Most children have experienced difficulty sleeping, especially when they’re younger. And when your child is having difficulty sleeping, you can guarantee you will too. It can take a while to settle your child into a sleep routine, so when problems rear their head, it’s natural to want to find a quick solution.
If your child is experiencing sudden sleep issues, it’s time to get to the bottom of it. Here are some of the problems that could be to blame.
Growth spurts
Children go through multiple growth spurts and other developmental stages that can affect their sleep. Signs that your child is having a growth spurt include difficulty falling asleep or waking up during the night, resulting in everyone having a tough time sleeping. While frustrating, it should be a short-lived phase, with normal sleep patterns resuming in time.
Poor posture
Kids can develop poor posture at an early stage. Dealing with heavy backpacks, slouching or being hunched over a desk could lead to alignment issues that could disrupt your child’s sleep. Regular pediatric chiropractic care can be very beneficial for your child, helping to correct poor posture for better sleep, and maybe even alleviate different health conditions. Book an appointment with a local chiropractor for an initial assessment that could reveal a lot about your child’s sleep problems.
Anxiety or stress
Children can experience a lot of stress and anxiety, including problems at school or disruption to their home routine. These feelings can make sleep difficult, or even cause them to act out at bedtime. Finding ways to talk to your child when they worry can help you get to the bottom of their problems, and hopefully find some resolutions so they can worry less and sleep better at night.
Dietary and lifestyle factors
Your child’s diet and habits could be another reason your child is finding it difficult to sleep at night. Diet is very important for a healthy body and mind, and too much sugar and caffeine can really impact a child’s sleep – especially if they have them late at night. Staying up too late or having too much screen time can also impact your child’s sleep. Take a closer look at your child’s habits – are they doing things that are disrupting their sleep? Making some changes and adopting healthier habits as a family could make a big difference to everyone’s health, wellbeing and sleep.
Sleep is a common issue for children and parents, but as anyone will know – a regular lack of sleep can soon impact your mental and physical health. A sudden change in sleep patterns shouldn’t be a cause for concern, there could be a simple explanation that can be resolved quickly. If, however, you’re concerned about your child’s sudden lack of sleep, make sure you consult your physician. Everyone in your home deserves a good night’s sleep, so the sooner you find out what’s going on, the sooner you can all go back to sleeping soundly at night.