My child has Down syndrome. What should I know about his sleep? For all children, whether or not they have Down syndrome, falling asleep at the beginning of the night, and falling back to sleep after natural night-time waking, is something they have to learn how to do. For some children this comes [...]
Why is my baby very restless when he sleeps? All children have natural brief awakenings in the night as they journey through sleep. If you are watching your baby sleep, you may notice him change position – if he is old enough he may sit up, rub his eyes, and then settle down again. This happens [...]
How do I know if my baby is sleeping too much? All babies are unique and have different sleep needs. The range of normal is quite wide. So even if your baby seems to sleep more than others, there is a good chance they are just a super sleeper! The amount of sleep babies need changes with every [...]
My child has developmental delays. What should I know about her sleep? Children with developmental delay take longer to reach their milestones than others of the same age. They may be late to use the potty or may still have tantrums long after their peers. In just the same way, they can take longer [...]
What is narcolepsy, and when does it develop? Do I have to be concerned about my toddler? Narcolepsy is a rare, chronic neurologic disorder that causes people to have excessive sleepiness during the daytime even though they are getting plenty of sleep at night. People with narcolepsy often describe [...]
How can I tell if my toddler is sleeping too much? Most toddlers will require between 11-14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, including nighttime sleep and daytime naps. If your toddler seems to be sleeping more than this, he may be sleeping too much – and there can be several possible reasons [...]
Can snoring or sleep apnea affect my child’s development? Snoring is an important symptom of possible obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is when the upper airways (such as the muscles of the throat) close either partially or completely block the normal passage of air through to the lungs. The [...]
Are snoring and pauses in breathing normal for some babies and toddlers? What should I do if I see my child snore and have pauses in breathing during the night? Snoring occurs in 10-14% of children. About 1/3 of children who snore might have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where there is disrupted [...]
My child has ADHD. What are some strategies I can use to make sure he gets the best sleep possible. Sleep problems – such as coming in and out of the room at the start of the night or wanting mom or dad next to them as they fall asleep at the start of the night – are very common in children [...]
Is lack of sleep causing my child to act up during the day? If your child is not getting enough sleep, it is likely impacting his or her behavior during the day. Likewise, children with daytime behavior problems are more likely to develop certain sleep problems. When it comes to sleep and [...]