Childhood
Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
for kids
Nighttime
·
Snoring
·
Breathing pauses during sleep
·
Restless sleep
·
Mouth breathing
·
Difficulty getting up in the morning, even after getting the proper
amount of sleep
Daytime
·
Hyperactivity
·
Inattention
·
Behavior problems
·
Sleepiness
If parents suspect their child has sleep apnea,
his/her symptoms
should be discussed
with a pediatrician
or other health care
provider.
To help your child get a good night's sleep, NSF
offers the following
tips:
Establish a regular bedtime and wake up time.
Parents and children
should plan a daily
schedule that
includes the basic
daily sleep
requirements for
particular age
groups.
This schedule
should be maintained
on the weekends,
though students can
be permitted to sleep
in one or two hours
on weekend mornings
if necessary.
While individual sleep needs can vary, the amount
of sleep suggested by
Dr. Mindell and other
sleep experts for
particular age groups
is:
-
18 months – 3 years /
12-14 hours
per night
-
3-5 years / 11-13 hours
per night
-
5-12 years / 10-11
hours
per night
-
Teens - 9.25 hours
per night
Create a bedtime routine. Bedtime routines are
important, regardless
of a child's age. It
should include at
least 15-30 minutes
of calm, soothing
activities.
Discourage
television, exercise,
computer and
telephone use, and
avoid caffeine (found
in beverages,
chocolate and other
products).
Achieve a balanced schedule. Identify and
prioritize activities
that allow for
downtime and
sufficient sleep
time. Help students
avoid an overloaded
schedule that can
lead to stress and
difficulty coping,
which contribute to
poor health and sleep
problems.
To help children maintain a healthy body weight,
the National
Institutes of Health
(NIH) offer these
tips:
-
Be supportive. Children know if they are
overweight and
don't need to be
reminded or
singled out.
-
Plan family activities that involve exercise.
Instead of
watching TV, go
hiking or
biking, wash the
car or walk
around the mall.
Offer choices
and let your
children decide.
-
Eat meals together as a family and eat at the
table, not in
front of the
television. Eat
slowly and enjoy
the food.
-
Don't use food as a reward or punishment.
Children should
not be placed on
restrictive
diets unless
done so by a
doctor (for
medical
reasons).
Children need
food for growth,
development and
energy.
If you
think you or a
loved one may
have
symptoms of a
sleep disorder,
please
contact us
today.
Help
is available!
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