Anyone who has had a toddler may have experienced episodes of the baby waking up screaming in the middle of the night for no apparent reason, snoring, profuse sweating, or not being able to get the baby down to sleep in the first place. These problems may be more common than you know, and there IS help available.
Sleep terrors, the first of the problems we will discuss, are characterized by a sudden arousal from sleep accompanied by a piercing scream or cry, and by autonomic (controlled by the part of the nervous system that regulates involuntary motor functions of the heart, lungs, etc.) and behavioral manifestations of intense fear. They are also known as Pavor Nocturnus, incubus, severe autonomic discharge, and night terrors. Characterized by a sudden episode of intense terror during sleep, the episodes usually happen within the first third of the night, and a partial or total amnesia occurs in the child for the events during the episode. Other sleep disorders, like nightmares, can be present.
Some children may only have episodes of sleep terror less than once per month, and do not result in harm to the patient or others, while some can experience episodes less than once per week, and not result in harm to themselves or others. In the severest form, these episodes will occur almost nightly, or are associated with physical injury to the child or parents. While frightening to the parents, this disorder will usually right itself. Consult with a sleep specialist if they do not improve or you are concerned for the child’s well being.
Irregular sleep patterns can also be a sudden problem with toddlers. This can result from any number of causes including unexpected visits, a change in parents work schedule, or new outside noises. Experts suggest doing things like trying to reestablish normal sleep times, refraining from playing with a child up to a half an hour before bedtime, or doing something relaxing like giving a child a warm, scented bath. Other amenities include soundproofing the child's room, making sure it is dark to induce sleep, and adding relaxing items like a favorite stuffed toys or a blanket into the toddler’s bed that provides comfort to the child.
Some toddlers will sweat buckets while they're in the deepest part of their nightly sleep cycle, often ending up soaking wet. While sweating can occasionally be a symptom of sleep apnea — a serious sleep disorder in which the upper airway passages are blocked repeatedly during the night, making it difficult for your toddler to breathe — usually nighttime sweating is normal and nothing to worry about.
Deep sleep is the time when your toddler is getting the best of what sleeping has to offer him — his body is restoring itself and getting ready for a new day — so don't worry too much about his nighttime perspiration. Try to make sure he's comfortable, though. When you put him down to sleep at night, dressed him in light, cotton clothes and keep his room a little bit on the cool side.
If your toddler's perspiration is accompanied by the sounds of snoring or extended pauses in his breathing (other possible symptoms of sleep apnea), time the pauses to see how long they last. Up to ten seconds is normal, and longer breaks may be, too. But in order to definitively rule out sleep apnea, talk to his doctor about it. The doctor can help you decide what step to take next.
Sleep apnea, generally considered to be a problem among middle-aged men, can be a problem for youngsters, as well. Obstructive sleep apnea, caused by something like enlarged tonsils, is a common medical condition that is now being identified in more and more children. The peak age for this condition is generally from 2 to 5 years old, but it can occur at any age. While not all kids who snore have sleep apnea, children who snore may not be getting adequate sleep. Classically, those with sleep apnea snore quite loudly for a bit, then are silent, then snort briefly, move about, and resume snoring. If snoring is accompanied by nighttime breathing difficulty and pauses in breathing, then it may well be sleep apnea. This should be brought to the attention of your pediatrician. You might want to make a cassette tape of your child's sleep noises to bring with you.
Pauses in breathing cause the child to awaken all through the night, making it next to impossible for sleep apnea sufferers to enjoy an entire uninterrupted night of deep, restorative sleep. Children with sleep apnea are often sleepy during the day causing their concentration and daytime performance to suffer. Being overweight or obese are risks for developing sleep apnea, but being thin does not preclude a diagnosis.
While these problems are becoming more common, parents should be aware that more and more studies are showing that the consequences of toddler sleep disorders are huge. When children don’t get adequate sleep at night, they are at risk for health, performance and safety problems. Sleep disorders may harm children by interrupting sleeping patterns crucial for growth. According to recent studies, children with sleep disorders are observed snoring, snorting, gasping, tossing and turning at night while some are irritable, hyperactive and unable to concentrate during the day.
Experts note that if parents suspect their child has sleep apnea or other sleep disorders, his/her symptoms should be thoroughly discussed with a pediatrician or other like health care provider. As parents, we all know what it is like to be grumpy, contrary, and "not feel at our best" due to lack of sleep. If our kids often feel this way, we owe it to them to find solutions to this problem.
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