Insomnia in children is different from adult insomnia. Normally, children go to bed by 8 or 10 in the night and wake up at 7 or 8 in the morning. Based on the age the causes of insomnia in children vary. A toddler may only be asleep, when his/her is lying beside her. They wake up regularly and cry for their mother. It is only again when the toddler’s mother is beside his or her, toddler will sleep back.

Nightmares etc may be the cause of insomnia in children of age 4 to 8 years. Child will wake up during the first hour of the sleep and scream. It during this age, children face the problem of sleep walking or sleep talking etc. Being horrified of sleeping alone in a dark room alone keeps a 9 years old child awake till midnight. And when it comes to teen, the cause of insomnia is change in the circadian rhythms. They fall asleep very late in the night. They have very sleep debts, which they mostly try to cover during the weekends.

Sleep disturbances are common among all ages of children. The main problem of insomnia in children is that most often, parents do not discuss about these problems with the pediatrician. So, the causes of insomnia in children can broadly be classified initiation of sleep and maintaining that sleep for prolonged time.

These sleep disturbances in child will have an effect on their daytime activities. Their mood, behavior, learning capability, their performance at school, etc.., have an effect due to these disturbances. These disturbances do not only have effect on them, but also have an effect on their caretakers. The caretakers too become the insomnia sufferers.

Coping Up With Insomnia in Children

When compared to adult insomnia, treatment for childhood insomnia is rather complicated, which is mainly due to the causes on insomnia in children. Here are few steps that can be taken for coping up with insomnia in children:

• Make sure to have consistent fixed morning wake up time bedtime. This plays a major role on sleep-wake cycle.
• Make your child habituated to pre-bedtime activities, which will help the child to have easy sleep onset.
• Avoid any energetic activities before bedtime.
• Avoid food for few hours before bedtime. Also avoid beverages such as coffee, tea and soft drinks before bedtime.
• It is also advisable to avoid medications containing caffeine or alcohol for several hours before bedtime.
• A warm bath can help the children with insomnia to have an easy sleep onset.
• Better sleeping environment, which include calm and dim light and exclude television, telephone, computer, etc. will also help in having easy sleep onset.