Sleeplessness

Why are naps important for your child? What are small sleep problems encountered?

Naps are essential. The child needs energy which is what naps give. Growth spurts depends on an increase in total hours of sleep as well as an increase in the number of daily sleep bouts which are timed from the start of sleep until awakening. It occurs at around 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months when the baby needs to suckle more often to meet the growing appetite.

- Getting up too often
Sometimes you get up very often during night. The reason behind this can be multiple like hunger, over filled tummy, insects, stuffy nose, bed wetting, excessive activity, scary movies or a new baby.

- Bed wetting
Toddler or small children sleep too soundly and they do not feel the urge to go to toilet. It is not their fault instead limit the intake of liquids in evening and make sure that the kid goes to the bathroom before going to bed. Consult a pediatrician because sometimes frequent bed wetting can be a urinary tract infection.

- Sleep walking
It is more common in children of age group 3-7 years old. It occurs early in night. Room should be kept safe for sleep wanders. One needs to guide the child back to bed without waking because if you wake the child, it can give the child a shock. This problem runs into families but it can indicate the presence of problem such as sleep apnea.

- Nightmares
Frightening dreams can wake up your child very often. Reassure the child that it is just the dream and she should not worry until she goes back to sleep.

- Night terrors
It is the condition in which the child is not fully awake and not aware of your presence. She screams and she is covered with perspiration and heart beats are increased. The child settles down after 15-20 minutes and then goes back to sleep.

Lack of sleep can cause inattentiveness at school, poor memory skills, inconsistent academic performance, irritability, susceptibility to colds and flu, under eye circles, accidents, use of stimulants as sleep substitutes.

| More

If you found this post informative, why not sign up to receive new posts ?
It's simple, and free, and you can even opt to receive by email:
Subscribe in a reader
Subscribe to Good Health Tips by Email

Sleeplessness or feeling tired during pregnancy – causes and how to prevent it?

Almost all pregnant women have trouble sleeping in one position or another at some point. These problems may include:
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Sleep is not restful
- Waking up frequently during the night
- Difficulty returning to sleep

Causes:
Early pregnancy
A number of problems can contribute to poor sleep during pregnancy. The same pregnancy hormone that causes fatigue during the day can also disrupt your sleep cycle at night. You may have trouble finding a comfortable sleeping position.
You may find yourself waking up several times during the night to urinate.

Later pregnancy
As the pregnancy continues, a wide variety of problems can disrupt your sleep. Increasing size of your abdomen may cause trouble in finding a comfortable position. Anxiety and stress may contribute to insomnia.Other problems that contribute to discomfort and insomnia are:
* Backache
* Congestion
* Gas
* Frequent urination
* Heartburn
* Hemorrhoids
* Leg cramps, Nausea

Treatment:
There are some steps that can be taken to treat the problem of sleeplessness:

- Take a hot shower before bedtime.
Remember that your sense of balance is off during pregnancy. Be careful not to slip into the tub wet!

- Reduce stress.
One should avoid stressful situations. Relaxation exercises, deep breathing or simply closing your eyes and imagining a peaceful scene can help.

- Napping
Sleep when possible during the day. This helps in avoiding excessive fatigue, especially if you have trouble getting restful sleep at night.

- Avoid sleeping on your back
This position puts the weight of the uterus in the back and the main vein that carries blood from the lower body and heart. Sleeping on your back can increase your chances of having back pain. It can also aggravate digestive problems, heartburn and haemorrhoids. Try to sleep on your side, especially on the left side. This position improves circulation and reduces swelling in the feet.

- Use pillows
Put a pillow between your legs. Use extra pillows to support your back and abdomen.If you suffer from shortness of breath or heartburn, use pillows to raise your upper body.

- Make your room comfortable
Do not watch TV or read in bed. Use your bed only for sleeping. Make sure the room has comfortable temperature. Play some relaxing music that helps you to sleep.

- Go to bed early
Go to bed earlier than usual, especially if you find yourself waking up several times during the night. Go to bed when you feel tired. Do not force yourself to stay awake.