Insomnia in teenagers: why it occurs, how to deal with it

During adolescence, various changes affect the body, and sometimes the child does not understand what is happening to him. Even insomnia in teenagers is a common condition, although adults usually associate it with stress and depression, which children cannot have. In reality, things are different: it is more difficult for a developing body to adapt, and it reacts with insomnia as one of the symptoms of possible disorders.

In most cases, you can get rid of insomnia without the use of drugs and traditional methods, as well as without visiting a doctor. A careful study of the factors that cause the condition in each case is sufficient. It should be borne in mind that insomnia is not always a complete lack of sleep.

Features of adolescence

During adolescence, many changes occur in the body. From the age of 12, male or female hormones begin to be dynamically produced, and the child becomes a physiological adult. However, he is not emotionally mature, for this reason the teenager encounters sleep pathologies, frequent mood changes, and impetuosity.

Metamorphoses that occur during adolescence:

Physiological. The child begins to grow dynamically, his muscle mass increases, his appetite increases, and his metabolism accelerates. Some children become disproportionate, baggy, and lose coordination of movement.
Psychological. Due to external changes, the young man begins to feel discomfort; he does not like himself. Due to hormonal imbalance, acne occurs on the face and body, and the skin of a young person becomes covered with hair.

Attention! In the adolescent body, the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep, is disrupted.

A maturing child does not sleep for a long time. Also at this age, he wants to have time to do his homework, take a walk, be alone, and devote time to hobbies and sports.

There is no need to follow the lead of a child who plays computer games or watches TV until 1–2 am. Parents need to remember that a teenager needs to rest more than 8 hours a day.

Features of a teenager's sleep

A teenager's sleep is different from the sleep of an adult or child. Between the ages of 12 and 21, the body begins to undergo restructuring, changes in hormonal levels, and the creation of new neural connections.

In addition to physiological changes, sleep is also affected by constant workload at school, emotional swings and family relationships, as well as a number of other factors. At this age, any change is perceived sharply, as is criticism from adults or other teenagers.

The specifics of a teenager’s sleep are determined by the following factors:

Production of sleep hormone. During puberty, active restructuring of the biological clock begins (the beginning of the production of the hormone melatonin, which directly affects sleep). For this reason, the teenager physically cannot fall asleep early, and feels tired only an hour and a half after dark. Due to the school schedule, it is not possible to catch up in the morning. Therefore, a violation of sleep patterns and its duration occurs.
The prefrontal cortex, which needs more glucose during adolescence. The monosaccharide is necessary to increase concentration, mental activity, and the ability to predict. When sleep problems occur, the prefrontal cortex is disrupted, which leads to absent-mindedness and memory impairment.
Sudden mood swings and depression, which are caused not only by hormonal changes, but also by sleep disturbances. With proper rest, the hippocampus begins to work more actively, which processes positive emotions and memories. Teenagers go to bed much later, and starting from 1 am, the “usefulness” of sleep is less. Therefore, the cerebellar amygdala, which is responsible for negative memories, becomes more active.

Increases in blood pressure and blood insulin levels are also directly related to sleep. This can produce ghrelin, the so-called hunger hormone. It encourages overeating, which leads to obesity. In a teenager, the disorder can become a serious problem if it is not addressed in time.

Sleep in adolescents (13-18 years old)

What to expect?

It is a well-known fact that teenagers experience insufficient sleep. The average nightly sleep duration for teenagers ranges from 7 to 8 hours. Although the body's need for sleep in adolescence ranges from 9 to 10 hours. Teenagers experience sleep deprivation for many reasons:

Changing the time you fall asleep. There is a shift in falling asleep at night from 21.00 to 23.00, which also means waking up later in the morning, so teenagers often do not get enough sleep

School schedule. In many schools, school starts at 8.30 and if the school is located far away, the child has to get up very early.

School duties. Homework, sports, and socializing with peers lead to late falling asleep.

As a result, many teenagers experience sleep deprivation, which affects many aspects of a teenager's life:

Mood. Lack of sleep can lead to emotional lability, irritability and difficulties in communication (incontinence, explosiveness, aggressiveness). Your teen may become easily offended and have difficulty controlling their emotions.

