Insomnia

What is insomnia?

Insomnia is a condition that causes difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep during the night. It can occur in children of all ages.

Symptoms

Children with insomnia can have a wide range of symptoms, including:

• struggles around going to bed
• difficulty falling asleep
• frequent waking at night
• waking very early
• difficulty napping
• trouble waking in the morning
• daytime tiredness
• irritability
• behavioral problems

Diagnosis

To diagnose insomnia, your child’s doctor will take a detailed medical history and may ask you to keep a sleep log for a few weeks.

Treatment

Treatment for insomnia usually involves making changes to sleep habits or behavior. Some children may also benefit from medication.