Experts in Children’s Sleep Disorders
Getting a good night’s rest affects every aspect of a child’s learning and development. If your child has sleeping issues, see the experts at Sanford Children’s Sleep Medicine.
Bring your child to a sleep specialist if you feel your child is getting too much or too little sleep. Signs of inadequate sleep include insomnia, fatigue, sleep talking or walking, attacks of physical weakness and other signs of being overly tired. An underlying sleep condition can cause snoring, hyperactivity, behavioral problems, inability to stay asleep, bedwetting, nightmares or night terrors, extreme fatigue during the day and more.
We treat young children to young adults. Our specialists will partner with you and your child to treat or manage your child’s sleep disorder. You’ll work with sleep specialists, nurses, primary care providers and specialists from across Sanford Health, depending on your child’s medical needs.
For physicians: Refer a patient to Sanford Health.
Sleeping Disorders in Children
Our pediatric sleep specialists provide the latest diagnosis and treatment approaches for our patients. We treat a variety of sleep issues in children, including:
- Insomnia
- Narcolepsy
- Restless leg syndrome
- Sleep apnea
- Other sleep disorders
What Happens During a Sleep Study
Your child will likely undergo a sleep study to identify the underlying cause of your child’s sleeping issues. This test is a non-invasive, overnight exam that gives your pediatrician valuable information about how your child sleeps. Your child will spend the night in one of Sanford Health’s sleep clinics. Sensors will monitor your child’s movements and brain activity throughout the night. Our sleep labs are comfortable and mimic a bedroom rather than a hospital room, making it easy for our patients to fall asleep.
A few weeks after the study, your child’s doctor will go over the results with you and discuss a treatment plan.
Healthy Sleeping Habits
Children need different amounts of sleep throughout their lives. Newborns need 17 hours of sleep a day. At 12 months old, children need 15 hours. These amounts include nighttime sleep and daytime naps. Find out how much sleep your child needs.
Sleep tips from the experts:
- Don’t let your child use electronics before bed, as this makes it harder for them to fall asleep.
- Babies don’t need a set sleep schedule, but toddlers do. Make sure your toddler gets regular naps every day.
- Have a set bedtime routine. Your child’s routine should include a quiet, electronics-free period before bed.
Learn safe sleeping habits for your infant.
Schedule an appointment with a pediatric sleep specialist today if your child needs help falling and staying asleep.