Behavior. Teenagers with sleep problems may engage in risky behavior: drinking alcohol, driving at high speed, and other dangerous forms of behavior.

Learning problems. Insufficient sleep can lead to problems with attention, short-term memory, decision-making, and difficulty responding, all of which are important for the creative process.

Academic progress. Research shows that academic performance in teens who don't get enough sleep is lower than that of teens who get enough sleep.

Drowsiness while driving. Teens who don't get enough sleep may fall asleep at the wheel when driving. The greatest drowsiness occurs between 2.00 and 4.00 am, but can also occur during the day between 15.00 and 16.00 hours.

How to help your child have a good sleep?

Stick to a stable daily routine. Teenagers should go to sleep and wake up at the same time. The duration of sleep should be sufficient for the child.

Avoid sleeping long hours on weekends. While getting extra sleep on the weekends can help you recuperate, waking up later in the morning can make it more difficult to fall asleep on Sunday.

A short nap during the day (30-45 minutes) helps a teenager regain strength.

Limit watching TV shows, computer games, and listening to music.

Avoid drinking alcohol, caffeine-containing products, and stimulant medications.

Contact your doctor if: - your child has breathing problems, namely noisy breathing, snoring, open-mouth breathing, daytime sleepiness; symptoms of hyperactivity, impaired attention and impulsivity (Questionnaire for parents of children with apnea);

- if your child has night terrors or unusual awakenings during sleep; - if your child cannot fall asleep for a long time (more than 40 minutes - 1 hour) or has problems with the quality of sleep that affect his daytime behavior - hyperactivity or drowsiness, morning headaches;

- if there is a suspicion of a disorder of the thyroid gland;

In all cases, a consultation with a somnologist and a polysomnographic study is necessary.

Causes of sleep disturbance in teenagers

The causes of insomnia in adolescents must be sought in disruption of the physiological sleep-wake schedule, age-related changes in the body and high emotional tension initiated by psychological difficulties at home and in the team.

The main conditions that entail the onset of insomnia can be called:

Excessive intellectual and psychological stress. After arriving from school, a teenager sometimes needs a short day's rest; it is also important to alternate the educational load with physical activities.
Violation of the daily routine. Often teenagers want to sit at the computer longer before the weekend or during the holidays, arguing that they will be able to get enough sleep in the morning. This leads to deformation of the usual biorhythms and the emergence of additional exhaustion and irritability.
Stress. Children tend to respond too emotionally to events and experience imaginary problems and failures for a long time and unpleasantly. All this contributes to difficulties falling asleep and creates stress.
Lack of physical activity. For a teenager to develop properly, moderate physical activity is very important, for example, physical education activities, classes or physical work around the house. If a teenager spends very little time on his feet, he is likely to suffer from sleep deformation.
Bad habits. Insomnia can be caused not only by destructive addictions such as smoking, but also by less terrible ones, which many parents do not consider unhealthy. For example, abuse of drinks that include caffeine (coffee, green tea, energy drinks).
Communication on social networks. Online games and communication with peers attract teenagers so much that they are happy to spend all their free time in front of the monitor. This leads to the teenager going to bed late and unable to fall asleep quickly after emotional communication.

If a child suffers from frequent insomnia, parents need to talk to him, find out the reason for his confusion and find out how to help in this situation. Teenagers at this age are not always ready to share their troubles, so parents should strive to maintain an even relationship with them and not put unnecessary pressure on their growing children. A teenage girl will quickly tell her mother about her difficulties, and a boy will get in touch with his father.

Other ways to fall asleep quickly for children and teenagers

To put a child to sleep at any age, you first need to create a calm environment in the house. If a baby or teenager does not fall asleep in his usual place (his room), it will be easier for him to cope with the problem of insomnia in an unusual environment. For example, organize a temporary sleeping place in the living room or playroom (if living space allows). Here are a few tips to help you overcome anxiety and related problems falling asleep:

