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TREATMENTS FOR CHILDREN WITH INSOMNIA

By Tess Thompson

On the face of it is seems difficult to believe that young children can suffer from insomnia. Insomnia is usually associated with adult conditions like tension and pressure and these are generally not associated with children.

Let us first understand how sleep patterns are formed in children. From birth to four weeks there is little that changes in the sleep-wake cycle. As the child approaches the age of 6 months sleep patterns start getting adjusted to a 24-hour cycle. This allows them to align themselves with night sleep and short daytime naps. As the child becomes a toddler, the sleep patterns are set accordingly by the ‘circadian clock’ or biological clock.

Childhood psychiatric disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and depression are known to inhibit resetting of the circadian rhythm. Children who are slow learners or those who grow at a faster pace are more prone to develop sleep disorders. Pediatricians face a tough challenge when they are called upon to treat insomnia in children.

Oral melatonin is considered an effective medication for treating insomnia in children. This is because melatonin is a hormone that is secreted by the pineal gland in the brain and is associated with circadian rhythms. Since sleep patterns are also related to the 24-hours biological processes and therefore oral melatonin is considered to be an effective medication for treating insomnia.

However, the fact is that there is no medication that has been approved by the FDA for treating insomnia in children.

Whether in children or adults, insomnia is a symptom of an underlying condition. To be able to effectively treat insomnia, the pediatrician needs to arrive at the fundamental cause behind the condition. If insomnia is caused by depression then treating depression becomes essential.

However, there is a dearth of studies on the subject of safe medications for treating depression and insomnia in children. The use of conventional medication is fraught with danger due to the side effects that it causes and the addictive properties that it has. Natural remedies for depression and treating depression naturally are safer alternatives that should be used in children.

Managing insomnia in your child can be a challenging job. There are some good practices that you need to follow. Deal with bedtime resistance with love and care. This will need you to handle riotous behaviors and dillydallying or emotional hullabaloo. Set a bedtime limit and stick to it under all circumstances. Avoid activities like watching TV or excited environments just before sleep time.

Some other practices followed regularly can help you instill a sleep discipline in your child.

* Stick to one bed time on weekdays and weekends.
* Avoid giving in to requests to stay up late when you are in a mood for some fun.
* Set a routine. This routine can include activities like a hot bath, brushing teeth and a story before the lights are put out.

It is too optimistic to expect that a child who is suffering from insomnia will stick to a fixed bedtime all the time. Your perseverance, a flexible attitude and incentives will help in treating your child of a condition that can potentially ruin his/her life.

References:
http://pb.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/28/6/222
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1559690
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/231aee.htm
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/535789
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/491438_7
http://www.sleepdex.org/children-insomnia.htm