How many hours should children sleep in order not to have insomnia A great challenge for parents is often the sleep Children and this is a matter that can concern all ages, from infancy to adolescents. A sufficient and calm sleep is essential, as it significantly affects their physical, mental and mental function.
As insomnia is defined as defined disorder in which children find it difficult to sleep or stay alert until late at night while, in rarer cases, the problem is found in very morning alarm.
Also the resistance of children to bedtime and the requirement of a parent to sleep is considered a form of insomnia with behavioral causes.
Insomnia, can be classified as acute or chronic Based on the duration, severity and frequency of the problem and significantly affects children’s functionality and performance during the day.
«Sleep is therapeuticas it offers physical, mental, mental rest and better functionality in everyday life. It is found that when children are not sleeping well, both their physical and mental performance- including schools- are intense. For this reason, insomnia should be treated by the emergence of the first symptoms, “said Frida Konstantopoulou, a pediatric psychiatrist – family psychotherapist, MITERA Kids Scientific Associate.
According to the American Academy of Medical Sleeping, the recommended sleeping hours are:
- 4-12 months infants: 12-16 hours (overall day and night)
- Toddlers of 1-2 years: 11-14 hours (overall day and night)
- Preschool children of 3-5 years: 10-13 hours (overall day and night)
- School children 6-12 years old: 9-12 hours
- Teenagers of 13-18 years old: 8-10 hours
Behavioral issues and mental health problems
When insomnia is not due to an organic problem or environmental factors, its cause is found on behavioral issues or mental health problems.
The stress It is one of the most common causes of insomnia psychogenic etiology in children, as in adults. Parents need to show interest in their child’s life and build a relationship of trust so that they feel comfortable and sharing their concerns with them.
Other causes include neurodevelopmental disorders (autism, mental retardation, Asperger syndrome, etc.) as well as psychiatric conditions (depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc.).
Often to teenagers, Causes of insomnia may also be addictions (substances, internet, gambling) that become obsessed.
Inadequate education in the process of infancy can also lead to insomnia and fragmented sleep at night.
“In particular in stress, a vicious cycle is created as it causes insomnia and insomnia burdens the anxiety and depressing symptoms,” Ms Konstantopoulou stresses, and continues: “Often children awaken from nightmares who are mostly the result of a difficult and anxious.”
Causes per age group
Insomnia in infants- which consists mainly of night awakening- is due to a lack of education, that is, they have not yet learned to adapt to a particular sleep program. The phenomenon is normally observed until the age of 6-7 months, however, they should be trained to then sleep throughout the night.
Older children have difficulty in sleeping by showing anxiety and phobias or demanding a parent’s presence in space until they fall asleep.
In teenagers again the phenomenon of ‘social jet lag“, That is, sleep very late at night, a condition that changes their circadian rhythms (biological clock) and consolidates. This is usually the case because of prolonged internet and social media. It is also often due to stress or is a symptom of depressive disorder.
The role of parents
It is very important for children to learn from infancy that the sleeping process begins at a certain time and evolves in a certain way.
“Initially the environment should be adapted accordingly – eg, lower the lights, adjust the temperature in the bedroom etc.- and follow a relaxing activity with the parent’s participation for about 10 minutes. Then the parent should leave the room before the child falls asleep. In this way, he will learn to sleep alone and if he wakes up at night he can sleep again, the expert explains.
Children often feel insecurity And they need the presence of the parent, and in these cases the treatment should be more elastic to cover insecurity and not feel the child abandonment. Feeling that he has help and will deal with it. The same should be the case in cases of nightly awakening.
In adolescence, it is important for parents to monitor their children’s sleep hours, as well as to control the existence of mobile or more screens in the bedroom, which disorient both their body and their spirit from the sleeping process.
Many times parents sleep and children stay awake all night by sending messages or surfing online. The sleeping program, which is established by infancy, should be applied up to adolescence without negotiation.
Parents’ hours also play an important role as children follow their model, not only in sleep but also in all facets of their lives.
Treatment
Once insomnia appears it is very important for parents to recognize the problem and not underestimate it. When the cause is anxiety symptoms and phobias, parents can potentially help them.
“If the dysfunction caused by the child by insomnia is great and the problem is not manageable, they should be addressed to a specialist in a timely manner in order to avoid both suffering and consolidation of the situation.
The expert will approach insomnia on the basis of the cause. Depending on the case, it can be treated with counseling and/or drug administration (in psychiatric conditions and cases of severe anxiety).