Sleep Disorders

My 3 year old

03/19/2004 05:21AM

Question:

my 3year old has not slept through the night yet ,he wakes about 2am and comes in our room. when and if I take him back he cries and cries, most of the time I give in and he comes in our bed. Having to both get up for our full time jobs. I am so tired,and feel like I have not slept much in 3 years. please help

Answer:

Disrupted sleep patterns in children can be problematic, not only for the child, but for the whole family. If your child`s sleep problems are impacting you or your family`s ability to get enough good sleep, it is a good idea to seek help as you are doing.

While a number of different possible causes may be responsible for your child`s problems, based on the information provided in your question, it is likely your child may have what is called a "limit setting" sleep disorder. This type of problem typically occurs in children ages 3-6 years old. This is a time when children are often requested to begin to control their own urges (for example going to the bathroom or going to bed), but still require parental guidance. As this transition to some form of independence occurs, it is very easy for bad habits to develop. This may include the development of poor sleep habits.

Many factors need to be considered in this type of situation and involvement of both the child and parent(s) is required to make changes for the better. In order to determine what strategy(s) might work best for your child and family, you should discuss this matter with your Pediatrician.

Your doctor will ask you additional questions that will help to determine if further evaluation, referral to a Pediatric Sleep Specialist or a specific treatment plan would be the next step. If you would like further information about sleep and sleep disorders, I recommend the American Academy of Sleep Medicine website (www.amassment.org/). In addition to information about sleep medicine, the website also contains a list of accredited Sleep Centers and may help you to locate one nearest you. Good Luck!

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Response by:

Dennis Auckley, MD
Director, MetroHealth's Center for Sleep Medicine
Associate Professor
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
MetroHealth Medical Center
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University