Sleep disorders are difficult to diagnose in children. Pediatricians claim children can suffer the same bedroom problems that adults do such as narcolepsy, insomnia and sleep apnea. However, children are less articulate and constantly changing. Diagnosing what is a disorder and what is natural can be difficult.
Instructions
Diagnose Pediatric Sleep Disorders
1. Enroll your child in a pediatric sleep study, if you suspect there are issues with their sleeping. Pediatric hospitals routinely offer this service in which your child will sleep for a specific number of evenings at the hospital to have his sleep cycles monitored and diagnosed.
2. Monitor your children’s sleep schedule. Keep meticulous notes on what time you put them in bed and what time they wake up. Also take note of the amount of times they wake up during the night. This is all valuable information to a doctor attempting to diagnose your children.
3. Take notes in regards to napping as well. Napping for a child is part of their normal sleep cycle. However, there can be issues that arrive from this childhood habit. Note whether the naps are scheduled or impromptu and the duration of each.
4. Watch your child for signs of sleepwalking. Do they wake up in different positions or rooms than they began? Do you find items misplaced in the morning? Sleep walking can be a symptom of other sleeping issues with children and should be reported to a pediatrician.
5. Alter your child’s diet to see if this has a positive effect on their sleeping patterns. Increasing fruits and vegetables always helps to regulate bodily functions, while cutting out sugars and caffeine in the evenings can help keep a child free of sleep disorders in many cases. Consult a pediatrician for advice on dietary changes.
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