Childhood Insomnia

Many children are chronically sleep deprived and this can lead to behavioral problems the next day as sleep is as necessary to children as is good, healthy food and drink. Poor sleep has also been linked to failing school grades, depression and anxiety.

There are all sorts of reasons why children can suffer from insomnia and these include sleep anxiety,  stress, mental health problems, pain or other health problems.

You do have to use common sense though. Sometimes it can be something as simple as a tummy ache due to constipation or indigestion or just hunger, if they are pick eaters.

So the first thing to do if the insomnia is chronic and there is no simple explanation for it, is to take them to a doctor to rule out any underlying health problems that could be causing or contributing to the insomnia.

Once you have established that there are no underlying health problems, you can try the following:

• Check the sleeping environment and adjust. Is it too noisy? Is it dark enough and is the temperature comfortable?
• Are they stressed due to problems with friends at school, too much homework, a recent move? Identify the stress and deal with it.
• Establish a "winding down" routine ie avoid all stimulating activities for at least an hour before bedtime.
• Give them a warm, milky drink before bed for the calcium content which is relaxing.
• Sometimes a relaxing bath will help them calm down.
• Sign up for the free "Sleepytime Secrets" newsletter for more information on children's sleep problems.

If nothing seems to work, talk to your doctor about it and see what else can be done.
It will be well worth the effort to resolve your child's problems as this means you too will be able to sleep easy and be alert and refreshed in the morning!