ANCSLEEP BLOG

The beginning of school will be here before you know it, and it's important to understand your kid's sleep. There is so much information on the internet about sleep, it can be easy to pick up misinformation. But for the sake of your child's well being, it is vital that you understand the truth about sleep.

A lack of sleep can lead to irritability, failing grades, and other inadequacies in your child's life. As they are in a developmentally sensitive period, sleep is optimal for their neurological and physiological health. Continue reading to learn about 3 myths that parents get wrong about their kids' sleep.

Teaching children to share is vital at a young age. However, a new study is finding that having children share bedrooms could actually be cause them to miss out on sleep. How much sleep exactly? 28 minutes. Although that doesn't seem like a significant amount, the extra time could actually be worth it. Continue reading to learn more about the benefit of children sleeping in their own bedrooms. 

Apnea is the term for brief pauses in breathing. In children, these events can be common, and very scary for parents. It's important to know common causes of apnea in children, so parents and practitioners know when to be concerned, and when not to be. Pauses in breathing, cyanosis (turning blue), unresponsiveness, are all signs to look out for and can determine the severity of the issue. Here are possible causes of apnea in children and neonates.  

Since the pandemic the rise in melatonin use in children has steadily increased. Pediatricians are seeing more adults giving children melatonin and ever before. This is due to the major sleep disturbances they experienced at the height of the pandemic. However it is becoming more alarming that melatonin use has become an everyday thing instead of a sleep aid to use every once in a while.

Nighttime disturbances in children can be disruptive to a child's daily function and to everyone else in the house. However, it's important to understand that the long-term use of melatonin has not been studied in children. Therefore it is unknown what will happen to children who use melatonin on a daily basis.

Another concern is the risk of melatonin overdose and children. The calls to poison control have risen over the last couple of years due to melatonin overdoses. Part of this is due to the fact that melatonin is packaged and gummies which is very appealing for kids. They think that melatonin is candy and consumer as such. Tablets are less appealing to children and therefore experience less overdosing than the melatonin gummies.

Continue reading to learn more about why overdose of melatonin looks like in children, and what you should do if you suspect that your child has eaten more melatonin and they were intended to.

Sleep apnea occurs when one stops breathing throughout the night, taking small pauses, and then begins gasping for air to begin breathing again. It can be very disruptive to one's sleep, and very concerning for those who observe this sleep pattern. Sleep apnea can be divided into central (CSA) and obstructive (OSA). Obstructive occurs when something in the back of the throat prevents one from breathing. Those who are overweight, have a wide neck, and males are at increased risk for developing OSA. 

CSA can be a bit more alarming because it's an issue with the brain, and not with the muscles in the back of the neck. We are going to talk about CSA in children, and what are appropriate treatment steps. 

The days can get so busy that sometimes you feel like you've gone all day without really talking to your kids or connecting as a family. As kids get older and start participating in extracurricular activities, it can be even harder to find time to connect with them. However, finding time to talk to your kids throughout the day is important. If your kids had a stressful day, or they are anxious about the next day, then bedtime can be a great place to talk about those feelings so they can get a good night of sleep. 

It may also provide you with some solace to know that you were able to spend quality time with your children, and everyone can go to bed on a positive and connected note. Here are some ways to connect with your kids before bed. 

Children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often struggle with a lack of attention and overactivity. Do these problems roll over into sleep? Absolutely. Children with ADHD often struggle with sleep issues, from insomnia to other sleep disorders. It's important to treat sleep problems, as this can reduce both sleep disorders and ADHD symptoms. Continue reading to find out more about this connection. 

Children with autism may have trouble sleeping, which can be problematic for both them and the family. Many children with autism experience sleeping issues. When children are diagnosed with autism, parents should monitor sleeping problems that they can share with their physician. Below is more information on how sleep and autism are connected, and what you can do to help. 

The hardest part about having children of different ages is that they are able to do different things based on their age, maturity, school schedules, etc. This can be especially hard for younger children who take pride in feeling older. When it comes to getting adequate sleep, this can definitely be a challenge. Younger children with earlier bedtimes may want to stay up because their siblings can. However, you don't want to hold back the older children because they feel as if they have progressed from their "childhood bedtimes". It's a tough balance, but it's necessary to prioritize the sleep health of the children over their individual desires. Continue reading to find out some great tips for balancing the different sleep schedules. 

Athletes need sleep for optimal performance. Sleep is a time when the body can perform many necessary repairs for athletes to avoid injury and maintain high energy levels. However, the more muscular athletes are, the more their ability to get restful sleep is impaired. Continue reading to find out how sleep and body composition are related.