came running to the cry to leave the children's room. With frequently recurring nighttime fears in a baby, you need to consult a neurologist. Prolonged night terrors may be of epileptic origin.

In the treatment of disturbed sleep in children 2 years old, it is very important to adhere to the following measures:

observe the daily routine;
do not allow games on a computer or phone before a night's rest;
it is recommended to put the baby to bed at 2 years old at 21 o'clock at the same time;
provide daytime sleep 1.5–2 hours;
avoid watching TV before going to bed;
an hour before falling asleep, do not allow noisy active games;
it is useful to take a walk with the baby before bedtime or dinner;
ventilate the room well before going to bed;
the baby should not be too hot or cold during the night's rest.

Daytime rest is important for children 2 years old. A baby who does not sleep during the day will not sleep well at night. It is useful to perform the ritual of preparing for falling asleep - to collect toys, read a fairy tale. At a younger age, if there is a violation of falling asleep or waking up at night, soothing herbal infusions of valerian and lemon balm can be given. It is useful before going to bed to conduct a course of treatment with warm baths with an infusion of herbs, consisting of equal parts of thyme, valerian, motherwort, lemon balm. For infusion, brew 2 tbsp. l. dry mixture with 1 glass of water and leave for a quarter of an hour in a water bath. The water temperature must not exceed 37.0 °C.

Improper nutrition

Sleep problems in healthy children can occur with improper nutrition. The daily diet should be high in calories. The food eaten at dinner should be enough so that the baby does not wake up at night from hunger. A large dinner before bedtime will cause colic in the stomach. Chips and fast food can very well cause children to vomit at any time of the day. The nutrition of children 2 years old should be balanced.

In the diet of children from 1 to 3 years old, the following foods should be present daily:

Animal protein is a building material necessary for growth and providing blood with iron. With a lack of meat dishes from beef, iron deficiency anemia develops in children, the immune system weakens. Due to the lack of protein, babies lag behind in development, their memory deteriorates.
Fish is a source of vitamin D, without which a growing body develops a lack of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. The imbalance of these minerals negatively affects the growth of bones and teeth of a growing organism. With a lack of minerals, children do not sleep well, sweat in their sleep, they develop dental caries. Deficiency of minerals and vitamins affects the intellectual development of children.
Dairy products are a source of calcium and protein, which are needed for the formation of bones and teeth of a growing organism.
Fruits and vegetables provide the body with vitamins and minerals.

Children from 1 to 3 years of age need food after cooking. Vegetarianism for children from 1 to 3 years is unacceptable. Fasting, from a medical point of view, is interpreted as an inhumane attitude towards children. The raw food method is also unacceptable for feeding children. Children as young as 2 cannot digest that much raw food. The gastrointestinal tract of children from 1 to 3 years of age is not able to provide enzymes for the digestion of crude fiber. The result of a raw food diet will be gastritis and colitis. Eating problems impair falling asleep and cause you to wake up at night.

Snoring in children

The cause of frequent awakenings may be snoring, which occurs in some children after 1 year with enlarged adenoids and tonsils. With a strong increase in the tonsils, the flow of air to the lungs is limited. The child wakes up from oxygen deficiency. In severe cases, the adenoids can be so enlarged that they completely block the air flow during sleep and cause a short-term cessation of breathing - apnea. At the same time, children often wake up, and feel sleepy during the day. With such a serious sleep disorder, children need to be examined by ENT specialists and somnologists who study sleep using the polysomnography method. In case of enlarged adenoids and tonsils, the operation eliminates snoring and restores nighttime rest.

As a result, we emphasize that the main problems of sleep are emotional overload and violation of the regime. Improper or insufficient nutrition also contributes to sleep disturbance in children from 1 to 3 years of age. To get rid of the problems of a night's rest, you first need to establish the right regimen and adjust a balanced diet.

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What is the danger of insomnia

At first glance, it may seem that insomnia in children has no serious consequences, except for violation of the daily routine of the whole family. But in fact, insomnia can adversely affect the health of the child.

The fact is that while the child is sleeping, his body is most actively producing somatropin - a hormone responsible for growth and development in childhood. Sleep deprivation slows hormone production, so children who sleep poorly grow more slowly and often experience problems with weight and even mental and mental development. Therefore, sleep during infancy is especially important.

In addition, due to insomnia the nervous system does not have time to recover because she has to work all the time. At the same time, brain activity slows down: the child thinks worse, reacts belatedly to changes in the environment and questions addressed to him. He is able to perform simple everyday actions "on the machine", but when you need to change the usual algorithm or move on to another activity, this causes a stupor. This condition negatively affects studies, communication with friends and can even be dangerous.

