Does Disrupted Sleep in Your Toddler Signify a Sleep Disorder?

As they grow, babies change their sleeping pattern to take shorter and fewer naps during the day. Most babies naturally adapt their habits to suit these changes in their sleep schedules. However, sleep disorders are quite common in babies and infants and these can interfere with the baby’s ability to sleep soundly.

 

If your baby has a sleep pattern that you find disruptive, chances are your child is suffering from a sleep disorder. Sleep disorders that are commonly found in infants up to two years old, include:

• Parasomnias: These are sleep disorders characterized by partial awakening during sleep. They are commonly associated with some stress affecting the child. They are seen more in children than in adults. Most children outgrow them with time.
  
  


• Sleep disruption due to Colic: This is not a sleep disorder per se, as the child awakens in response to the colic pains. Sometimes however, disturbed sleep continues even after the child has outgrown colic. This is because the baby may have become habituated to methods used by parents to divert the child. This interferes with the child’s ability to sleep normally.

If you feel your child suffers from a sleep disorders consult your doctor who will diagnose the problem and offer solutions accordingly.