Introduction
Insomnia is a severe sleep disorder that leads to difficulties with falling asleep. As a result, a person cannot sleep enough and acquires serious issues with the quality of sleep and rest. Insomnia among children is a common problem and a significant issue of concern among parents. For children under six years, the issue is mainly characterized by unusual scuffles when going to bed, difficulty in staying asleep, and strain in getting asleep, particularly at bedtime.
The described condition promotes significant challenges among children, leading to difficulty concentrating in school, increased fatigue, behavioral challenges, and challenges during daytime functioning. For children aged six or younger, insomnia is a severe condition that worsens the quality of their lives and leads to the emergence of adverse effects, such as behavioral and emotional development issues, which evidences the need for effective and multifaceted strategies for managing the problem.
Sleep’s Impact on Child’s Health
First, discussing the problem and realizing that healthy sleep is fundamental for children is critical. During sleeping, the child’s body triggers processes necessary for the appropriate chemical exchange and the brain’s work. In addition, most toxins are removed from the body, essential for healthy development.
The appropriate rest time for children six and older is 11-12 hours every night (Gibbons). Children at this age perform numerous activities, such as classwork, play, and communication with peers, which explains the need for more sleep hours. For this reason, following the recommendations and establishing healthy sleep patterns for a child can help generate specific results.
Sleep and Children Development
The appropriate development of a child is one of the benefits of healthy sleep. For instance, the child’s growth is associated with the work of the pituitary gland, which is located in the inner part of the brain and releases growth hormones (Gibbons). The given element is usually released when a young person is deep asleep (Moon 267). In case a person has insomnia and sleep duration is not sufficient, the hormone might not be produced in adequate amounts, which can lead to issues developmental issues (Gibbons).
In many cases, a low amount of human growth hormone leads to delayed development of physical features, which can make a child look younger. In addition, the occurrence can lead to delayed mental development, making the child less responsive to general cognitive instructions than their age-mates. However, it is essential to realize that the condition can be observed only when severe insomnia is reported.
Sleep and Germs Reduction
Another benefit of healthy sleep patterns is germs regulation. During the day, children tend to engage in many uncontrolled play activities, with some exposing them to various unhygienic microorganisms. The existing body of research evidences that during sleep, children’s bodies produce cytokines, a protein used to fight stress, infection, and other forms of illness (Gibbons).
This implies that young people under six without enough sleep hours are three times more likely to have a cold when interacting with the virus than those with sufficient sleep hours (Gibbons). Since enough sleep is reported to be the best cure for an improved immune system, most pediatric units are currently adjusting their policies advocating for children to have sufficient rest time (Gibbons). This is done by introducing quiet hours at night and reducing undesirable disruption in the evening to ensure children have adequate sleep for quick healing.
Sleep and Diabetes Management
Sleep can also be effective in preventing the development of diabetes in children. Diabetes mainly occurs due to the inability of one’s body to produce adequate insulin needed by the body. Therefore, during sleep, a child’s body produces insulin sufficient for health development and performance. The hormone is required to control the glucose released in the blood. Reports have shown that lack of adequate sleep among children leads to increased mass index in the body, greater insulin struggle, and higher readings of glucose (Gibbons).
Such occurrences pose a risk to children, making them susceptible to developing diabetes (Gibbons). Therefore, having the recommended sleep time helps overcome these body changes due to lower body mass and desirable insulin production. In such a way, observing healthy activity and rest patterns is one of the most effective and low-cost prevention strategies to manage diabetes.
Sleep and Hyperactivity Disorder
Furthermore, sleep prevents the development of hyperactivity disorder among children in the discussed age group. When one sleeps, the brain relaxes from exhausting daily activities, simplifying interactive engagement. The existing investigation has determined that young individuals with poor habits of rest exhibit high levels of deficit in attention (Schlarb 338). This implies that inadequate sleep can interfere with standard behavioral patterns, thinking, and functioning.
Dealing with sleeplessness among children is a potent approach for addressing hyperactivity and attention issues in most affected children (Johnson 21). Therefore, parents must ensure that recommendations for sleep time are observed as it is the central factor in reducing the risk of attention deficit occurrence. Moreover, it enables children to have better working memory, leading to desirable performance both in school and in the assigned responsibilities at home.
