Insomnia is a sleep disorder that can be experienced by both adults and children. Insomnia in children is characterized by difficulty falling asleep at night and causes them to stay awake.

There are several ways to help treat insomnia in children. Let's find out.

Causes and signs of insomnia in a child

Insomnia in children can be influenced by various factors, such as stress experienced by the child, emotional problems, excessive stimulation, irregular sleep routines, physical illness, drug consumption, uncomfortable sleep environment and poor sleep habits.

Parents can recognize the signs of insomnia in children, as follows:

• Always have a reason to avoid sleeping
• It takes a very long time to go to sleep
• Repeatedly getting out of bed to ask for something, such as milk, drinking water, reading stories, and so on
• They appear tired but can't sleep
• Waking up repeatedly at night and not being able to go back to sleep
• It is difficult to wake up in the morning
• Taking too long a nap
• Don't have regular sleep hours
• Has no energy throughout the day
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering many things

How to help your child overcome insomnia

Before addressing children's insomnia, it's essential to understand their recommended sleep duration. According to KidsHealth, here are the sleep requirements for children:

• Infants (0–3 months): 14–17 hours of sleep, including naps
• Babies (4–12 months): 12–16 hours of sleep, including naps
• Toddlers (1-2 years): 11–14 hours of sleep, including naps
• Preschoolers (3-5 years): 10–13 hours of sleep, including naps
• School-aged children (6–13 years): 9–12 hours of sleep
• Teenagers (14–17 years): 8–10 hours of sleep

Here are some ways to help children overcome insomnia:

• Ensure that the bed is only used for sleeping and resting. Children should not play on the bed
• Make sure the sleeping environment is comfortable enough; both the lighting and the room temperature are right
• Organize children's sleeping hours regularly, both on school days and on weekends
• Make sure the child is full enough before going to bed, for example, by drinking milk or eating a snack 1-2 hours before bedtime
• Encourage children to do activities during the day so that their energy is used properly, such as exercising or playing physical games
• Encourage children to do activities in the sun and not just play in the room
• Limit naps and make sure they don't start too late in the afternoon
• Limit the use of electronic devices such as television, cell phones, tablets, video games, and gadgets at bedtime

Spend more time together, such as reading books before bed, singing together, telling stories about your daily life, and chatting before bed. These bonding activities make children feel relaxed and comfortable, so they are ready to sleep.

Children may experience insomnia due to trauma or anxiety. In this case, you need professional help to overcome the trauma and anxiety that cause insomnia. Take your child to a professional for proper treatment and care. You can make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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