Children with Difficulty Sleeping
Specialists of the Jefferson Sleep Disorders Center care for children ages 3 and up with:
- Behavioral insomnia – difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, often with prolonged crying
- Narcolepsy – daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks
- Sleep apnea syndrome – disrupted breathing that leads to frequent breaks in sleep
- Sleep-related rhythmic movement disorder – involves repeated body movements while drowsy or asleep, often seen as head banging, body rocking and head rolling
- Sleep enuresis (bedwetting) – involuntary urination in children over 5 or 6 years old
- Sleep-rated fear – fears of monsters, robbers, the dark and shadows
- Other sleeping conditions and disorders
When Your Child Undergoes a Sleep Study
If your child is undergoing a sleep study at the Jefferson Sleep Disorders Center, our staff is willing to accommodate a parent's or caregiver's needs to feel as comfortable as possible during the overnight stay. If you'd like to stay in the room with your child, we can provide a cot or recliner to sleep on. If you prefer to sleep in an adjacent room, we will offer you a wireless baby monitor so that you can hear your child should he or she need you.
Signs of Sleeping Difficulty in Children
Your child may have a sleeping difficulty if he or she exhibits any of the following behaviors:
- Falling asleep in class
- Poor school performance
- Mood changes
- Diminished socialization
- Behavioral problems
- Non-compliance
- Aggression
- Hyperactivity
- Poor impulse control
- Family disruption
It's important that you give your child as much control over their sleeping situation as possible and provide constant praise and positive feedback during their therapy.