There are three types of sleep disorders: insomnia (lack of sleep), hypersomnia (excessive sleep), parasomnia (abnormal behavior during sleep). In addition, certain sleep disorders are specific to each individual child. We focus on the latter. Sleep disturbance can occur at any age, from infants aged 6–7 months to children 3–4 years of age with more complex problems.
There are many causes of sleep disorders in children:
- Most often this is a family situation.
For example, a difficult pregnancy, something that happens to the baby in early childhood, parental concerns, etc. Many factors need to be taken into account.
- Sleep disorders can also be associated with pathologies such as allergies, atopic dermatitis, sleep apnea syndrome, colic, winter sickness, otitis media, as well as psychological problems.
However, diseases do not wake up the child. They don’t let him sleep. For example, if a child has atopic dermatitis, he will wake up at the end of one of his sleep cycles and then begin to itch.
You need to know that sleep disturbance is one of the common problems in children with atopic dermatitis. Nine out of ten patients with atopic dermatitis have trouble sleeping.
Did you know that children with atopic dermatitis spend a quarter of the night scratching their skin? It takes longer than in the dream.
- Parents of children with atopic dermatitis rank sleep disturbances second only to pruritus among the factors that negatively affect quality of life. Sleep disturbances in children with atopic dermatitis are thought to be due to itching and general discomfort.
- However, it is highly likely that stress also plays an important role. After all, stress is a common trigger for both sleep disorders and atopic dermatitis.
IMPACT ON QUALITY OF LIFE
Sleep disturbance also has a serious impact on the quality of life and development of the child.
Ordinary children with sleep deprivation experience:
- nutritional problems;
- depression, desire to cry;
- anxiety;
- drowsiness;
- anxiety (when going to bed);
- sleep phase disorder.
Children with atopic dermatitis are prone to:
- possible increased susceptibility to infections;
- increased sensitivity to pain;
- cognitive impairment;
- behavioral disturbances leading to attention and emotional problems.
We should also not forget that sleep disturbance has a negative impact not only on children, but on the whole family:
- anxiety;
- family tension;
In addition, recent studies have shown that the majority of children under 3 years of age with disturbed sleep patterns experienced difficulties in mastering mathematics, reading, problems with spatial imagination, and speech disorders.
Moreover, children who consistently slept less than 10 hours a night were at an increased risk of developing ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
ELIMINATION OF SLEEP DISORDERS
Elimination of sleep disorders:
Almost all sleep disorders are dealt with by a general practitioner, pediatrician or child psychiatrist, but first of all, the problem should be solved by the parents themselves.
What to do at home:
- Listen to the child and always explain to him why he is here, why he must sleep. Always answer the child’s questions, reassure him.
- Teach your child to fall asleep on their own in their own bed.
- Stick to a strict diet.
- Have a quiet time.
- Learn to calm down, move on to calmer games already a couple of hours before bedtime
- Observe the ritual of preparing for sleep, set the exact time of going to bed and waking up.
- If a child has any disease, it must first be cured. Only after that help the baby learn to fall asleep on his own.
How to reduce the likelihood of developing sleep disorders in a child with atopic dermatitis?
Sleep disturbances appear with an exacerbation of the disease. Controlling atopic dermatitis will help prevent sleep disturbances.
1. Work with your dermatologist to start with a treatment plan for atopic dermatitis to bring the disease under control.
A dermatologist may recommend that you:
- Bathing and moisturizing the baby’s skin for better healing;
- A drug for the control of atopic dermatitis;
- An antihistamine to relieve symptoms of itching;
- Plan of action so that the child scratches the skin less;
- Products that can be used for very sensitive baby skin;
- How to identify triggers for atopic dermatitis.
2. Follow the treatment plan prescribed by the dermatologist
3. Take the time to identify triggers
How to help your child fall asleep:
- Use a calendar or stickers. When the child sleeps well, encourage him.
- Read to your child before bed to help them fall asleep faster.
- Explain the rules: You may not always be able to approach the baby when he wakes up and starts crying. It is imperative to reassure the child, to say that at first it may be difficult, but you are sure that he will cope. The child needs to be helped to get away from sleep associations that he falls asleep only after his mother comes up to him to calm the baby.