Monitor your child for the first signs of fatigue (yawning, bad mood, rubbing eyes, twitching, etc.). As soon as “symptoms” appear, quickly put him to bed. You will soon notice that every child, from infant to teenager, gets tired at approximately the same time. This way you can establish an optimal sleep pattern;
Before going to bed, be sure to give your baby a bath and persuade the teenager to take a soothing warm bath with aromatic foam or essential oils (if there are no allergies);
Give your baby a light massage. Caresses and kisses calm and relax at any age. Sometimes a simple hug from mom is enough to relieve the worries of the day;
Make sure your child's sleep clothes are comfortable and appropriate for the outside temperature. With small children, of course, it is easier to control. But teenagers can and should be controlled too. Some mothers dress their children too warmly, fearing that they will catch a cold. But the child is the same person as you, so the sensations are identical. Don't try to buy too warm pajamas or wrap yourself in three blankets;
do not hesitate to offer your care to the teenager - the child has not yet become accustomed to his adult status, perhaps this is what prevents him from falling asleep fully and quickly;
place a night light in the child’s room or the place where he sleeps: many are afraid of complete darkness even as adults;
Read a fairy tale to your kids, tell your teenager an interesting story from your life. Girls like to listen to romantic “fairy tales”; for boys, a “heroic” family legend is suitable. If there isn't one, invent one;
many very young children like to wrap their heads in a blanket and close their eyes, this is the only way they feel safe - do not prevent the child from independently controlling the process of falling asleep;
Try to put your child to bed at the same time every day or make sure that your teenager does not disturb the daily routine. The optimal time for younger children is 21:00, for teenagers - 22:00;
make sure the child is not hungry. The baby should have a full dinner 2 hours before bedtime, if necessary - an hour. Your teen may refuse to eat, but be sure to offer some light food. Perhaps muesli or vegetable salad. Hunger is the main cause of poor sleep.

Every child, like an adult, is unique and reacts differently. It may happen that one piece of advice is optimal for the girl next door, but does not work at all for your boy. Even when it comes to brothers and sisters, there is no universal recipe. Therefore, it is necessary to get to know your child - his preferences, fears and worries. But keep in mind that by creating certain sleep habits, your baby will adopt them for life. Sometimes it can be very difficult as an adult to overcome your “childish” needs - caution in this matter will not hurt.

Symptoms of sleep deprivation

How does insomnia manifest in teenagers? Any young person may have various prerequisites for the occurrence, as well as various symptoms of this problem. Parents are obliged to carefully monitor and control the teenager’s sleep time, his condition and well-being, and also respond to negative changes in a timely manner. Particularly popular symptoms of sleep deformation and insomnia in children are the following:

hostile state, irritability in the morning and afternoon;
capricious reaction to small things;
it is difficult for the child to direct his attention and concentrate, for example, on studying;
it becomes difficult for the child to retain new things in his memory, his memory becomes worse;
school performance deteriorates;
the child constantly feels tired and wants to sleep;
appetite decreases, or, conversely, the child wants to eat more than usual;
waking up at night, after which it is very difficult to fall asleep again;
a decrease in the sleep period, when the child begins to sleep less than 7 hours, this negatively affects well-being and health;
it is difficult to fall asleep, the child may be tormented by intrusive thoughts, restless memories, due to which falling asleep increases to 2 hours;
It is difficult to wake up; when a teenager does not get enough sleep, he feels depressed and exhausted.

Reasons for the deterioration in the quality of rest

In rare cases, insomnia in children occurs for no reason. It can also be the result of various disorders. The main causes of insomnia are listed below:

diseases (neuroses, kidney disease, depression, hyperthyroidism, Parkinson's disease);
taking certain medications;
overeating at night;
emotional outbursts;
apnea;
diseases of the endocrine system;
home furnishings;
consumption of caffeinated drinks (mainly in adolescents);
diseases of a somatic and psychological nature.

Let us describe the most common causes of insomnia in more detail.

Stressful situations

Most often, insomnia in a 10-year-old child is provoked by stress. Stressful situations can be called the main cause of insomnia in adolescents. Stress is provoked by various factors: fears, conflicts with friends, classmates, parents, difficulties in learning. If the baby complains of poor sleep, you should listen to him carefully. This way it will be easier for you to find out what is happening in your child’s life.

If you notice a teenager's irritability, try to find out the reason for it. Assess the atmosphere in the house, take an interest in relationships with friends, and academic performance at school. You can additionally chat with his teachers, classmates or friends. Due to the significant emotional sensitivity of children, insomnia can be triggered by family quarrels.

