Restless sleep in children aged 1-3 years
Overview
Restless sleep in children aged 1-3 years: Causes and what to do
Restless sleep in a toddler who rolls around the whole bed, wakes frequently and whimpers, is a common complaint of parents. Unlike newborns, in whom restless sleep is a physiological norm, in children older than one year it more often indicates some discomfort — physical or psychological.
Physical causes of restless sleep
Most often the child rolls in sleep because something is bothering them:
- Teeth eruption: Constant throbbing pain from molar eruption is one of the main reasons for poor sleep at this age.
- Gastrointestinal discomfort: Constipation, gas or reflux.
- Itching: Exacerbation of atopic dermatitis.
- Breathing disturbances: Nasal congestion due to adenoids or allergy, causing the child to turn in search of a comfortable position. In severe cases this may be a sign of sleep apnea.
- Restless legs syndrome: Neurological disorder that causes the need to move the legs.
Psychological and behavioral causes
- Excessive fatigue or overstimulation: If the child "overplayed" before bedtime, their nervous system finds it hard to relax, leading to light and restless sleep.
- Developmental leaps: Mastering new skills can temporarily disrupt sleep.
- Nightmares and fears: Development of imagination leads to the first fears that may bother the child at night.
Read about general mechanisms in the article "Restless sleep".
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