My child has Trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome. What things should I know about his sleep? 

My child has Trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome. What things should I know about his sleep? 

About three quarters of children with Down syndrome have sleep problems. These can be medical, behavioral or a combination of both. Because of certain anatomical features (physical features), a high percentage of children with Trisomy 21 have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or a block in airflow while sleeping. For this reason, it is recommended that you discuss an overnight sleep study or polysomnogram (PSG) with your pediatrician if your child snores or seems to have any difficulty breathing while asleep. Children with Down Syndrome or other developmental conditions may also have trouble settling, staying asleep, or early wakings, and these tend to affect the whole family. Your pediatrician or behavior therapist may be able to help you create a plan to help your child fall asleep and stay asleep. Additionally, behavioral approaches to sleep problems are similar in typically developing children, though they may need to be tailored to fit your little one.