Taking medications

If your baby is having trouble sleeping and is taking certain medications at the same time, consult your pediatrician. Sleep disturbance can be caused by taking the following medications:

corticosteroids;
anticonvulsants;
antidepressants.

The listed groups of medications can not only cause sleep disturbances, but also provoke gastrointestinal tract disorders.

Psychological problems

Insomnia can occur in children with mental or psychological disorders. In this case, you should not postpone your visit to a specialist. Make an appointment with experienced psychologists and psychotherapists in Rostov-on-Don. Thanks to registration, you will not need to waste time standing in line. Your child will be examined by doctors of the first, highest category. We will accurately determine the cause of insomnia and select the treatment that is effective in your case.

Insomnia is often observed in children suffering from the following psychological disorders:

anxiety;
depression.

Also, do not forget about behavioral disorders. Sleep disturbances are common in attention deficit disorder.

Physiological disorders

Insomnia can also occur due to physiological problems. It is difficult for babies to sleep peacefully if they have the following conditions:

fibromyalgia;
chronic asthma;
muscle cramps;
respiratory tract diseases;
sleep apnea (in this condition short-term pauses in breathing occur);
flu.

Drinking caffeinated drinks

Sleep disorders can be triggered by caffeine intake, which is found in coffee, carbonated drinks, and energy drinks. Teenagers are more likely to experience insomnia for this reason. Insomnia is also possible due to nicotine.

Poor nutrition

Doctors do not recommend going to bed with a full stomach. Overeating is especially contraindicated. Eating meat dishes is accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. If a teenager feels discomfort in the stomach, heartburn, he will not be able to fall asleep soundly. You should also not sleep hungry. It is recommended to eat food 2 – 3 hours before bedtime.

Biological clock failure

At the age of 9, parents already take children on long trips, after which the child experiences insomnia. Due to flights between different time zones, the biological clock may be disrupted. Also, during the flight, the teenager experiences an emotional surge - the joy of discovering new territories. He is looking forward to new acquaintances and an unusual vacation.

Snoring (apnea)

Insomnia can occur in a child as young as 8 years old due to breathing problems. Most often, doctors observe apnea in children, but adults are no exception. In older people, breathing problems can be caused by enlarged adenoids or injury to the nasal septum.

home furnishings

Normal rest is possible only in a quiet environment. Of course, quiet voices or noise on the street will not really interfere with sleep, but loud music, TV, or screams from family members can cause insomnia.

What parents can do

When a teenager loses normal sleep during puberty, some parents do not understand what they can do to eliminate insomnia. However, following certain recommendations will allow you to adjust the child’s daily routine, which will normalize a full night’s rest without the use of medications:

Refusal of a late dinner - you should eat 3 hours before bedtime.
Performing sleep hygiene - the room where the teenager rests should be quiet, dark and cool. To do this, the room is ventilated every day and an atmosphere suitable for sleep is created.
Maintaining a daily routine - getting up and going to bed is recommended to be done at the same time. At the same time, you should not sleep more than 2 hours during the day, as it will be more difficult to fall asleep at night.
There is a taboo on long computer games on the eve of bedtime, as well as watching TV - for this it is necessary to remove all equipment from the room where the child sleeps.
Physical activity - if a child is not interested in sports, it is advisable for him to sign up for yoga, qigong and other classes. With the help of this, the child, while performing relaxing physical exercises, at the same time receives psychological relief. Such aspects have a positive effect on normalizing sleep at night.
Dialogue between parents and child. Children in the puberty period need understanding, in this regard, parents are obliged to ask about their experiences, fears and thoughts - this will make it possible to remove emotional stress from the teenager.
A guarantee of support so that the child knows that parents can help him cope with any situation. This will allow the boy or girl to eliminate restless thoughts, calm down and fall asleep naturally.

If all of the above measures are meaningless, parents need to show their child to a doctor, who will determine the causes of sleep deficiency and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Medical assistance

Before starting treatment for a teenager for insomnia, a somnologist (a doctor who studies sleep disorders and their treatment) or a psychotherapist conducts an examination of the patient, which will allow him to make a correct diagnosis and find out why this condition has developed. Only after this the doctor prescribes therapeutic measures for the teenager:

Psychotherapy (organized in individual or group mode)

It is used when the decline in the quality of night's rest is caused by psycho-emotional stress. During classes, the expert is able to identify a person’s problems and select methods to eliminate them. Sometimes not only the child, but also the parents need to visit a doctor.

