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A child needs adequate sleep for physical and mental growth. But many children suffer from sleep problems. These children tend to be inattentive at school, lethargic during the day, do not perform well in tests, have irritability, chronic headaches and obesity.
Process-S and adenosine and other chemicals are involved in determining the amount and intensity of human sleep. Sleep-related chemicals are called somnogens. In childhood, these somnogens are in increased levels, as a result, children of this age cannot stay awake for a long time during the day. Fall into daytime sleep (naps).
The brain's 'Process-C' controls the 24-hour sleep cycle, the sleep-wake cycle. Its master clock is located in the hypothalamus part of the brain. The circulatory system, hormones, small messengers of the sleep clock distributed throughout the kidneys and lungs are under the control of this part. The influence of the natural environment is very important in the functioning of the 'circadian rhythm' of sleep.
Child sleep and sleep problems by age
Newborns and first two months of age: Babies of this age sleep about 10-19 hours in a 24-hour period (average 13 to 14.5 hours), which is more for premature babies. During the first week, no sleeping schedule is established. Next, the amount of sleep is specified as 8.30 hours at night and 5.45 hours during the day. A newborn can sometimes sleep for four to five hours at a time if he is satisfied with breast milk. Children of this age may have sleep problems due to colic, apnea (sudden difficulty in breathing), reflux, allergy to formula food etc.
2 to 12 month old (infant) child: On average, a child of this age spends 12 to 16 hours sleeping. Shaking of the head, shaking of the legs (rhythmic movement disorder), the habit of waking up for a long time to feed the baby, hunger, urine-soaking in the toilet, cold weather, fear of separation that the mother will leave alone are the causes of sleep disturbance in this age child.
1 to 3-year-olds (toddlers): Children sleep 11 to 14 hours a day, including naps. The main sleep problem is - sleep terror. From this age, the routine of taking the child to bed at a certain time should be developed.
Pre-school age (3-5 years): Siesta (a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after lunch) 10-13 hours of daily sleep. 26 percent of children by age 4 and only 15 percent by age 5 take a siesta. Major sleep problems in this age group include sleep walking, sleep terrors and sudden suffocation. Sleep problems at this age can become chronic, causing him to urinate and wet the bed.
Middle childhood (6-12 years): 9 to 12 hours of total sleep per day. School environment and behavior problems, use of screens, such as television, computer, video games, Internet addiction cause sleep disturbances. Which can cause complications like sleep terrors, sleep deprivation and sleep apnea.
Adolescence: At this age the child should sleep at least 8 to 10 hours daily. Sleeping late, staying in class and having a big difference in sleep routine during the holidays should not be allowed. The anxiety of competition around affects his sleep. As a result he does not sleep normally, he suffers from narcolepsy. Some people constantly shake their legs in their sleep. This sleepless state creates various crises. Such as problems in school, decline in performance, reduced attention and poor short-term memory. The child cannot answer anything immediately, the temper is high. Bicycling or driving is almost an accident.
Healthy baby sleep and remedies for sleep problems
Sleep is very important for a child's health. Research shows that one in three children over the age of 5 have sleep problems. 30 percent of them have this problem quite clearly. But as the child gets older, the problem diminishes, and by age 8, only one in 10 children suffer from sleep difficulties.
From the age of 4 years to the age of 18, all the necessary sleep of the child is allocated at night. Since then there is no need for daytime sleep. A child's total number of daily hours of sleep does not fluctuate much from day to day. However, the difference in the normal amount of sleep between individual children is quite large. If the child sleeps less at night, he will sleep more during the day. If you sleep more at night, you will sleep less during the day, this is the rule.
There is no such thing as normal or abnormal in a baby's sleep routine. It is only unusual if it does not match the wishes of the parents. Both parents and children are very tired during the day due to this sleep problem.
A child who has sleep problems at an early age will grow up with them later. A history should be taken beforehand to identify the cause of the child's sleep problems. Especially temperament and psychological history. For example, 25-50 percent of inattentive right-handed children suffer from sleep problems. If the child is suffering from ear infection, adenoid and tonsil swelling, stomach ache or nervous system disease, he may suffer from sleep problems. These children need to be evaluated for epilepsy with a physical exam or sometimes with an EEG.
A 'good sleep habit' should be developed for the child from the beginning. Drowsy, but alert, the child should be put to sleep.
Before this time it is healthy to read him some funny stories, show him pictures or get him used to melodious songs. It is recommended to refrain from excessive jogging or running activities before sleep. Before going to bed, it is good to let the child pick up any favorite things, such as a favorite toy, doll or book. However, caution is necessary regarding any sharp objects or button-like objects, which may cause injury or accidental swallowing.
An hour before going to sleep should be in a quiet environment. A dark bedroom and a tolerable temperature (below 24°C) is best. Television should not be placed in the bedroom.
Children should not go to sleep hungry. However, consuming caffeinated foods like coffee, tea, chocolate within one to two hours of going to sleep disrupts sleep. It is best to eat at least three hours before bedtime.
Saying 'good night' to the child should be the same every day. Turn off the light and close the door. Leaving the bedroom light on means—'darkness is a terrible thing', and leaving the bedroom door open signifies—'you can get out of bed whenever you want'. Do not send this message. So that he understands, after going to bed, it is forbidden to leave the bed except for toilet or urgent work. During this time, playing with him, talking, switching on and off the lights should not be done.
Whenever the baby calls out of bed, keep an eye on him. Instead of rushing to his call, he delayed a little. But let him understand that you are close to him.
Children should follow a sleep routine. Go to bed and wake up at the same time on the day school opens or closes. Even if there is a difference, it should not be more than one hour from one day to another. If napping is required, it should be done at a fixed time in the early part of the day.
Children should participate in sports and be involved in manual labor every day.
Professor Dr. Pranab Kumar Chowdhury, Former Head, Department of Child Health, Chattogram Medical College Hospital.
