Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Brooke Walker ReportingStudies show a growing number of kids aren't sleeping. Any parent knows the bedtime battle can be frustrating, but when do nighttime fears or sleep resistance become something to worry about?
The problem we're talking about is more than just "monsters in the closet." It's called anxiety insomnia and local doctors say it's affecting more kids than ever before. The disorder can be caused by a child's imagined fears, but also by reality.
In June, 2002, Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her Utah home. The world watched. So did 12-year old Madelene Simon.
Madelene Simon: "At that time I didn't have any problems, but it did scare me that she had gone missing. Maybe nobody would notice if I ever got kidnapped."
Soon, Madelene's fears consumed the nighttime hours.
Madelene Simon: "Am I going to be kidnapped tonight or am I going to be fine? Am I going to wake up in my bed tomorrow morning? Will my parents be here?"
Eric Simon, Madelene's father: "Having a child come in every night, staying up, telling you, ‘Please, please don't go to sleep before me,' there would be nights I would stay up until 12:30."
Madelene's worries were not unusual.
Dr. Kathleen Pfeffer, Pediatric Sleep Physician: "I saw a huge number of young girls around seven and older unwilling to fall asleep in their rooms."
Dr. Kathleen Pfeffer specializes in childhood sleeping disorders. She says the war in Iraq is another huge concern for kids. Other issues can be more personal, like divorce or a parent's unemployment.
These concerns often contribute to what is called anxiety insomnia, a disorder where fear turns to panic. That panic prevents kids from falling asleep. Dr. Pfeffer says communication is the only way to help a child's mind understand what is reality.
Dr. Pfeffer: "You have to ask, because it's almost like they are so overwhelmed, they don't even know."
So how do you know if your child has a serious sleeping problem? Some fears are normal; in fact, research shows certain age groups experience certain fears. For example, pre-schoolers are typically scared of thunder and the dark. School-aged kids worry more about illness and natural disaster.
Doctors suggest observing just how upset a child is at bedtime. And if kids don't, or can't, meet these recommendations for normal amounts of sleep, most of the time, experts recommend seeing a doctor.
RECOMMENDED HOURS OF SLEEP
- Infants 14 - 15 hours
- Toddlers 12 - 14 hours
- Preschool 11 - 13 hours
- School-age 10 - 11 hours
-
Teens 8.5 - 9.5 hours Also, parents should watch for signs during the day. Lack of sleep can affect mood, learning and behavior. And with sleep being essential to your child's health, don't be hesitant to seek professional help. In some cases, medication may help. But doctors say often help can come from simply sticking to a nightly routine.
More Info. Regarding Children's Sleep Habits``` BEDTIME ROUTINE:
• Make the routine the same every night • Incorporate four or five activities into your child's routine • Don't let the routine keep heading in different directions—upstairs for a bath, to the kitchen for a snack, to the living room for a video, to the parent's room for a story and finally to your child's room for hugs and kisses. • Make the last part of your child's bedtime special and meaningful. • Don't allow your child to watch television before bedtime. • Keep all pre-bed conversations short and simple.
RECOMMENDED TOTAL HOURS OF SLEEP:
Infants 2 months to 12 months 14-15 hours Toddlers 12 months to 3 years 12-14 years Preschoolers 3 years to 6 years 11-13 hours School-aged 6 years to 12 years 10-11 hours Adolescents 12 years to 18 years 8.5-9.5 hours
COMMON FEARS AT DIFFERENT AGES:
Age Group Common Fears
Preschoolers Being alone The dark Imaginary creatures Monsters Animals Thunder Bodily Injury Blood Needles
School-aged Threats to self-esteem Social situations Testing situations Bodily injury Illness Blood/Needles Supernatural phenomenon (ghosts, witches, aliens) Natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricane)
Adolescents Future events The unknown Performance failure