Taking melatonin

The use of this remedy is required if the patient’s body is not able to produce it fully. The course of treatment and dosage of the supplement used are selected individually, and it is worth knowing that melatonin should not be taken for a long time.

Also, this remedy is prohibited for use by those who have not yet reached the mature sexual stage or are at its initial level.

Drugs to improve sleep

Insomnia at 12–16 years of age is usually a physiological condition, so doctors do not recommend using medications with a hypnotic effect. According to indications, hormonal medications may be prescribed that will replenish the lack of melatonin.

Harmless drugs for the treatment of teenage insomnia:

“Dormiplant”;
“Fitosed”;
“Persen”;
“Motherwort-Forte”.

The given products are made on the basis of medicinal plants. Their action is aimed at calming the nervous system and reducing excitatory processes in the cerebral cortex.

Advice! It is not advisable to treat a child yourself, especially with medications prescribed for insomnia in adults.

Phytotherapy

If a teenager has trouble sleeping due to emotional overstimulation and constant worries, you can use folk recipes. Treatment is carried out using teas and tinctures with a sedative effect.

The following herbs are used for this purpose:

chamomile;
passionflower;
valerian;
mint.

It is necessary to take herbal teas and decoctions with caution.

Attention! Incorrect dosage or exceeding the duration of the course leads to increased excitability. A teenager may also be allergic to the plant. If a runny nose, rash, redness, or swelling of the mucous membranes appears, it is recommended to discontinue herbal medicine.

Homeopathy

Homeopathic medicines are the safest and most effective in treating insomnia. They are not addictive, have no side effects, and are suitable for children and adolescents. It is recommended to take 5–10 drops or 8–10 grains of the drug to restore sleep.

The most popular drugs prescribed by a homeopath are:

“DreamZzz.” The course of treatment helps restore night rest, reduce psycho-emotional stress, and regulates the absorption and excretion of glucose from the body.
"Sonylux". This drug promotes overall strengthening of the body, eliminates headaches and sleep disorders.
“Notta.” Prescribed to reduce excitability, restore emotional state after stressful situations.
“Valerian-Hel.” The drops have a hypnotic effect, help normalize sleep, and eliminate neurasthenia.

Before prescribing the drug, the doctor studies the nature of insomnia and also finds out the reasons for its occurrence. The dosage and course duration are determined individually. In case of diseases of internal organs, homeopathy will not have the desired effect.

What measures to take for insomnia in a teenager?

For sleep disorders in a teenager, treatment often requires the participation of an experienced psychotherapist. Insomnia is not a disease, but only a manifestation of another, deeper problem. First of all, you need to find out what is causing your difficulty falling asleep and eliminate the root cause. Regardless of the cause, there are a number of general steps you can take to improve your sleep.

It is important to exclude late meals, i.e. do not overeat at night. You can have a hearty dinner 3-4 hours before bedtime. If hunger prevents a teenager from falling asleep, it is advisable to offer him a glass of yogurt or other fermented milk product.
It is important to ventilate the room where the child sleeps well. The room temperature should not exceed +24°C.
If you have sleep disorders in teenagers, you should hang thick curtains in the bedroom, since complete darkness promotes the synthesis of the hormone melatonin, which is responsible for sleep.
Just before going to bed, it is not recommended to watch TV or sit at the computer.

Important: One of the causes of nervous overexcitation is television programs and computer games with scenes of violence.

If a teenager has the habit of sleeping during the day, this is even useful. The main thing is not to go to bed after 5 pm.
You need to go to bed at the same time, both on weekdays and on weekends.
It is important for a teenager to fall asleep with a positive emotional attitude, so there is no need to have serious conversations with him in the evening.

If the above measures do not lead to positive changes, you may need to seek help from a specialized clinic. To treat insomnia in adolescents, doctors will use hypnosis (classical or Ericksonian). For serious problems, acupuncture (acupuncture) and neuroprotective therapy are practiced.

