Sleep Issues

Preventing flattened skulls in infants: In July 2003, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported an increase in the incidence of flattened skulls because of the increased emphasis on placing babies to sleep on their backs to avoid the possibility of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. According to the AAP, flattened skulls could be avoided by placing infants on their stomachs while they're awake, and also by shifting their heads during the night when they are put to sleep on their back.

Each Age Produces its Own Challenges: Each age -- baby, toddler, child, teen, young adult, parent, older adult, senior -- can pose its own unique challenges in the sleep department. But don't assume that a sleep problem cannot be resolved. Many times, professionals can help you make changes that can resolve or lessen your problem.

Many factors can affect a good night's sleep, and many people sabotage themselves without realizing it. Some of the factors include stress, snoring (ours or spouse's), restless leg syndrome or other disorder, outside noise, too much light, swing work shifts, uncomfortable room temperature, room stuffiness, disruptive room decor, inadequate pillows, old mattresses, smoking, alcohol, erratic sleep schedules, new baby, children's sleep disorders, daytime napping for more than an hour, drugs, certain prescription medications (such as medications for ADHD, for example), extreme exhaustion, interference from pets, watching television or playing video games just before bedtime, inadequate daily exercise, exercising too close to bedtime, poor diet, eating too close to bedtime, too much caffeine (in coffee, tea, sodas, chocolate), consuming caffeine too close to bedtime, excess weight, uncomfortable clothing, nasal abnormalities, humidity, colds, allergies, doing work in bed, unresolved arguments, arguing with someone just before bedtime...

Getting enough sleep is important. Several studies suggest that most people - children, teens and adults - don't get enough sleep (from elementary to high school, for example, children need nine to 11 hours of sleep a night). Sleepiness can lead to misbehavior, learning and concentration difficulties, poor grades in school, accidents at school or work, motor vehicle accidents, chronic fatigue, snoring, headaches, tension, out-of-control situations, and -- later, research indicates -- heart disease. Some researchers suggest that many of the problems addressed by pediatricians might have a basis in the children being overtired (including possibly hyperactivity, illnesses, difficulties in school and/or depression). Some researchers indicate that symptoms of long-term fatigue mimic those of attention-deficit disorder and might therefore be leading to misdiagnoses.

How Can You Tell if Your Child is Sleep Deprived? Several of the links below offer self-assessment surveys you can take, but one way to gauge if you or your child is sleep-deprived is to judge daytime behavior. Is the person in question alert, energetic and motivated? Does the person wake up easily in the morning? Does the person take more than 45 minutes to fall asleep at night, or have trouble going back to sleep if awakened? Does the person snore loudly or seem to struggle to breath while sleeping? If the person constantly needs an alarm clock, needs to sleep in, wakes up cranky, gets cranky in the afternoon, has problems concentrating, remembering things or paying attention to instructions, falls asleep easily during the day, is prone to accidents or needs a cold shower to wake up -- he or she probably isn't getting enough sleep. Catching up on the weekend doesn't work well, say experts, because the body doesn't use that kind of rest as well. It also throws the natural body rhythm off, making it harder for the person to fall asleep at a regular time during the week.