Sleep Disorders Logo
Google
Web www.thesleepdisorderscenter.com

 

Learning About Sleep Disorders in Babies



Two major causes of sleep disorders in babies are behavioral problems and parasomnias. Sleep disorders in babies are often times incredibly different than the symptoms of an adult, and it is very important for parents and caregivers alike to be aware of this fact. Sleep disorders in babies are in fact incredibly common, and the parasomnias - sleep terrors, somnambulism and enuresis - often appear to be related to central nervous system immaturity and are therefore usually outgrown.

Different Types of Sleep Disorders in Babies

Parasomnias are the most common type of sleep disorders in babies, and are characterized by abnormal polysomnography. These are usually episodic in nature and for the most part are a reflection of the immature central nervous system. Parasomnias can even be passed on through genes, and as a group, these disorders are paroxysmal, as in they are predictable in their appearance in the sleep cycle, nonresponsive to environmental manipulation, and are characterized by retrograde amnesia.

Infants go through a complete sleep cycle about every hour, which means that they are in incredibly light sleep, and this explains why they usually wake up many times during a night. Whereas with a newborn you could find them sleeping for different lengths at various times of day, by the time a child is four months old, they will probably be sleeping around six to eight hours a night. Usually by the time they are six months old, they will sleep around 10 to 12 hours a night.

 



There is also the matter with babies who experience insufficient breathing during sleep, which can result in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. The syndrome refers to any sudden and unexplained death of an otherwise apparently healthy infant, who is aged anywhere between newborn to one year. It is responsible for roughly 50 deaths per 100,000 births in the United States; as frightening as SIDS is, it's responsible for far fewer deaths than those related to congenital disorders or disorders related to short gestation.

Some of the prenatal risks for SIDS include: Inadequate prenatal care, insufficient prenatal nutrition, smoking, use of heroin, teenage pregnancy, and less than a one year interval between subsequent births. Some of the postnatal risks for SIDS are: Low birth weight, exposure to tobacco smoke, laying an infant to sleep on his or her stomach, failure to breastfeed, excess clothing and overheating, excess bedding and stuffed animals, gender -- SIDS occurs more frequently in males -- and age; incidence rises from zero at birth, is highest between two to four months and goes towards zero at one year of age.









Quick Links
 Send To A Friend
 Bookmark This Page

 






The Sleep Disorders Center Home
A Common Sleep Disturbance: Insomnia Sleeping Disorder

What's a Good Medication for Sleep Disorder?

The Frightening Mysteries of Paralysis Sleeping Disorder

Explain One Type of REM Sleep Disorder

Need Help Getting a Good Night's Sleep? Head to a Sleep Disorder Center

How a Sleep Disorder Clinic Can Stop Snoring

Sleep Disorder in Toddlers - No Different From Any Other

Sleep Disorder Information At Your Fingertips

Is Any Sleep Disorder Medicine Effective?

Is Melatonin a Good Sleep Disorder Remedy?

Learning About Sleep Disorders in Babies

Recognizing Sleep Disorders in Children

How to Cope with Multiple Sleep Problems

Insomnia - One of the Most Dangerous Sleep Disorders

Uncovering the Source of Adult Sleep Problems

Information About Anxiety-Related Sleep Disorders

Coping with a Baby Sleep Disorder

Bed Wetting Sleep Disorder Is Curable

The Link Between Sleeping Position and Child Sleep Disorder

The Most Common Child Sleeping Disorders

How to Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems

What is a Deep Sleep Disorder?

Sleepless Nights: Fibromyalgia Sleep Disorder

Infant Sleep Disorders Keeps Parents and Babies Up All Night

Information On Sleep Disorders and How They Affect Our Nights

Need Information on Sleeping Disorders?

Millions Suffer From Insomnia Sleep Disorder

The Key to Preventing Sleep Problems in Babies

The Trouble with Sleep Problems in Children

The Mystery of Sleep Problems in Toddlers

The Most Common Sleeping and Eating Disorders

Descriptions and Treatments of Sleeping Disorders

That Loud Noise Happens to Be a Snoring Sleep Disorder

How to Solve Your Child's Sleep Problem

Symptoms of Sleeping Disorders

Overcoming Teen Sleep Problems

The Best Treatment for Sleeping Disorders

How to Identify and Treat the Various Types of Sleeping Disorders

 

privacy policy | legal notices & disclaimers | site map

Copyright © 2006-2010 The Sleep Disorders Center ~ Learning About Sleep Disorders in Babies