Sessions of individual psychotherapy in the treatment of sleep disorders in adolescents will help cope with negative emotions, restore and maintain emotional balance, and also overcome the consequences of mental trauma.

The text was checked by expert doctors:
Head of the socio-psychological service of the Alkoklinik MC, psychologist Yu.P. Baranova, L.A. Serova, a psychiatrist-narcologist.
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Physiotherapy

Elimination of constant insomnia is possible with the help of physiotherapy: massages, baths, hydrotherapy. These techniques are prescribed as part of complex therapy. At the same time, the teenager is required to drink herbal teas or medications.

Particularly successful physiotherapy procedures:

Progressive relaxation. With this technique, full tension of all muscles is stimulated, and then they are relaxed.
Biofeedback therapy. The therapy is carried out using a unique device. It is based on teaching the child the ability to cope with his own emotions and completely relax before bed.
Hydrotherapy. Soothing baths help calm the nerves and all muscles. The course of treatment provides the teenager with adequate sleep.

It is important to know! Physiotherapy is considered effective for teenagers who suffer from insomnia due to green nervous system or cardiovascular diseases. Using the mentioned techniques, temper, aggression, and apathy are eliminated.

Insomnia in children: causes and treatment

10-year-old Lena spent the whole day walking outside and riding a bike. Her parents thought that after such a busy day she would quickly fall asleep. But it’s already long after midnight, and she’s still tossing and turning in bed and can’t sleep. The girl tried all the methods she knew to relax, but all the methods turned out to be completely useless.

Every day Lena falls asleep with great difficulty, and the reason for this is insomnia. This disorder is rare in children and has a significant impact on the child’s quality of life. Let's look at everything you need to know about insomnia, its causes and treatment methods.

What is insomnia

From time to time, each of us faces problems falling asleep. If this is an isolated case, it is not insomnia. But when difficulties with sleep are repeated over a long period of time, this may indicate some problems.

The process of falling asleep consists of five stages:

Stage 1 or light sleep. A person falls asleep and wakes up, reacting to the environment.
Stage 2 . Eye movements stop, brain rhythm and heart rate decrease. At this stage, the body prepares for deep sleep.
Stage 3 or deep sleep. Short delta waves are intertwined with faster but shorter waves. This is one of the recovery stages when dreams occur. At this stage, a person may talk or walk in their sleep.
Stage 4 is deep sleep, where delta waves predominate. Waking up in this stage of sleep, the child cannot understand where he is for several seconds or even minutes.
Stage 5 or REM sleep. Accompanied by rapid eye movements. The body is preparing to awaken. The brain goes into active mode. The baby is still sleeping, but thanks to the active work of the brain, he can roll over from side to side.

Insomnia is associated with a lack of restorative (deep and fast) sleep. You can talk about insomnia in a child when:

He doesn't sleep well.
Often wakes up in the middle of the night.
Wakes up very early (around 3 am) and cannot fall back to sleep.

All this greatly affects the state of the body during the day. Insomnia can last from a few days to 3 weeks or longer.

Causes of insomnia in children

Insomnia can occur on its own, or it can be a consequence of other disorders. Let's look at the main causes of insomnia in children.

Stress

Stress is one of the main causes of insomnia in children, especially teenagers. Children are just as susceptible to stress as adults. The reasons for their stress may be problems at school, fears, conflicts with peers, etc. If a child complains of poor sleep, talk to him and try to find out what is going on in his life.

Talk to teachers at school to see if your child is okay. Make sure your child is not stressed at home. Children are extremely sensitive to family quarrels, and this can cause them to develop insomnia.

Taking medications

Certain classes of medications, such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or corticosteroids, may cause eating disorders or insomnia as side effects.

Psychological and physiological problems

Children who suffer from psychological or mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, may suffer from insomnia. It can also be caused by physiological disorders, such as muscle cramps, fibromyalgia (chronic muscle pain), and obstructive sleep apnea (short-term pauses in breathing).

Flu, chronic asthma and other respiratory diseases also affect the quality of sleep. Finally, behavioral disorders can cause insomnia in children. For example, attention deficit disorder.

