Insomnia In Children: How To Help Them Sleep Better
Insomnia in children is a frequent reason for consulting the pediatrician, despite the general perception that children always sleep well and a lot. It is estimated that between 25 and 50% of those under 5 years of age have had problems falling asleep for more than 3 months.
Sleep is one of the most important aspects of life. It allows us to face daily activities, but it is also essential to maintain a healthy physical and mental state.
The problem is that sleep habits must be instilled from the first moment of life. Insomnia in children has many repercussions on their development and throughout adult life. Therefore, in this article we explain everything you need to know and how we can help you improve your sleep.
What is insomnia in children?
Insomnia in children, as in adults, consists of the difficulty of achieving sleep. It can also be made up of frequent awakenings during the course of a night. In fact, it is normal for both situations to take place.
Medicine defines insomnia as the difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep at least 3 times a week, throughout a month. This is important to note because not getting a good night’s sleep for one or two should not be considered insomnia.
Sleep can be affected by many factors in daily life. The causes of insomnia in children can be environmental, psychological or medical. For example, it could be a reflection of a conflict within the family or a sign of child abuse.
However, almost 70% of cases of insomnia in children are due to bedtime habits that are not correct. As we said before, having adequate sleep hygiene from the first moment of life is basic for the rest of the stages.
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