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Bruxism
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Bruxism is the grinding, gnashing or clenching of the teeth. This condition affects both children and adults, and symptoms may occur during the day as well as in sleep. Most children who are bruxers, however, do so at night. When marked, bruxism can lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and related problems. Parents or siblings may hear a child bruxing at night, the dentist may notice the characteristic dental wear, or children themselves may complain of headaches or jaw pain.
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Colic
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The term colic refers to periods of uncontrollable crying or screaming in otherwise healthy infants. Spells generally happen in the early evening. Children often appear as if they are in pain. Though the cause is uncertain, symptoms resolve spontaneously.
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Co-Sleeping
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Often referred to as "bed sharing", co-sleeping is a common practice where parents and children sleep together.
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Narcolepsy
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A neurological disorder causing excessive daytime sleepiness as its main symptom. Another symptom, cataplexy, is a sudden muscle weakness usually brought on by laughter or other strong emotion.
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Nightmares
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Nightmares are anxiety dreams (occurring in REM sleep) upsetting enough to cause a child to wake. After waking from a nightmare, children may be quite anxious and afraid to be alone for a period of time.
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NREM (Non-REM) Sleep
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NREM or non-REM sleep is the period of sleep during which most restoration takes place. Unlike in REM sleep, there are very regular heart and breathing patterns, body movements are uncommon, and there is absence of rapid eye movements.
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Nocturnal Enuresis
(bedwetting)
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Nocturnal enuresis is the medical term for bedwetting or urination during sleep.
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Obstructive Sleep
Apnea (OSA)
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Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition caused by narrowing of the back of the throat leading to snoring and periods of inadequate breathing, and (often) poor and disrupted sleep.
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Parasomnias
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Parasomnias are events, such as sleepwalking, sleep terrors, or teeth grinding, that occur during partial waking from sleep. Occasional normal events may be normal. Frequent events may have various causes; they are usually easy to treat by behavioral methods, only occasionally are medications required in children.
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'Pavor Nocturnus'
or Sleep Terrors
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A sleep terror is a parasomnia. It arises as a partial waking from deep, NREM (non-dreaming) sleep. During a sleep terror, a child may move, thrash, or run about erratically, heart rate and blood pressure may rise, and sweating may be marked. The child may act or look upset or scared. Events end when the child fully wakes up. Events are usually followed by the desire to return to sleep. Sleep terrors are different from nightmares (which are dreams and which occur during REM sleep).
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Periodic Leg Movements (PLMs)
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Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is a disorder characterized by involuntary leg (or sometimes arm) twitching or jerking movements during sleep that typically occur every 10 to 60 seconds, sometimes throughout much of the night. The movements may cause repeated awakening and disrupted sleep, at least in adults. Although symptoms may begin at any age, even in childhood, most patients who are severely affected are middle-aged or older. Although many patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) also develop PLMD, most people with PLMD do not experience RLS.
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Sleep
Deprivation
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Sleep deprivation is a lack of sufficient sleep. Inadequate amounts of sleep (in children and adults) can lead to fatigue (with inability to think clearly or learn efficiently), mood instability, and slowed reaction times.
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Somnambulism
(sleepwalking)
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Sleepwalking is a parasomnia during which a child gets up and walks around during partial waking from deep NREM sleep.
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Somniloquy
(sleeptalking)
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Sleep talking or somniloquy is a parasomnia during which a child talks during partial waking from deep NREM sleep.
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Rapid Eye Movement
(REM) Sleep
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REM or Rapid Eye Movement Sleep is the period of sleep during which dreams occur. During REM sleep there are bursts of rapid eye movements, small body twitches, and heart and breathing patterns become very irregular.
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Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
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Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs (feelings often described as burning, creepy-crawly, gnawing, or tugging) accompanied by an irresistible urge to move. Symptoms start or worsen at rest, and decrease when legs are moved. They are usually worse in the evening especially when lying down, and may interfere with falling asleep. Most people with RLS also have periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS).
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