Sound Sleep Guide

Archive for May, 2007

Several sleep problems can disrupt your child’s sleep. Solving your child’s sleep problems can be tricky because several problems can come up with your child’s sleep, including sleep deprivation, sleepwalking, sleep associations, separation issues, settling problems and parasomnias. Sleep deprivation occurs when you child does not get enough sleep, which could lead to serious physical and emotional problems. Sleepwalking, on the other hand, occurs when children sleep lightly and unconsciously walks around in the middle of the night. Sleepwalking is not harmful, unless it becomes a nightly routine. Parasomnias are disruptive problems of sleep, which are not considered serious, that include night terrors and teeth grinding. One of the most common problems of parents is that they cannot get their child back to sleep. This happens when parents have not introduced sleep associations to their child, which can help him or her to sleep alone without being rocked, sucking a pacifier, drinking a bottler of milk or with the parents by his side. Solving your child’s sleep problems depend largely on how well you incorporated sleep associations into your child’s bedtime routine. Surefire Ways of Solving Your Child’s Sleep Problems One of the most traditional tips in solving your child’s sleep problems is to sleep when your baby sleeps. This is important because you are introducing the baby into a new routine that he or she will follow every day. Establish a bedtime routine when your baby is at three to five months of age. This routine may include last feeding or nursing, bedtime story, singing, diaper changing, last bath or other practices that can make your baby go to sleep. You need to teach your baby to associate nighttime with sleeping by giving him or her objects (blankets or toys) that can symbolize “his time to sleep”. Solving your child’s sleep problems will take time because you need to teach them every detail for them to sleep alone, without sleepwalking, experiencing nightmares, grinding their teeth and without separation issues. Be patient in supporting your child as he or she gets used to the bedtime routine. Remember that your child will eventually outgrow these sleep problems with your guidance and reassurance. However, if you tried every method in solving your child’s sleep problems, your child may be experiencing hunger, heat or cold, bloating, cold or stuffy nose, temperature, ear infection, head banging or body rocking, soiled nappy, noisy or quiet environment and lost sleeping aids, such as stuffed toy, pacifier or blanket. Some sleep problems, especially those that continue to persist, may need medical attention.

Sleep deprivation occurs when you child does not get enough sleep, which could lead to serious physical and emotional problems. Sleepwalking, on the other hand, occurs when children sleep lightly and unconsciously walks around in the middle of the night. Sleepwalking is not harmful, unless it becomes a nightly routine. Parasomnias are disruptive problems of sleep, which are not considered serious, that include night terrors and teeth grinding. One of the most common problems of parents is that they cannot get their child back to sleep. This happens when parents have not introduced sleep associations to their child, which can help him or her to sleep alone without being rocked, sucking a pacifier, drinking a bottler of milk or with the parents by his side. Solving your child’s sleep problems depend largely on how well you incorporated sleep associations into your child’s bedtime routine. Surefire Ways of Solving Your Child’s Sleep Problems One of the most traditional tips in solving your child’s sleep problems is to sleep when your baby sleeps. This is important because you are introducing the baby into a new routine that he or she will follow every day. Establish a bedtime routine when your baby is at three to five months of age. This routine may include last feeding or nursing, bedtime story, singing, diaper changing, last bath or other practices that can make your baby go to sleep. You need to teach your baby to associate nighttime with sleeping by giving him or her objects (blankets or toys) that can symbolize “his time to sleep”. Solving your child’s sleep problems will take time because you need to teach them every detail for them to sleep alone, without sleepwalking, experiencing nightmares, grinding their teeth and without separation issues. Be patient in supporting your child as he or she gets used to the bedtime routine. Remember that your child will eventually outgrow these sleep problems with your guidance and reassurance. However, if you tried every method in solving your child’s sleep problems, your child may be experiencing hunger, heat or cold, bloating, cold or stuffy nose, temperature, ear infection, head banging or body rocking, soiled nappy, noisy or quiet environment and lost sleeping aids, such as stuffed toy, pacifier or blanket. Some sleep problems, especially those that continue to persist, may need medical attention.

Sleep terror disorders are characterized by extremes of terror as well as a temporary inability to get to full consciousness. Any person that suffers from this debilitating disease is abruptly woken from the fourth stage of sleep, and such waking up is accompanied by gasping, moaning as well as screaming. Often, the patient is not able to be woken completely, though after the episode, he or she will get back to normal sleep without further waking. Sometimes, the patient is able to recall the night terror episode if it occurs, in most instances, during non-REM sleep.

Distinct from Nightmares

Sleep terror disorders are not the same as having a nightmare and is distinct in several key ways. To begin with, the subject cannot fully awaken when roused, and even after waking, may continue to feel and experience the sleep terror for another ten to twenty minutes. And, it also occurs during the deepest level of non-REM sleep, which is not the case with nightmares. Also, upon waking, the patient will be unable to remember the episode except for feeling a sense of panic. In the case of nightmares, the patient is able to recall whatever transpired.

