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The child does not sleep well during the day

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021
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The child does not sleep well during the day - this, it would seem, insignificant violation of the regime of life of a young child, in fact can be a sign of many problems, including in the sphere of nervous activity of the baby. A full day's rest is more necessary for a child to restore his strength, actively spent in the morning. In addition, the latest scientific studies in somnology, including children's, prove that when the baby is asleep, in the phase of slow sleep in his body, amazing changes begin. First, during this period, the hormone responsible for growth is produced, secondly, the immune system activates and restores its properties. If the baby does not rest during the day, he may develop metabolic disorders, leading to obesity. This is explained by the fact that the body will compensate for the lack of rest at the expense of additional calories, that is, the baby will begin to overeat.

Thus, the statement that daytime sleep for a modern child is no more than a tribute to an outdated tradition is not justified at least.

The child does not sleep well during the day, the reasons for the violation of daytime sleep

  • Too long a night sleep that lasts until noon. 
  • Violations of the nervous system. 
  • Elementary non-observance of the regime of day and sleep by parents. 
  • Change of time zones as a result of moving. 
  • Nervous overexcitation, associated with overly active games in the morning. Emotional overexertion. 
  • Congenital hyperactivity associated with perinatal pathologies. 
  • Somatic diseases, which, perhaps, are hidden and manifested by anxiety and unwillingness to fall asleep during the day.

Daily allowances for children are as follows: 

  • Newborn babies should sleep at least 15-16 hours a day. 
  • Children from 1 to 3 years - not less than 13-14 hours a day. 
  • Children from 3 to 7 years - at least 12 hours a day.

Babies who just came into the world sleep a lot and often, their sleep is called polyphasic. Newborns are supposed to fall asleep up to 10 times a day, children under the age of eighteen months, in addition to sleeping at night, must sleep twice during the day, and only after 2 years the child can sleep at least once every day for at least 1.5 hours. That is, after every active six hours you need a full rest in the form of sleep.

In addition to the fact that there is a problem with daytime sleep, when a child does not sleep well during the day, also an excessively long daytime sleep is also a clear violation. Certainly, this is somewhat convenient for parents when an unruly child calms down for three or four hours, but the subsequent awakening is often accompanied by vagaries, irritability on the part of the baby, and a clear unwillingness to fall asleep on time when the evening comes.

  • Violation of daytime sleep in very young children is not much different from nocturnal disorders. The main recommendations for restoring newborn babies are as follows: 
  • It is necessary to accustom a young child to certain rituals that are performed regularly before bed, whether day or night. It can be a lullaby song, motion sickness, affectionate phrase. Gradually, without even realizing the meaning of these rituals, the little one gets used to them and the habit of falling asleep when there are these sleepy "motivators" is formed. 
  • One can not use active forms of games and conversations one hour before sleep, and it is also necessary to exclude obvious irritants if possible-loud music, sharp smells, bright light. 
  • Awakening should also be routine, so that the child's body gets used to resting for a certain period.

The child does not sleep well during the day, does the doctor need help?

When a child falls asleep badly during the day, or refuses to sleep at all, there are disturbing signs that are worth presenting to the pediatrician for finding out their causes.

The doctor should be consulted in a certain time period or, if you notice the following symptoms: 

  • Any sleep disorder in children under one year, which lasts more than two to three days, requires the advice of a pediatrician. 
  • If a one-year-old child hardly falls asleep during the day during a month, you need to see a doctor. 
  • If a child does not sleep during the day and his mood changes, he becomes irritable, capricious, the pediatrician needs help. 
  • If a child wakes up during the day (and also at night) due to a breathing disorder, urgently seek medical help. 
  • Also an alarming symptom is enuresis during daytime sleep in children older than three years.

The causes of poor sleep and sleep disorders can be different. In newborn babies, sleep is most often disturbed as a result of physiological disorders - intestinal colic. In addition to such a natural phenomenon, sleep can also be affected by developing anemia, as well as rickets, which increases the excitability of the entire nervous system of the baby. The doctor may prescribe an ultrasound examination of the brain (neurosonography), and a consultation of the child neurologist will be necessary. Beginning at five months, sleep can be disturbed by the appearance of teeth, after their eruption, sleep is usually restored. Children over the age of two can sleep because of hidden somatic abnormalities, and their dream can be interrupted and heard or seen on TV "terrible" tales or cartoons.

The child does not sleep well during the day - this is a problem, usually solved together with a doctor, provided that the cause of sleep disturbances is clarified. General recommendations for parents are as follows: 

  • Compliance with the hygiene of sleep - airing the room, clean and comfortable bed. 
  • The exclusion of all possible irritants one hour before the alleged fall asleep. 
  • Observance of the regime - the child should be laid at the same time, just like waking up. 
  • Observance of the diet - you can not overfeed your baby before going to bed, eating should be at least half an hour before falling asleep. 
  • Observance of certain "sleepy" rituals that help the child to go to sleep. 
  • Elimination of emotional overload throughout the day (watching movies, pictures that do not match the age of the child). 
  • Observance of the general calm atmosphere in the family. 

Timely call to the doctor for manifestation of anxiety signs associated with violation of daytime sleep in the child.

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