Medical Strategies for Treating Insomnia
In such a way, considering the benefits of healthy sleep, treating insomnia among children is the top priority. One of the methods implies using melatonin, which leads to better performance among those affected by the condition (Moon 267). The sleep hormone is typically released at night and, in rare cases, during the day (Moon 267).
However, hormone production might be affected by the development of insomnia and the lack of rest among children. In these scenarios, the drug can be prescribed for use as a method to attain improvement. Research shows that the quality of night sleep in children using melatonin is better than in the group without treatment (Jalilolghadr and Khamenehpour 16675). This means that the drug can be an effective measure to improve the situation.
Nevertheless, before using the drug, it is vital to determine the primary cause of sleeplessness. Parents should ask their pediatrician to conduct a systematic assessment to determine the potential factors leading to the emergence of insomnia (Johnson 21). The most common issues might include bedtime change, anxiety, hunger, and reflection on the day’s activities (Johnson 21).
The drug also should not be prescribed to healthy and developing individuals younger than three years because the sleep challenge is behavioral. Therefore, melatonin can help treat insomnia only after a pediatrician comprehensively assesses its appropriateness. When combined with appropriate behavioral practices such as proper sleep patterns, the use of the drug has reduced the number of adverse effects and can help a child to evolve.
Relationship Between Insomnia and Emotional Problems Among Children
Lack of adequate sleep can lead to significant shifts in individual child behavior patterns. For children with mental health conditions, the situation is worse as insomnia has a severe influence on them. Thus, the behavioral issues related to poor sleep among school-aged children might include:
Mood Changes
Lack of sleep can cause children to develop irritability, which can easily cause them to get frustrated. This can be detected when a child talks back more than usual, especially when slightly provoked. If the change is discovered, parents must evaluate their children’s sleep patterns for the past few days (Schlarb 338). For depressed children, the occurrence makes them extremely lethargic, which is supported by the feeling of hopelessness and constant sadness. If not addressed, these mood changes can lead to suicidal thoughts among depressed victims. This creates the need for managing lack of sleep as an urgent mental health issue.
Changes In Behavior
As opposed to adults, children are more impulsive and hyperactive in everyday situations. However, the lack of adequate sleep makes them exhibit attention-based disorders, which interferes with their daily interactive habits (Schlarb 338). Children with insomnia might have concentration problems and struggle to execute minor tasks (Schlarb 338). In such situations, health experts might have misdiagnosis when the indicators result from lack of enough sleep. Therefore, discussing the previous sleep patterns and their alterations is essential before conducting other evaluations.
Development of Anxiety
Lack of sleep in children aged six or younger leads to increased stress levels and agitation. The experience is highly severe as they struggle to regulate their emotions when anxious (Schlarb 338). For those already struggling with anxiety issues, lack of sleep tends to exacerbate their suspicions. Anxious children tend to be perturbed by their inability to fall asleep, which complicates the problem and makes insomnia more complex.
Strategies for Treatment of Insomnia
Considering the adverse effects mentioned above, there is a need for effective strategies to manage insomnia. Thus, good sleep requires one to have sufficient time and specific moods. For this reason, to help children treat insomnia, it is necessary to develop a bedtime routine. A consistent bedtime arrangement must resonate simultaneously, encouraging proper sleep patterns.
The alignment of some activities, such as stories, baths, and finally falling asleep, helps children to be more prepared. If a child wakes before time, the parent must quietly get them back to bed to observe the established patterns (Johnson 21). This must be repeated many times until a young person gets conditioned to follow the pattern independently.
Moreover, having adequate physical engagement during the day, such as a walk before nighttime, ensures a child is tired enough and feels the need to go to bed. However, this must be controlled to prevent over-exhaustion, which might cause a lack of sleep. Other practices include avoiding caffeine at night and eating the right amount of food to prevent stomach upsets. The sleeping environment also needs to be comfortable, ensuring it is quiet, has a comfortable temperature, and necessary lights.
Conclusion
In conclusion, insomnia in younger children is a challenging issue that needs the involvement of both parents and health professionals. Although no specific risk factor exists for insomnia, proper examination of individual cases can help determine its cause. Adequate sleep is essential to children due to the underlying health benefits.
Lack of sleep can be treated using some medical interventions such as melatonin. However, a pediatrician must prescribe the drug after proper evolution of the cause. Lack of sleep can cause specific changes in mood, behavior, and anxiety levels, meaning that some specific strategies should be used to avoid undesired outcomes.