Recognizing and Managing Sleep Disorders in Children

While sleep is a critical part of a child’s emotional, physical, and mental development, sleep disorders are often overlooked or misunderstood. As a parent or caregiver, recognizing the signs of a sleep disorder and seeking the necessary help can make a big difference.

Kids with sleep disorders may show a range of symptoms, from difficulty falling or staying asleep to excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, or even behavioral problems. Common sleep disorders include insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (when a child suddenly stops breathing while sleeping), restless legs syndrome, and circadian rhythm disorders (when the body’s internal clock isn’t aligned with the time of day, impacting when kids fall asleep and wake up).

Understanding the cause of these sleep issues is key to managing them. This is where sleep studies come in. A sleep study is a non-invasive, overnight test that monitors things like brain activity, breathing patterns, heart rate, and oxygen levels while your child sleeps. By gathering this data, specialists can identify underlying problems or disruptions that may not be obvious from symptoms alone. This is why sleep studies are now offered at Holtz Children’s Hospital.

Once a diagnosis is made, treatment can range from simple lifestyle changes, like establishing a consistent bedtime routine or improving sleep environments and behaviors, to medical interventions, like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for sleep apnea.

Dr. Ignacio Tapia, a UHealth Jackson Children’s Care pediatric pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist at Holtz Children’s, shares the following signs that may indicate a child has a sleep disorder:

• Snoring or having a hard time breathing during sleep
• Mouth breathing while awake
• Frequent waking during the night
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue
• Behavioral issues, like irritability or difficulty concentrating
• Pauses in breathing during sleep (apnea)
• Restless sleep or frequent movement

Managing pediatric sleep disorders early on not only improves your child’s immediate well-being, but also supports long-term growth and development. If you suspect your child may have a sleep disorder, consulting with a pediatric sleep specialist and considering a sleep study are important steps toward better health.

Dr. Ignacio Tapia is the chief of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology at Holtz Children’s Hospital and UHealth – University of Miami Health System. Dr. Tapia is board-certified in general pediatrics, pediatric pulmonology, and sleep medicine.