Consumption of caffeinated products

Drinking drinks containing caffeine may cause sleep problems in your child. Teenagers who drink carbonated drinks are especially prone to this. Nicotine also causes sleep disturbances.

home furnishings

For normal sleep, a child needs a calm, quiet environment. Even a child who usually sleeps soundly has difficulty falling asleep during noise. It is even more difficult for a child with a sensitive sleep to fall asleep in an uncomfortable environment.

Symptoms of insomnia in children

In addition to sleep disturbances and lack of sleep, a child may develop real insomnia. The following symptoms indicate it:

The child wakes up early in the morning and is sleepy during the day.
The child cannot concentrate on tasks at home and at school.
He makes basic mistakes due to inattention.
Manifestation of aggression on the part of the child.
Severe hyperactivity.
Difficulty remembering new information.
Discipline problems at home and at school.
The child is irritable and subject to frequent mood swings.

Children with insomnia may feel sleepy and tired throughout the day. This symptom often indicates colds or autoimmune diseases, anemia or diabetes.

How to diagnose insomnia in a child

There are no effective tests or methods for diagnosing insomnia in children. If you suspect your child has any sleep disorders, be aware of the symptoms described above. If any of the symptoms persist for a long period, you should consult your doctor.

Treatment of insomnia in children

Treatment of insomnia consists mainly of home care and creating a favorable environment at home for healthy sleep. Children and adolescents suffering from insomnia are prescribed medications only in isolated cases, when drug intervention is the only way to alleviate the child’s condition. Many medications for insomnia are not suitable for children. Therefore, before giving your child any medicine, talk to your pediatrician.

Treatment without the use of drugs includes the following methods:

Behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy and other methods are used to treat psychological causes of insomnia in children. Sometimes the therapist works with the child or the entire family to identify the cause of the insomnia. Sleep disorders in the child and parents may be interrelated. Behavioral therapy is effective in treating insomnia caused by behavioral causes. Insomnia may occur because a child lacks parental presence, a comfortable environment, or a calming activity before bed. Sometimes you need to set limits for your child. For example, in cases when he becomes hysterical because he doesn’t want to go to bed, or demands something (food, a glass of water, or for mom to read another fairy tale before bed).
Changes in lifestyle. In most cases, changes in lifestyle for the entire family are effective in treating insomnia. The environment in a child's bedroom should be as comfortable as possible. Make sure your bedroom is not too bright and the temperature and humidity are optimal for sleeping. The clock in the bedroom should not make a lot of noise and thereby interfere with the child’s normal sleep. It is not recommended to place a TV and computer in the children's room.
Stick to a clear daily routine. Insomnia can go away quickly, but some people suffer from it for years. To prevent this, normalize your daily routine: put your child to bed and wake up at the same time, regardless of the day of the week.
Do quiet activities before bed (such as bathing your baby and reading stories). This will help the muscles relax and the child will fall asleep faster.

4-6 hours before bedtime, do not give your baby any drinks or foods containing caffeine. If your child does wake up in the middle of the night, let him do something that will calm him down (for example, read or look at pictures) instead of just tossing and turning in bed.

Folk remedies for insomnia

Folk remedies allow you to avoid dependence on medications. Teaching your child to fall asleep without medication will ensure healthy sleep even into adulthood. The following folk remedies can help you fall asleep quickly:

A sleep bag is an effective way to calm yourself and fall asleep quickly. Fill a fabric bag with dried chamomile, lavender, rose and lemon extract flowers and place it near the baby's bed.
A glass of warm milk before bed has a calming effect.
A cup of chamomile tea without sugar relaxes and promotes sound sleep.
A warm bath with a few drops of lavender or chamomile oil relaxes your muscles and helps you fall asleep quickly.

If your child has not been physically active during the day, doing physical exercise will help. A lack of magnesium in the body prevents the brain from relaxing and recovering. Therefore, in the evenings, you should eat foods rich in magnesium: almonds, pumpkin seeds, leafy vegetables, etc. Valerian root is another natural sedative that ensures sound sleep. The child should take it in limited doses. When used correctly, folk remedies can provide a child with healthy sleep.

Healthy sleep - healthy life

We spend a third of our lives sleeping, so don't take insomnia lightly. A child needs healthy sleep for growth and development. Regardless of what the child does during the day, he should get proper rest at night. If this does not happen, follow the tips above.