Battling sleep disorders has been a common thing, not only among adolescents but in infants too. The day-to-day activities that children engage in have been a common contributory factor to these disorders. Remember, an average child may need up to nine full hours of peaceful sleep. However, due to either psychological or real-time factors, most children can hardly sleep for five straight hours. Many parents, especially the young ones with no experience in raising babies, become so much worried about it. So, what are these disorders, and how can you notice them in your child? Before opting for Sleep Dentistry as a way out for the treatment of sleep disorders, it is essential to have an idea of what your child might be suffering from. The following are the most common sleep disorders among infants:
- Snoring
Snoring leads to disturbed sleep patterns and may be disgusting to the people around, especially if it goes on for a longer time. Snoring has a history of breaking relationships among bed partners if it happens at an older age. Snoring involves sudden resistance of air passage into the lungs, which leads to a negative pressure vibration every time a child tries to inhale. The disrupted sleep patterns may be seen in the form of daytime fatigue and sleepiness in children during the day.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
You may mistake this disorder with snoring, but it is more obstructive since it involves sleeping noises and is more noticeable in children. The air passage blocks prompting the infant to wake up abruptly in between periods of sleep. It usually takes a while before breathing pattern resumes back to normal, and the child goes back to sleep again.
- Arousal sleep disorders
Experts will call this a slow-wave sleep where the child is asleep but partially awake at the same time. Some of the symptoms may involve sleeping but, again crying at a very loud sound. The child may also depict features suggesting he is partially asleep and awake and may even include trying to run from the bed.
- Restless legs syndrome
Restless legs syndrome is a knownneurological disorder that is caused by low brain iron metabolism. Genetic factors are also among the leading causes and have been witnessed more in female babies than males. However, this condition is treatable too, but if neglected,it can worsen with age.
- Parasomnias
Once in a while, you may have heard of abnormal behaviours during sleep time. Well, this is the most noticeable sleeping disorder that will ever occur in your baby. The main problems that come with this sleep disorder include sleep terrors, sleepwalking and confusional arousals. In sleep talking, the child might be having a conversation in his dream but vocalizes a few parts from time to time. It is actually the most common symptom that you will notice. Sleep terror will involve an infant exhibiting an abrupt behaviour of fear or confusion whilein confusional arousals, children wake up exhibiting panic when disoriented big time.
As a parent, you should never put an infant to sleep when you noticed the above symptoms in his previous sleep. It is imperative that you seek help from professionals, or apply natural methods, which may include sending the child to bed alone.