With prolonged insomnia, both well-being and the psyche suffer: the child becomes lethargic, irritable, restless, tearful, often complains of headache, dizziness and lack of appetite. This condition can lead to more serious diseases, so insomnia must be actively combated.

Causes and treatment of sleep disorders in children

Insomnia is a disorder that requires careful treatment. But before starting it, it is necessary to find out the reasons that led to childhood sleep disorders.

Conventionally, there are several groups of causes of insomnia: psychological, physiological and related to the environment. Insomnia can be caused by one or more reasons, and in children of different ages they may differ slightly.

So, sleep disorders in children under one year old are usually caused by the imperfection of their nervous system: circadian rhythms in infancy are still being developed. Therefore, if the child is healthy, cheerful, active and “confuses day with night”, being awake at night and sleeping heavily during the day, then this is the reason. However, there are more serious causes of insomnia in infants:

too warm and dry air;
noisy or unusual environment;
too bright light;
problems with the stomach and intestines;
diaper rash;
teething;
ear infections;
encephalopathy.

In this case, the child does not sleep well both during the day and at night, often wakes up, is naughty, crying is frequent and loud. The baby needs to be observed: it may be necessary to change the situation in the room where the child sleeps, and also by all means show it to the doctor in order to exclude any diseases.

In the future, new causes of insomnia may be added. After a year children learn more and more motor skills and actively learn about the world around them. Intense and varied activity overloads the nervous system so much that the child has difficulty falling asleep.

In addition, the child begins to try adult food, and unusual food can cause gastrointestinal disorders and diathesis. A baby at this age cannot yet regulate his sleep on his own, so it is necessary to develop a daily ritual of going to bed and also establish a healthy, nutritious diet, eliminating overeating at night.

Preschool age is often marked by the first nightmares - children 3–6 years old they listen to fairy tales, watch cartoons and TV shows, and the actively developing brain processes the impressions received into unthinkable fantasies. As a result, the child begins to be afraid of the dark, afraid to fall asleep, does not sleep soundly and often wakes up screaming and in tears.

In addition, when children start attending kindergarten, the risk of catching a cold or getting helminths increases significantly: at this age, children may suffer from insomnia due to a sore throat, stuffy nose or itching. Such problems should be solved comprehensively: strengthen children's immunity, treat diseases in a timely manner and regularly take tests. In addition, it is necessary to limit the child's viewing of TV, and choose fairy tales and cartoons more carefully, excluding scary stories and frightening characters.

In children of primary and secondary school age the psychological causes of insomnia come to the fore: the beginning of study is almost always accompanied by stress due to a change in environment, and then other problems may add up. Fear of tests and exams, problems with academic performance, conflict with the teacher, quarrels with friends are the most common causes of insomnia in children aged 8-10 years. In addition, family problems, moving, a change of scenery, and even the death of a pet often cause sleep disturbances.

If insomnia is caused by such reasons, it is necessary to direct all efforts to create a favorable atmosphere in the family and psychological support for the child. It is important to pay attention to grades: perhaps a son or daughter needs additional classes. It is advisable to talk more often with the child on topics that concern him, to try to make him feel a friendly attitude. If insomnia is accompanied by headaches, appetite disorders, fainting, sudden mood swings, visual disturbances, the child should be immediately shown to a pediatrician and a neurologist, and, if necessary, to other specialists.

In addition to all of the above, very serious neurological disorders, diseases of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, as well as endocrine disorders can provoke insomnia. Therefore, even if the child has no health problems, except for difficulties with sleep, there is no need to consult a specialist in any case.

Medical and homeopathic treatment of insomnia

It happens that it is enough to create a favorable atmosphere in the room, to establish a daily routine, or even to have a frank heart-to-heart talk with the child in order to get better sleep again. But if the child still cannot fall asleep for a long time, wakes up often, or does not sleep at all, treatment may be required.

Most importantly, remember - in no case should you treat a child with drugs chosen independently or on the advice of friends! Any incorrect use of drugs can lead to the most terrible consequences. In addition, sleeping pills for children are strictly prohibited: they have a large number of side effects and adversely affect the brain and nervous system. Any treatment should be prescribed only by a doctor.

