Pediatric sleep disorders are common and children usually grow out of them as they age. However, it’s important to get your child treatment in the short term to help them sleep and avoid impacting their health and focus. Below are a few of the most common sleep problems affecting children.

Pediatric Sleep Disorders to Watch For

Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking most often occurs in children aged four to eight. A child who is sleepwalking will be unresponsive and difficult to wake. Walking isn’t the only manifestation; children may also talk, sit up, and move around their room. 

Bed Wetting

Even after they are fully potty trained, children may take longer to learn to control their bladder overnight. This is only a problem if the child is over five years old and still wetting the bed regularly. Children may also start bed wetting again if they are experiencing unusual stress or illness.

Night Terrors

Also called sleep terrors, night terrors are different from nightmares because the child can experience intense fear while still asleep. Night terrors are related to sleepwalking, so the child may shout, cry, sit up, and open their eyes, all without waking up. They usually don’t remember the episode the next morning.

Sleep Schedule Problems

Some children experience narcolepsy, in which they fall asleep uncontrollably at random times throughout the day. Others experience insomnia, which keeps them awake when it’s time to sleep. Others have circadian rhythm disorders, which affect the body’s natural sleep and wakefulness cycle, altering its length or timing. All of these conditions can prevent a child from getting a good night’s sleep and feeling rested the next day.

If you suspect your child is experiencing a pediatric sleep disorder, bring them to Glacier Headache & Sleep Medicine in Kalispell, MT. Serving Flathead County since 1983, this independently owned facility offers diagnosis and treatment of sleep problems for both adults and children, drawing on years of training and experience. To schedule an appointment, call (406) 752-1729 or visit their website to a list of sleep disorders they treat.