Sleep terror disorders are, unlike nightmares, not dreams; rather, it is an emotion of fear that the person feels which may also be coupled with tension as well as apprehension. Also there are no distinct sounds or visual imagery. Every episode of sleep terror disorders is, in most cases, different; though a strong sense of danger is most often experienced by the same person over several different episodes.

Children of two to six years of age are also prone to experience sleep terror disorders, and it is believed, that almost 15 per cent of youngsters are affected. There can be many triggers though emotional stress on the previous day as well as high fever contributes in no small measure to having an attack, which can be controlled, to a certain extent, by getting the right amount of sleep.

To treat sleep terror disorders, doctors are required to be gentle, should dispose of anything close at hand that can cause injury to the patient as well as also avoid loud voices or movements that can frighten the patient further. Persons affected by this disease are not even aware that they are experiencing sleep terror disorders.

Of the many that suffer sleep terror disorders, some famous names include H.R. Giger and H.P Lovecraft. Also, singer Gerard Way, the frontman for a New Jersey band called My Chemical Romance has also confessed to experiencing sleep terror while he was recording the track called “Sleep” from their new album The Black Parade.

Teenagers usually don’t get proper sleep even if they want to. After experiencing a series of sleepless nights, they can have a sleep deficit, causing your teens to experience emotional problems and they may find it difficult to study, work and concentrate. Sleep problems with adolescents are more common compared to children and adults because of several reasons. Medical experts explain that teenager’s biological clock changes during adolescence, which makes it harder for teens to fall asleep and wake up early. The changes of a teen’s body are caused by the brain hormone called “melatonin” that is produced later at night in adolescents, making it harder for teens to sleep early. This sleep problem is called “delayed sleep phase syndrome”, which affects many (but not all) teens. Other reasons for sleep problems among adolescents include stress, physical discomforts or sleeping environment. Five Common Sleep Problems Other sleep problems can disrupt your teen’s sleep. This includes PLMD (Periodic Limb Movement Disorder) that occurs when your leg or arm movements disrupt the sleep, leaving your teens irritable or tired from lack of sleep. With this condition, the adolescent is not aware that he or she is moving their arms or legs. A condition called RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) is similar to PLMD, except that teens can feel tingling, burning, cramping or itching in their limbs. This sleep problem can only be relieved by moving the arms or legs. However, doctors can also treat people with PLMD or RLS with proper medication. Another common sleep problem is obstructive sleep apnea. With this condition, the person suddenly stops breathing when he or she sleeps. Causes of sleep apnea include obesity, enlarged tonsils or swollen adenoids. When a person has this sleep problem, he or she tends to snore, find it difficult to breath and sweat during sleep. Teens experience nightmares rarely. However, when they do happen, nightmares can disrupt a person’s sleep patterns. Stress, anxiety or other emotional problems, drugs, alcohol, medication and lack of sleep cause nightmares. A therapist, counselor or doctor should treat frequent nightmares. Adolescents rarely experience sleepwalking. It is caused by fever or lack of sleep. However, these sleep problems may run in your family. If this is the case, you don’t have to worry because sleepwalking is not harmful. You just have to guide the sleepwalker back to bed. Sleep problems with your teens can be easily treated with proper medication and guidance. However, if the condition persists, you have to seek medical attention immediately.

Sleep problems with adolescents are more common compared to children and adults because of several reasons. Medical experts explain that teenager’s biological clock changes during adolescence, which makes it harder for teens to fall asleep and wake up early. The changes of a teen’s body are caused by the brain hormone called “melatonin” that is produced later at night in adolescents, making it harder for teens to sleep early. This sleep problem is called “delayed sleep phase syndrome”, which affects many (but not all) teens. Other reasons for sleep problems among adolescents include stress, physical discomforts or sleeping environment. Five Common Sleep Problems Other sleep problems can disrupt your teen’s sleep. This includes PLMD (Periodic Limb Movement Disorder) that occurs when your leg or arm movements disrupt the sleep, leaving your teens irritable or tired from lack of sleep. With this condition, the adolescent is not aware that he or she is moving their arms or legs. A condition called RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) is similar to PLMD, except that teens can feel tingling, burning, cramping or itching in their limbs. This sleep problem can only be relieved by moving the arms or legs. However, doctors can also treat people with PLMD or RLS with proper medication. Another common sleep problem is obstructive sleep apnea. With this condition, the person suddenly stops breathing when he or she sleeps. Causes of sleep apnea include obesity, enlarged tonsils or swollen adenoids. When a person has this sleep problem, he or she tends to snore, find it difficult to breath and sweat during sleep. Teens experience nightmares rarely. However, when they do happen, nightmares can disrupt a person’s sleep patterns. Stress, anxiety or other emotional problems, drugs, alcohol, medication and lack of sleep cause nightmares. A therapist, counselor or doctor should treat frequent nightmares. Adolescents rarely experience sleepwalking. It is caused by fever or lack of sleep. However, these sleep problems may run in your family. If this is the case, you don’t have to worry because sleepwalking is not harmful. You just have to guide the sleepwalker back to bed. Sleep problems with your teens can be easily treated with proper medication and guidance. However, if the condition persists, you have to seek medical attention immediately.