child sleep disorder
How Infant Sleeping Positions Can Cause Child Sleep Disorders
Remy JirekChild sleep disorders can be attributed to something as simple as the position that the child sleeps in. It's common and even humorous to see a baby sleep in odd positions. Instead of being amusing, these positions are cause for concern because they can have a profound affect on the how the child will sleep later on in life. Examples include children sleeping with their heads down and the buttocks up, or who sleep with their arms stretched out in front of them, or sleep with their bodies arched. All of these can develop into future sleep problems.
I had read a column a few days ago about a possible connection between child sleep disorders and their sleeping position, and found the information intriguing. Let's see what the link seems to be.
Explaining Strange Sleeping Positions that a Child Adopts
Everybody must have at one time or another seen their child or someone else's child sleeping in odd positions. It is normal to see the children sleeping in weird positions, and many times seeing them sleeping that way brings a smile to our face. However, did you know that each such position means that the baby might develop a child sleep disorder some time later in life?
Surprised? The statement took me by surprise, too! Yet it seems to be true. A number of medical studies have been carried out that show that there is a clear and definite connection between the way a child sleeps (when they sleep in strange positions) and an imminent child sleep disorder.
Children who sleep with buttocks-up-head-down position (if it looks like they are pushing their head against the headboard keeping their body muscles completely taut) seem to lead to sleep disorders later on in his/her life. Children who sleep with their heads hanging down, and will not allow their position to be changed, tend to develop body rocking at some stage or other.
When a child sleeps in an arched position, it implies that the child may develop night asthma attacks. When this occurs after an accident or some other head trauma, it is indicative of excessive intracranial pressure.
There are times when the child sleeps like the dead, i.e. the child is so relaxed and breathes so slowly that it looks like they're dead. In this case, the child might develop bedwetting or sleep apnea. This can lead to another type of child sleep disorder, head banging. When the child sleeps with arms outstretched in front of them it is a possible sign of sleepwalking later on in life. They also may develop sleep-talking habits.
One sleeping position remained unexplained, i.e. when the child sleeps with eyes open. There have been many research studies on this aspect, but no connection was found to any child sleep disorder yet. Nonetheless, the position is quite scary and parents tend to get worried about it.
The report says that there have been sufficient research studies that agree with the above findings to advise parents to seek medical advice as soon as they observe any such type of strange sleeping habits. This could be an advance warning of an incipient child sleep disorder, which if caught early, can be totally avoided.
Explaining Strange Sleeping Positions that a Child Adopts
Everybody must have at one time or another seen their child or someone else's child sleeping in odd positions. It is normal to see the children sleeping in weird positions, and many times seeing them sleeping that way brings a smile to our face. However, did you know that each such position means that the baby might develop a child sleep disorder some time later in life?
Surprised? The statement took me by surprise, too! Yet it seems to be true. A number of medical studies have been carried out that show that there is a clear and definite connection between the way a child sleeps (when they sleep in strange positions) and an imminent child sleep disorder.
Children who sleep with buttocks-up-head-down position (if it looks like they are pushing their head against the headboard keeping their body muscles completely taut) seem to lead to sleep disorders later on in his/her life. Children who sleep with their heads hanging down, and will not allow their position to be changed, tend to develop body rocking at some stage or other.
When a child sleeps in an arched position, it implies that the child may develop night asthma attacks. When this occurs after an accident or some other head trauma, it is indicative of excessive intracranial pressure.
There are times when the child sleeps like the dead, i.e. the child is so relaxed and breathes so slowly that it looks like they're dead. In this case, the child might develop bedwetting or sleep apnea. This can lead to another type of child sleep disorder, head banging. When the child sleeps with arms outstretched in front of them it is a possible sign of sleepwalking later on in life. They also may develop sleep-talking habits.
One sleeping position remained unexplained, i.e. when the child sleeps with eyes open. There have been many research studies on this aspect, but no connection was found to any child sleep disorder yet. Nonetheless, the position is quite scary and parents tend to get worried about it.
The report says that there have been sufficient research studies that agree with the above findings to advise parents to seek medical advice as soon as they observe any such type of strange sleeping habits. This could be an advance warning of an incipient child sleep disorder, which if caught early, can be totally avoided.