Many children have a sleeping problem. For example, 25 to 50% of children aged 1 to 3 years suffer from sleep deprivation. In children with sleep deprivation, a number of risk factors are present at different levels. These risk factors contribute to the development of sleep problems and can often be resolved relatively easily. This is also very desirable as it has been shown that children with sleeping problems often also exhibit behavioral problems. So there seems to be a connection. This article provides an explanation of the risk factors that can lead to sleep problems.
Insomnia
Sleep problems: many children appear to have to deal with them. There are different types of sleep problems, but in this article this will be limited to sleep deprivation. In the remainder of this article we will talk about insomnia; this means insomnia. There are 4 different types of insomnia, all of which cause insomnia, but the cause is always different. Insomnia can be caused by difficulty falling asleep, waking up too early, poor quality of sleep or difficulty staying asleep, which may cause the person to wake up one or more times in between.
Someone with insomnia often feels tired, has difficulty concentrating, is sleepy during the day or even falls asleep, is grumpy or has a negative mood. However, almost everyone will recognize such characteristics, but that does not mean that everyone has insomnia. This of course also applies to children. Insomnia only occurs if the symptoms and the problem persist for a longer period of time.
Risk factors at the child level
- Prematurity (born too early)
- Difficult temperament
- Biological predisposition for light sleep (sensitive to external stimuli)
- Biological predisposition to anxious constitution
- Intestinal cramps (colic)
- Throat, nose and ear problems (e.g. tonsils)
- (chronic) Diseases such as asthma
- Allergies such as cow’s milk allergy
- Stress in the child
Risk factors at parental and family level
- Stress among parents
- Overtiredness among parents
- Marital problems
- Young, inexperienced parents
- Parents with psychological problems
- Parents who deny or downplay the child’s sleep problems
- No soothing sleep rituals when going to bed
- Child falls asleep somewhere other than in his own bed (‘shifting’)
- Parents who do not respond adequately to the child’s sleep problems, causing the sleep problems to persist or worsen
Risk factors at the environmental level
- Poor and noisy housing
- No or small supportive network of parents
Prevention
Prevention is better than cure is a frequently heard saying. Parents can also take certain measures with regard to sleeping problems or take things into account that can reduce the risk of sleeping problems:
Make going to bed a ritual
Young children thrive when there is a degree of structure and regularity in their lives. Going-to-bed rituals that provide regularity include an announcement by the parents, saying goodnight, washing and brushing teeth, and possibly telling a story or reading aloud. It is important to perform these rituals consistently: always use the same order and every evening. Putting a child to bed quickly is not recommended because most children need a structured transition period from wakefulness to sleep. Exciting activities are therefore prohibited, such as watching television, playing computer games and arguing between parents and the child.
Taking children’s sleep needs into account
Fixed sleeping times are important for the intended regularity. Sleeping times may be different at the weekend, but not too much, as this can disrupt regularity and even the biological clock.
No strenuous activities before bedtime
Strenuous activities such as watching TV, playing computer games, playing outside and exercising are not recommended just before going to sleep. High brain activity makes it difficult for the child to fall asleep. Relaxation should predominate. The child wakes up from exertion
Bedroom
The child should associate his bedroom with sleeping and not with anything else. For the same reason, watching television in bed is not recommended. Playing in the bedroom and having toys in the bedroom can also mean that some children have difficulty falling asleep in the bedroom.
Limit stimulants
Foods like cola and chocolate chip cookies before bedtime contain a lot of sugar and make a child more active. This makes it more difficult to fall asleep.
