Sleep Concerns

It’s estimated that up to half of all children in the United States have sleep problems, so if your child is experiencing difficulty, you’re far from alone. Rachel Frederick, PA-C, at VirtualMed Iowa, has years of experience supporting parents whose children have sleep issues. Sleep issues can arise from bedtime routines, nightmares, bedwetting, or even sleep apnea. Having a child who has a hard time sleeping means the whole family is having a hard time sleeping. Call the Iowa-based office or request a telehealth consultation using the online booking feature to get the help you need for sleep concerns today.

What are sleep concerns?

Sleep is vital for mental and physical health, but many parents have concerns about how much sleep their child gets or how well they sleep. Common issues that Rachel at VirtualMed Iowa sees include:

Difficulty getting to sleep

Toddlers and young children, in particular, often have trouble falling asleep at bedtime. This could happen for many reasons; for example, they may have had a late nap and don’t feel sleepy, they’re excited about something, or they’re worried about monsters.

Frequent waking

Frequent waking is something parents often experience with babies. Infants need to feed regularly and haven’t developed the ability to sleep through the night, so they regularly wake several times. This can be exhausting for parents.

Nightmares

Dreaming is a natural and healthy activity during sleep. Sometimes dreams can be scary, waking a child in the night, and often making them cry. Children may get nightmares that make them scared to go to sleep.

Bedwetting

Accidents are inevitable during toilet training, so most parents must deal with bedwetting. Children usually adapt quickly to sleeping through the night and waking if they need the toilet, so if your child frequently wets the bed or starts bedwetting after they’re toilet trained, there could be an underlying problem.

Children may also have problems called parasomnias, which are unusual behaviors during sleep. These include sleepwalking and night terrors (screaming and thrashing in their sleep).

Why is sleep so important for children?

Sleep is critical to young children’s development. It directly impacts multiple aspects of their well-being, including:

• Growth
• Happiness
• Alertness and attention
• Mood
• Resiliency
• Vocabulary
• Learning
• Memory
• Executive attention
• Motor skill development

Lack of good quality sleep could be responsible for your child being irritable or depressed, performing poorly at kindergarten or school, and being behind on their age-related development targets.

What can I do about sleep concerns?

If you have any sleep concerns, talk to Rachel, and she’ll offer expert advice and support. She can determine if your child’s sleep issues are a typical developmental stage or something that could signify an underlying problem.

In many cases, adjusting a child’s bedtime routine helps. Rachel passes on tips for better sleep, like allowing children to wind down by doing quiet activities, avoiding stimulating electronic devices, and ensuring their bedroom is at a comfortable temperature.

For compassionate help with your sleep concerns, call VirtualMed Iowa or request an appointment online today.