The use of drugs in children under 3 years of age is strictly contraindicated. From the age of 3, a child can be prescribed drugs such as Persen (strictly in tablets), Alora or Tenoten. These preparations based on plant extracts have a relaxing and calming effect, actively fight irritability and anxiety, and help normalize sleep.

homeopathic remedies , even despite their plant origin, should not be used alone. The duration of use and dosage is prescribed exclusively by a specialist. Basically, all homeopathic preparations are allowed for children from the age of 3, the only exceptions are Valerianahel, the use of which is permissible from the age of 2 and Sleep-Norm, which has no age restrictions.

A safer way to normalize sleep in children is to use decoctions plants such as:

motherwort;
chamomile;
mint;
hop cones;
oregano;
Melissa;
valerian root.

It can be even more useful massage with essential oils of these plants and aromatic pillows. However, for children under 3 years of age, they should be used with caution.

The treatment of insomnia, even with the help of drugs, will not be effective if you do not create a comfortable physical and psychological environment for the child. To do this, it is important to adhere to the following recommendations:

Be sure to follow the daily routine. Children, especially babies, are very conservative: the slightest change in the usual routine or a chaotic regime unsettles them and prevents them from falling asleep. Therefore, it is important to develop a bedtime ritual. In a baby, this may be a “bathing - feeding - sleeping” pattern. In older children - "washing - a glass of warm milk - reading a fairy tale - a dream." The most important thing is to perform the ritual daily and strictly at the same time.
It is important to create the right microclimate in the room - it has been proven that an air temperature of approximately 16–20 degrees and a relative humidity of at least 50% are required for comfortable sleep. Be sure to ventilate the nursery before going to bed and, if necessary, use a humidifier.
Special attention is also required for the nutrition of the baby - it should be complete and varied. Be sure to include in the diet lean meat, dairy products, whole grain bread - they contribute to the production of the sleep hormone melatonin and the amino acid tryptophan, which is useful for brain activity. It is advisable to eat more vegetables and fruits, especially tomatoes and bananas, which contain potassium and magnesium that are useful for the nervous system. The main thing is that the child does not have an allergy to these products.

Don't feed your baby tightly right before bed or give him sweets: this leads to insomnia and can provoke nightmares.
The activity of the child during the day should be active: spend more time outdoors, play, exercise. After such loads, sleep is usually healthy and sound.
An hour before bedtime, it is necessary to set the child to rest: dim the lights and loud sounds, switch to calm games, otherwise overexcitation will prevent him from falling asleep.
Does your child have nightmares and wake up screaming and crying? Be sure to reassure the baby, ask about what he is dreaming of, explain the safety of dreams. Putting the child to sleep immediately after this is not worth it: the impressions of sleep will remain strong for a long time. It is better to talk to him, read a fairy tale, drink warm milk with honey and stay close until sleep takes its toll. If the child is tormented by nightmares, it is better to leave a small night light in the room: soft light will not interfere with sleep and will allow the child not to experience horror when falling asleep and waking up.
If the baby does not sleep and does not show signs of illness, you can try to bathe him in a cool bath: after swimming enough, the baby will get tired and fall asleep.

If the child does not sleep well, you should not take this lightly and dismiss the problem: the advice of competent specialists, as well as the attention and care of parents, will help to quickly establish a healthy sleep, and as a result, ensure the baby's normal growth and development.

mama66.ru

Causes of sleep disorders in children

Babies do not sleep for a long time due to dysbacteriosis and diaper rash, hunger and during teething.
Also, the smallest ones can often be disturbed by the unstable psycho-emotional atmosphere in the house, especially if the parents are emotionally arguing, or the mother often and loudly talks on the phone next to the child.

Older children suffer from their own nervous and mental imbalance, especially hyperactive and emotionally labile kids.
Problems of the child in relations with peers, with the teacher - in kindergarten, with the teacher - at school. Disagreements with parents.
Common causes are periods of change in a child's life, when he needs to adapt to new conditions. For example, when moving, when entering a kindergarten, circle or school, during hospitalization.
Serious stressful situations - death of a relative, divorce of parents, being in a military conflict zone, violence or being present during violent actions.
Frequent and long sitting in front of the TV screen, at the game console or computer.
Strong mental and physical stress.
Children's fears, especially if the child is of kindergarten age. Fairy tales and cartoons, new acquaintances, aggression from peers often result in nightmares.
Uncomfortable sleeping place and uncomfortable air temperature in the room.
Violation of the child's day regimen and inactive wakefulness, when the child simply does not get tired physically and really does not want to sleep at night.

Treatment of childhood insomnia

Treatment of insomnia in a child with homeopathic remedies